NAGAR KIRTAN DURING THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT DELHI
The soul of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj merged with the Eternity in the year 1971. The devotees of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj at Delhi had developed an emotional bond with Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. They had so much love and respect for Sant Baba ji that they could not stop themselves from requesting Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj to allow them to celebrate the anniversary of Gurdev Baba ji at Delhi.
Starting from 1972, in the month of February, the anniversary has now become an annual affair with the grace of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji. Every year since then the anniversary is celebrated by the sangat of Delhi and is arranged at House No. 279-B/1666D Gobindpuri, Delhi, the residence of Sardar Piara Singh ji, contractor.
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj visited Delhi during the occasion of the anniversary. His presence and inspiration, led many people to accept the ambrosial nectar of the two edged sword. This annual ritual continues to this day and now the present Holy saint Sant Baba Jit Singh ji blesses the devotees of Delhi with his presence. The devotees continue to keep the memory of the elder Holy saints alive.
The sangat of Delhi is organized under the banner of ‘Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan’ as per the wishes of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj. A Diwan is organized after every fifteen days on a Sunday in the house of a devotee. This carries on throughout the year and the list of the bookings for the Diwan stretches sometimes from six months to a year. Quite a good number of devotees attend the Diwan. During the Diwan, Kirtan is carried out by different Ragi Jathas. Dhadhi Jathas ensure that the warrior spirit of the Sikhs is kept alive and eminent speakers give religious discourses. After the Bhog and Ardas, Guru Ka Langar is distributed. Everything is carried out in a very disciplined manner and with full respects to the tenets of Sikhism as taught at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
The devotees of Delhi have a lot of love for the Kutiya and one or the other keeps on visiting Nirmal Kutiya Johalan for inner happiness. During the three annual anniversaries at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, many devotees reach the Kutiya by train, bus or private cars.
Braham Giani Sant Baba Gian Singh ji’s anniversary and Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh Virakat ji’s anniversary is also now celebrated at Delhi along with the anniversary of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Every year the present Holy saint of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, Sant Baba Jit Singh ji reaches Delhi two to three days in advance to join the anniversary celebrations.
Once during the times of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj, the sangat of Delhi after seeking permission decided to take out a ‘NAGAR KIRTAN’. Permission for taking out the procession was obtained from the Delhi Government and the route was decided. The Delhi Government however laid down the following three restrictions, while permitting the procession.
1) No one would join the procession with naked swords in the hands.
2) Gatka would not be played.
3) There would be no change in the route that had been decided.
The sangat of Delhi was a disciplined one and accepted to take out the procession as per the orders of the Delhi Government. The Delhi Police, however, decided to position their force at various places on the route to supervise the proceedings so that everything happened peacefully. A Police Inspector deputed for the purpose however, wanted to have the control over the procession as per his authority.
It so happened that while the Police Inspector was going for his duty, his motor cycle skid suddenly and hit the back of a truck. Both the motorcycle and the Inspector went under the truck. An old man pulled the Inspector out with great difficulty. Luckily the Inspector was not at all injured except that he was shaken by the incident. He was astonished on the event. His motorcycle was running smoothly. He was driving cautiously, then how did his motorcycle skid. Secondly, he did not get injured in spite of the great impact of the accident. Nothing had happened to the motorcycle also.
He reached the place from where the Nagar Kirtan was to be started. He had experience of supervising earlier Nagar Kirtans in the city and had knowledge about the way the procession proceeded. On reaching the starting point, he came to know that this particular Nagar Kirtan was being taken out under the auspices of a Holy saint. He asked the administrators that he wanted to see the Holy saint.
He was taken to a room for the DARSHAN of the Holy saint Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj. On seeing Sant Maharaj ji, his head bowed automatically in reverence. When he came out of the room he informed the members of the managing committee, “I met with an accident while coming here, a short time ago. I was taken out by an old Baba ji and I now find him sitting inside.” He asked the sangat, “Am I awake or am I dreaming?”
One member informed him, “This Holy saint speaks less. He leads a very simple life.”
The Inspector was moved by the presence of the Baba ji who had pulled him out from under the truck. He said, “I have been very impressed by Baba ji. Tell me what can I do for you? You people are permitted to take out the Nagar Kirtan as you wish and with full honor. You may follow any route and my men will control the traffic.”
A member said, “We are happy that the administration has given us the permission for the Nagar Kirtan. We will follow the wishes of Sant Maharaj ji who stresses that Kirtan and Naam Simran should only be performed during the Nagar Kirtan. We will remain disciplined but you may guide your men to keep the traffic under control.”
The Inspector had already felt blessed. He gave orders to his staff for controlling the traffic.
The public of Delhi were able to see a real NAGAR KIRTAN. It was taken out with full reverence without causing any disturbance to the public at large.
Sant Maharaj ji always considered the works of his devotees as supreme in case these were performed within the disciplined tenets of Sikhism. Sant Maharaj ji was kind enough to ensure through his blessings that the work was carried out without any hitch. The actual impact on the devotees was realized only after the event.