Our Bureau
Newark, NJ
Guru Nanak’s 555th Birth Anniversary was celebrated at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, NJPAC in New Jersey on November 9, 2024, under the theme “Oneness: A Light for Humanity.” This event honored Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings of unity, equality, and love for humanity. Organized by the nonprofit Let’s Share a Meal, which has been serving meals to homeless shelters, elderly homes, and soup kitchens worldwide since 2012, the celebration emphasized the spirit of Langar, the community kitchen, extending help to those in need.
Vikas Khanna, a celebrated chef known for his humanitarian service, was honored by Sant Chatwal, an Indian American hotelier during the event. Sant Chatwal along with Bangla Sahib’s Head Granthi of Gurdwara, Giani Ranjit Singh, and Vikas Khanna, spoke at the occasion, commending Onkar Singh, the trustee and chair of Guru Nanak’s 555th birth anniversary celebration, and his team for organizing this significant event. They acknowledged the efforts of Onkar Singh and his team in conveying Guru Nanak’s message of oneness and universal brotherhood.
The event featured Guruvani singing hymns in classical ragas, with vocalists and instrumentalists rendering Guru Nanak’s Gurbani. Among the performers was renowned vocalist Harshdeep Kaur, and a group of young instrumentalists captivated the audience by beautifully rendering the many ragas in which Guru Nanak sang.
Held in NJPAC’s auditorium with a capacity of 2,800, the event drew an enthusiastic audience from diverse communities, reflecting Guru Nanak’s message of unity among all people. The soulful singing of Guru Nanak’s Gurbani conveyed the theme of humanity’s oneness and resonated deeply with attendees.
Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the 15th century, emphasizes divine harmony and equality, core beliefs articulated in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhs. The universal nature of Sikhism, with approximately 27 million followers worldwide and around 500,000 Sikhs in the United States, reaches across faiths and cultures, encouraging a vision of peace and harmony for all.
Through this celebration, Let’s Share a Meal touched the lives of over 100,000 individuals, continuing its mission of monthly food drives and other aid activities.
