An Eternal Light

India Today commemorates the life and times of Guru Nanak with a special edition on the founder of the Sikh faith

- Anilesh S. Mahajan

The Punjab government is pulling out all the stops to make the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev—the founder of the Sikh faith—a memorable event. The government is in the process of completing a number of projects that will ease the journey for the thousands of pilgrims—from within the country and abroad—that are expected to throng the holy sites of the Sikh faith including Sultanpur Lodhi, Dera Baba Nanak, Amritsar and Kartarpur.

The Punjab government has already spent over Rs 550 crore on infrastructure works in these cities, apart from setting up institutions and museums to commemorate the event. Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, who is personally supervising the arrangements, says his government is willing to spend any amount to ensure that the 550th anniversary celebrations will be remembered for all time to come. As he told India today, “We have gone the whole hog in setting up the celebrations for Guru Nanak Devji...because there is nothing bigger than him for us.” (See interview: “As a Sikh, I am proud...”)