'Nanak Aaya! Nanak Aaya!’ was the call at the Sadhu Vaswani Mission on the 21st September morning.
From the sacred birth place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev, Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, the first ever International Nagar Kirtan (procession) arrived in Pune on September 20, 2019 and was welcomed by Sadhu Vaswani Mission on 21st September morning.
The atmosphere at the Mission was that of a celebration, the hustle was joyous and the yearning in the eyes of the devotees was intense! They were unable to contain their happiness! After 550 years, Guru Nanak Dev had chosen to walk into the abode of the two Great Masters — Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani and Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani.
Amidst the conch trumpet, beating of drums and the clarion call of ‘Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal’ the Palkhi Sahib halted at the Mission entrance.
The welcome was soulful. It was extended by honouring the ‘panj pyaras’ with the traditional offering of coconut and shawl. Chants of ‘Satnam Waheguru’ echoed aloud!
Where thePalkhi Sahibhad halted in the Mission, devotees lined up to have one glimpse of the ‘khadawa’— wooden slippers —of Guru Nanak Dev and rest their forehead in obeisance to the 350 year old Granth Sahib. Many a tear-touched eyes were seen as they waited to have the blessed darshan. “Guru Nanak Dev’s Khadawa has come all the way from Pakistan, what more can one ask for!” said Shyam Ubriani.
“Never did I imagine that I would have this opportunity. I am immensely thankful to Guru Nanakji for he has come to meet me,” said Khushboo Mirani.
“Going to Guru Nanak’s birthplace is unimaginable. But his coming to us is indeed a blessing. The connection which has all along been, has further deepened. All I can say is I am ecstatic!” said Dimple Wadhwani.
Finally, with another call of ‘Waheguru Ji Da Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Di Fateh’, the Palkhi Sahib proceeded to its onward journey towards Mumbai. At the Mission, prasad was distributed amongst all the devotees.
What was unimaginable, unfathomable, had come true! Who would have thought being well within the Mission premises, Guru Nanak Dev’s Palkhi would come all the way from Pakistan! Yet, it was true. The three Great Masters had met on the holy grounds of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission. History had been created
“Guru Nanak was one of the most radiant stars in the firmament of India’s spiritual leaders. His face was so luminous that people saw him and they bowed down to him of their own accord. On this dark planet he appeared as a heavenly light. And this light continues to shine even today in millions of hearts. It is the light of love.”
— Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani