Gobind Sadan
This year, celebrations of Guru Nanak’s birthday spread across three days at Gobind Sadan. On November 4th, 180 children from Gyan Kunj Public School in Jonapur came in buses to pay their respects at Gobind Sadan. In the central dera, they visited the holy places and then were given bananas and krah prasad in the langar. Then they walked up to Jesus’ Place, where they walked around the Jesus statue and then sat in the lawn. Mary spoke to them about Guru Nanak’s mission, particularly the teaching that it is dharma that supports the world, and dharma is born from compassion. She led them in reciting Nam, and the children were given pens and chocolates before leaving, happy with their interfaith experiences in Gobind Sadan’s unique non-sectarian holy places.
On November 5th, sangat sat for lovely kirtan by two jathas and divas were lit all around in the dera and holy sites. On November 6th, the students of Baba Virsa Singh Ji Maharaj Primary School at Gobind Sadan walked down to the dera, where Baba Hardip Singh and Principal Jaspinder Kaur lovingly washed their feet and led them in recitation of “Dhan Dhan Baba Siri Chand” at the havan. Hardip Singh spoke to them about Guru Nanak’s life and mission and Gobind Sadan’s base in the Guru’s practical programme. After walking back up the hill to their school, the children drew pictures of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Ik Onkar. The days were filled with inspiring memories of the great First Sikh Guru for everyone.