Gobind Sadan
2019 Combined Celebration of Mehar Divas, Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday, and Christmas
Many years ago, Baba Virsa Singh gave the order to celebrate Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday and Jesus’ Birthday on the same day to show that all prophets have been sent by One God to help all of humanity. Babaji also left his mortal frame on the day before Christmas in 2007, so ever since then, Gobind Sadan has been celebrating his bursi along with the other two celebrations.
This year’s combined celebration began on 23 December with five Akhand Paaths in the early morning. On 24 December there was special havan in the evening for Babaji’s Mehar Divas. Then on 25 December, Akhand Paath Bhog was celebrated in the diwan hall for Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday. Stage Secretary Dr. Surjit Kaur Jolly said, “It is good to see that despite such cold weather many elders as well as young people have assembled here to celebrate this occasion, which because Maharaj is present is a different experience altogether.”
Kirtan was offered by Gobind Sadan’s hazoori ragis–Eknoor Kaur, Prabhnoor Singh, and Jaspinder Kaur–and then by Balwant Singh’s rebabi jatha, Gurdapur sangat, and Harpeet Singh’s hazoori ragi jatha from Hemkunt Sahib. Giani Mehtab Singh spoke about the Noor (Divine Light) which was present in Guru Gobind Singh since his birth. He told that when a fakir came and insisted on having darshan of the child in order to check whether he was the prophet of Muslims or of Hindus, the child put his hands in both directions. “Seeing this, the fakir danced in ecstasy, saying, ‘My Allah has come, my Allah has come.’”
Giani Iqbal Singh, former Jathedar of Sri Patna Sahib, said, “All the great holy beings who incarnated on earth are sent by the Eternal One. The clouds gather in the sky and pour down blessings to quench the thirst of all, and then they disappear. When we read the life of Baba Virsa Singh ji, we discover that Baba Siri Chand appeared to Babaji and gave him the mantra ‘Ik Onkar Sat Nam Siri Wahe Guru,’ which is written in the 50th Saki of Guru Gobind Singh, where it is also written to keep reciting Jaap Sahib and Nam until the last breath. “
Christmas was celebrated at Jesus’ Place amid myriad lights and divas, balloons, flowers, and a three-dimensional Bethlehem scene built by Kabir Kathuria, Vimal, and children of Kabir’s interfaith education class. Gurdev Singh, stage secretary, explained how Jesus came to Baba Virsa Singh in vision and bestowed great blessings on the place. Gobind Sadan’s hazoori ragis offered kirtan of “Moori ayi hain” and “Teri bhagat na chor dio.” Children of Baba Virsa Singh Ji Maharaj Primary School presented a play about the birth and life of Jesus, and a nursery class child receited Jingle Bells. Piya, Amarjot Kaur, and Tatiana from Rusisa, Mmaine and Neelu of Kazakhstan, and Ann from USA sang a lovely Russian carol about the night of Jesus’ birth, when an angel appeared to shepherds in the fields and told them that a holy baby had been born.
Dr. Rai Singh, President of Baba Virsa Singh Ji Maharaj Memorial Trust, said, “Baba Virsa Singh Ji Maharaj was such a Power that he respected the prophets of all religion. You won’t find any place like this anywhere in the world. Babaji taught to celebrate all prophets’ days equally. If we all get together our country will be strong.”
Sardar Manjit Singh Rai, Member of National Minorities Commission, congratulated the sangat on the birthday of Jesus and quoted Guru Gobind Singh’s verse, “Listen all of you, and I will tell you the truth: Only those who have deeply loved God have ever realized God.” He said, “The God-realized souls always live, and their blessings are always with us.”
Hardip Singh, Treasurer of Baba Virsa Singh Maharaj Memorial Trust, who prays for people every hour at the havan, said, “Baba Virsa Singh laid the foundation stone for this place where Jesus appeared to bless everyone. What should we do to carry on his mission? Take his blessings.”
Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission, said, “I am so glad to come here and to see that such a place has been made, with such heart, honouring all religions. Dharmic people must be united. Dharma is true; it must be carried on. May He give you all courage.” He announced that the Delhi Minorities Commission had decided to give a special award to Gobind Sadan.
Jabbar Ali, Imam of Gobind Sadan’s Noor-e-Ilahi Mosque, said, “Why do we celebrate Jesus’ birthday every year? What are we to learn? Baba Virsa Singh Ji taught us the same message of all the prophets, and said that Allah is One, to give us that faith. The one who shows us the path is great.”
Sardar Joginder Singh, Jathedar of Gurdaspur sangat said, “This is Sach Khand—the heavenly place where all Powers unite.”
Rev. Bhaskar, leader of St. John’s Church in Mehrauli, said, “I am so happy to be here. Jesus said, ‘Wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in My Name, I am there. So many people are gathered here in His honour that He is here. It is Babaji’s blessing that Christmas is celebrated with such beautiful decorations and love here—more than in any church.”