Poets to join temple celebrating birthday of Sikhism founder

Tom Mack

17 November 2024 at 10:09 am·2-min read

Sikhs from across Leicestershire and poets from across the region will be getting together at a city temple to celebrate a special birthday. On Sunday, November 24, it will be 555 years since the first Sikh guru was born.

Guru Nanak was born in India in 1469 and was the first of 10 'born Sikh gurus'. He became a spiritual leader who walked around Asia teaching people about God and equality and he established the city of Kartarpur - meaning House of God - on the shore of river Ravi.

The celebrations are being organised by the Punjabi Listeners Club in Leicester and the Gurudwara Shri Guru Dashmesh Sahib in Gipsy Lane, Northfields, Leicester, to mark his birthday. The event will take place at the gurudwara and many poets and community leaders will be attending.

One of the organisers, Gurnam Singh Rupowal, said: “We are delighted that so many well-known, educated members of the Sikh community have confirmed their attendance for which we are very grateful.

"Since it was formed, the Punjabi Listeners Club has been promoting Punjabi Language and Sikh religion through organising turban-tying competions, Punjabi writing competition, trips to National Sikh Museum and celebrating International Mother Language Day since 2016. This year’s Guru Nanak Gurpurb is being celebrated in a unique way when various authors and poets from East and West Midlands will be taking part."

Poetry is a major part of Sikh scripture. There are 947 poetic Hymns of Guru Nanak registered in the holy book Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Poets attending the birthday celebrations will include Giani Malook Singh Doshi, the singing ambulance man Kuldip Singh Bhamra QAM, Ram Singh Pharwala and singing policeman Kulbinder Singh Rai. Well-known Punjabi authors Amarjit Singh Tari Bidipuria, from Derbyshire, Tarlochan Singh Chan Jandalvi from Wolverhampton and Bhai Avtar Singh from Leicestershire will also be there.

Other special guests will include Jaspal Singh Kang of Sikh Federation UK, British Heart Foundation ambassador Sulakhan Singh Dard BEM and Sukhdev Singh Atwal Sokha Udopuria from Derbyshire of DEV3K Appreciation Society. The celebration will also involve a colouring-in competition for girls and boys, refreshments and vegetarian food.

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