The Archbishop of Bhopal, A.A.S. Durairaj SVD, promoted religious harmony by inviting the Sikh community to the episcopal residence during their Baisakhi festival on April 13.
Commenting on the event, the Archbishop said his duty as a leader is to ensure spiritual harmony among the devout.
“It is our responsibility as spiritual leaders to keep our faithful in spiritual harmony,” the archbishop told RVA News.
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion established in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent in the 15th century. It is estimated to have 30 million adherents, making it the ninth-largest religion globally.
The Kirtan community celebrated Baisakhi (harvest) at Gurudawaya Shri Guru Singh Sabha in Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bhopal.
Under the leadership of committee president Shri Paramveer Singh Wazir, the Nagar Kirtan procession was conducted around Bhopal City. Nagar Kirtan means singing hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book of the Sikhs.
They were welcomed in front of the Archbishop's House by Archbishop Durairaj, Father Alfred D'Souza, Father Edward, and Father Roshin Antony, along with some Catholic religious and faithful members and members of the Public Relations Officer (PRO) team.
In gratitude, Shri Paramveer Singh and other Sikh community representatives presented the archbishop with shawls and mementos.
In greeting, the Archbishop garlanded the five beloved ones walking before the holy procession of Guru Granth Sahib (the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, believed to embody the gurus).
Sikhs traditionally are baptized into the Khalsa (pure) brotherhood on Vaisakhi at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, where Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa.
Baisakhi is a festival celebrated by Punjabi farmers to give thanks for a plentiful harvest and pray for a prosperous one in the coming year.
Mostly in Punjab and Haryana, the Sikh community celebrates this Baisakhi festival enthusiastically.
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