Washington, DC – Nepal is the latest nation to join the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev this year as it announced issuing of commemorative coins on the Birth Anniversary. According to a report from All India Radio, the Government of Nepal has started minting coins of NPR 2500, 1000 and 100 denomination.
With the celebrations of the anniversary picking up in different parts of the US, Sukhjeet Singh Bhamra from Chicago, Illinois said, “It’s definitely an honor for the Sikh community.”
Echoing the sentiments of Sikhs, Witty Singh from Houston, Texas said, “We welcome the gesture by Nepal which shows peace-loving people of Nepal thrive on friendship and brotherhood. This sends out a message that Nepalis respect and honor Sikhs across the world.”
Welcoming the announcement, Jesse Singh, Chairman of Sikhs of America told IAT, “Guru Nanak Dev Ji was an epitome of peace and propagator of One God. The current year 2019 is witnessing a global homage to the Great Saint and many nations are joining the Sikh Community in paying their respects and marking the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru and the founder of the Sikh faith.”
In the US capital, Washington, DC, the Sikhs of America are planning a major event with outreach already going on throughout the US, noted Singh in his statement to IAT.
IAT also learnt from reliable sources in New Delhi that all Indian missions and embassies throughout the world will celebrate Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary through seminars and ‘Kirtans’ (hymn recitals) to spread Guru Nanak’s message of universal brotherhood and peace globally.
Harsh V Shringla, the Indian Ambassador to the US, addressing a congregation at a religious event earlier this year, said, “Guru Nanak Dev ji was one of India’s greatest philosophers, teachers and social reformers. Born in an epoch when the Indian society was caste-riddled, Guru Nanak’s voice was an empowering call to unshackle the human mind of centuries of religious and political tyranny and for the creation of a new egalitarian order.”
Earlier in June, New Delhi announced a commemorative coin of INR 550 to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. According to the release, the government of India announced that one side of the coin shall bear the picture of “Gurudwara Shri Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab” with the inscription “550th Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji” in English and Hindi. The inscription will be on the top periphery and lower periphery. 1496 was the year when the founder of Sikhism and the first of the 10 gurus, Guru Nanak Dev was born and 1496 along with 2019 will also be inscribed.
Tejinder Singh, Editor, India America Today & White House Correspondent