This year the 550th Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is being celebrated by all the Sikhs worldwide with great enthusiasm and reverence. As homage to Guru Ji blessed birth place, we decided to visit the Gurudwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, now in Pakistan.

• Nanak Dev Ji

The shrine is built on the spot where Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469.We picked the month of March for the journey, as it is the spring time with pleasant temperatures and bloom everywhere, after the cold winter and before the onset of hot summer. We had decided to cross the Attari-Wagah border on 14th of the month. We got up at 2:45 AM and went for darshan of Darbar Sahib, in Amritsar. The place was really crowded compared to other days, and when the following shabad was sung by the Ragis:“ Chet govindh araadheeaai hovai anandh ghanaa.” — (SGGS, Pg. 133)Translation: In the month of Chet, by meditating on the Lord of the Universe, a deep and profound joy arises.We realized that how blessed we were, as it the first day of year as per Nanakshahi calendar, and we were in the holiest Sikh shrine.

By 11:30 AM we were in a taxi to go to the border. We went through the formalities and crossed over the zero line into Pakistan side of the border. Our host had arranged cars and after their welcoming we drove to the hotel. We arrived at the hotel at 3:30 PM and checked in.

Nanak Dev Ji

After checking in, we decided that today being a very special New Year day, we should attend the special program at the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in whose honor the Nanakshahi calendar is named. So, we quickly freshened up reassembled, packed ourselves in the cars and we were on the road to Nankana Sahib. The metaled motorway was very impressive and the cars were zipping at the speed of 120 KM/hour. In fact, we felt that motorway better than what we have encountered in the most advanced countries.

At 7:00 PM we arrived inside the Gurudwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib. The first sight of the facilities and buildings there take you in a state of awe and we were still trying to soak in the spectacle, beauty and grandeur. But as the special program had already started, we went straight to the diwan hall.We attended the program and heard Keertan from the jatha of Bhai Lal Ji, the eighth generation descendants of Bhai Mardana, the companion of Guru Ji. We again the heard the shabad quoted above from the Bhai Sahib of the Gurudwara. The special program ended at 9:00 PM, then we had darshan of Sukhasan place (Guru Granth Sahib’s retiring room for the night) and langar (dinner) in the langar hall.

The food tasted very delicious and eating the food there felt like a blessing, as it the place of Guru Ji’s birth. The tears of thankfulness were rolling down the cheek in a stream.