Gobind Sadan
By Maharaj Ji’s grace, many devotees came and daily monsoon rains stopped just long enough for an extraordinarily joyous celebration of Baba Siri Chand’s birthday at Gobind Sadan from 4th to 7th September.
It began with a special havan at Angeetha Sahib on the 4th, which was the actual birthday of Baba Siri Chand this year, according to lunar calendar calculations. On the 5th at 2 a.m., 7 Akhand Paths began, creating an especially sacred atmosphere in Darbar Sahib throughout the celebrations. On the 6th, the sangat made a huge Nagar Kirtan procession on foot to 18 of Gobind Sadan’s holy places. It began with Ardas before Sri Guru Granth Sahib, proceeded to Angeetha Sahib, where Dr. Rai Singh and Hardip Singh gave brief speeches about Baba Siri Chand and Gobind Sadan’s mission. Dandiyas from Madhya Pradesh did their traditional dances with sticks, and then the procession continued to Jesus’ Place, the Sh’ma Place of Jewish worship, mosque, all 7 temples on the hillside, Gurdwara Sarbat Sangat’s havan, Darbar Sahib, and Mataji’s temple, Buddha and Mahavir’s meditation pavilion, and then returned to the central havan for a final Ardas. Bhagat Ji led singing of “Dhan Dhan Baba Siri Chand Sahib” the whole way. Afterward, Nabhe diya Bibiyan offered their powerful kirtan with traditional Punabi instruments.
After Akhand Path Bhog on 7th September, the sangat enjoyed kirtan by Hirpal Singh, Gurdaspur sangat, Baba Jernail Singh of Bagtala, and the women from Nabhe. Speeches in praise of Baba Siri Chand and Baba Virsa Singh Ji’s mission were given by Jathedar Succha Singh Langah (in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir and District Jathedar of Gurdaspur, representing Punjab Chief minister Prakash Singh Badal), Sri Ramesh Dighuri (Member of Parliament from South Delhi), MLA Chaudry Brahm Singh Tanwar, Hardip Singh, Dr. Rai Singh, Joginder Singh of Gurdaspur, Singh Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh (Jathedar Takhat Sri Harimandir Patna Sahib), and Mahamandeleshwar Swami Brahm Dev (renowned scholar of Dasam Granth and Udasi Sampardai). Young Prabnoor Singh recited a poem in Punjabi about Baba Siri Chand and children of Baba Virsa Singh Ji Maharaj Public School did traditional Punjabi dances which were so much loved by the sangat that they all stood up and danced along. Sri Guru Granth Sahib was carried back to Sukhasin Sahib with great reverence, and everyone enjoyed delicious langar.