Gobind Sadan
As a grand finale to year-long celebrations of the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Gobind Sadan and other area gurdwaras created a stirring Nagar Kirtan (“place to place”) procession on 8 November. It started from Gobind Sadan in the morning, wound its way along city streets and leafy residential areas, and finally ended up at sunset at Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kender in Chattarpur. Those who participated included Panj Piaras, three kirtan jathas, two gatka parties, Nihangs on white horses, two marching bands, two big nagara drums including one in a horse-drawn carriage, students walking with message boards around their necks, Gobind Sadan’s foreign sevadars from Russia, Germany, and USA, Gobind Sadan’s water tank for sprinkling water ahead of Guru Granth Sahib, barefoot sevadars sweeping the road in front of Guru Granth Sahib, and the golden bus of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee with Guru Granth Sahib enshrined in it. Guru Granth Sahib was reverently carried to the bus in Gobind Sadan, and many sevadars accompanied the bus all the way on foot. Starting with chai and pakoras at Gobind Sadan, at many points along the way local sangats offered food to the participants, from rajma chawal to bananas.
In addition to Gobind Sadan, other gurdwaras who joined the Nagar Kirtan were Chattarpur Extension Gurdwara, Rajpur Khurad Gurdwara, Chattarpur Village Gurdwara, Chattarpur Pahari Gurdwara Ambedkar Nagar, and Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kender. There was a great atmosphere of rejoicing, camaraderie, and high spirits.