Nampally Exhibition Grounds turn into a sea of faith as thousands celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti

Despite midweek workdays and a forecast of rain, the Nampally Exhibition Ground turned into a sea of devotion and colour on Wednesday as over 20,000 devotees from across Hyderabad and Telangana gathered to celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti, marking the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.

The sprawling grounds were transformed into a vast tented hall, decked in shades of saffron, yellow and blue.

From late morning, long queues of devotees formed inside the main pavilion, waiting to seek blessings from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture, while religious hymns by children, women and later – well-known preachers, filled the air. On both sides of the hall, hundreds sat cross-legged in prayer, some with folded hands, others lost in quiet reflection.

Throughout the day, the aroma of freshly prepared food wafted through the venue as volunteers served ‘Guru Ka Langar’, the community kitchen that embodies Sikhism’s spirit of equality and service. Children, elderly devotees, and visitors of all faiths shared meals, sitting shoulder to shoulder on long mats. Outside the main congregation area, stalls offered free snacks, medical check-ups, educational material, and devotional items, creating a festive yet deeply spiritual atmosphere.

Sikh devotees’ paying obeisance on occasion of Vishaal Deewan, at Nampally Exhibition Ground, in Hyderabad, on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

The congregation was jointly organised by the management committees of Gurudwaras in Secunderabad and Afzalgunj and marked the culmination of five-day long celebrations which included religious processions and gatherings at key gurudwaras. The event, which began at 11 a.m., continued till 4 p.m., featured recitations of religious hymns and sermons by renowned preachers including Bhai Harjinder Singh (Srinagar wale), Bhai Baljeet Singh (USA wale), Gyani Saheb Singh (Markanda wale), and several others invited from across India.

Guru Nanak Jayanti is more than a commemoration of the Guru’s birth, it is a celebration of his enduring message of truth, humility and oneness. His teachings urge people to live with honesty, compassion and a sense of shared humanity, values that remain profoundly relevant today, said the organisers.