News in frames | Hail the guru

Sweet celebrations: A Sikh devotee distributing sweets in Nankana Sahib. (Source: AFP)

Guru Nanak Jayanti, known as Gurpurab, was celebrated on November 19. The festival marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, who laid the foundation of Sikhism. Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in Talwandi, Pakistan, and spread the message of ‘One God’. The sacred scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib has all of the teachings of Guru Nanak.This year’s festival has particular significance with the Union Government’s decision to repeal the farm laws against which farmers in Punjab had been up in arms. Also of importance was the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan, with the faithful visiting the shrine after a gap of 20 months.Over 240 Sikh pilgrims from India visited the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan using the visa-free Kartarpur Corridor. The main ceremony in connection with the celebrations was held at Gurdwara Janaasthan Nankana Sahib, some 80 km from Lahore.Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and some of his Cabinet Ministers on Thursday offered prayers at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

All aglow: Earthen lamps lit near the ‘holy sarovar’ of the Golden Temple. (Source: PTI)

All aglow: Earthen lamps lit near the ‘holy sarovar’ of the Golden Temple. (Source: PTI)

Festival shine: A Sikh volunteer cleans the holy sarovar, or sacred pool, at the Golden Temple on Guru Parab. (Source: AFP)

A new dawn: Sikh devotees paying obeisance at the Golden Temple to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, in Amritsar on Friday. (Source: AP)

Showing the light: Sikh devotees light candles at the illuminated Golden Temple. (Source: AP)

Rally on: A procession in Nankana Sahib. (Source: AFP)