Gurupurab, which falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Kartik, is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. This year, Balvatika Preschools organized special Gurupurab celebrations for their students to teach them about the important teachings and principles of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Celebrations and Activities at Balvatika Preschool

At Balvatika Preschool, the day began with an assembly where the students were told about the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in a simple manner using visual aids so they could easily understand. They were explained about concepts like sharing, compassion, equality and rejection of superstitions. The students then sang hymns from Gurbani.

Various fun activities related to the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji were organized for the students. These included making paper rangoli designs with messages of peace, sharing sweet treats with friends as per Guru Ji’s message of sharing, and acting out short skits highlighting his teachings. The little ones also made cards with messages like “Share with others” and “Love for all” as take-home craft.

In the spirit of Guru Ji’s langar tradition, a community kitchen was set up where students and teachers together prepared and served sweet kheer to all. This helped inculcate the virtues of selfless service. The celebrations concluded with a prayer meeting thanking Guru Ji for his enlightened teachings.

Celebrations at Balvatika Preschool

At Balvatika Preschool, the day began with ardas or prayers seeking blessings of the Almighty. The students were then told stories from the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and how he spread the message of one God. To make them understand better, models and flashcards depicting various events were used.

Various activities were organized including decorating diyas with messages of peace cut out of colored paper. The students also made paper chains with the motto “Sarbat da bhala” written on them. They enacted short plays highlighting Guru Ji’s teachings like equality and rejection of superstitions. As a take-away craft, the kids made greeting cards with pictures and quotes of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

In the spirit of langar or community kitchen, students helped prepare and pack snacks which were then distributed among underprivileged children studying in a nearby municipal school. This instilled the virtues of sharing and service. The day ended with ardas seeking blessings to imbibe Guru Ji’s teachings of compassion, kindness and universal brotherhood.

Reasons for Celebrating Gurupurab

There are several important reasons why Gurupurab is celebrated at Balvatika Preschools:

– To make young children aware of the life and noble teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji like unity of God, equality, rejection of superstitions, langar tradition, etc. at a foundational level.

– To help integrate these universal principles of compassion, kindness, sharing and service in their daily lives from a young age.

– To encourage the spirit of communal harmony, brotherhood and respect for all religions as taught by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

– To introduce children to India’s rich cultural heritage and celebrate important religious festivals of various communities.

– To inculcate respect for all faiths and teachings of compassion, which are highly relevant in today’s divisive times.

– To provide an enjoyable and interactive way for children to learn about values through activities, stories, songs and role plays.

– To pave the way for them to grow up as responsible, empowered and harmonious citizens who uphold the inclusive ethos of India.

Conclusion

The annual Gurupurabh celebrations at Bragnam and Balvatika Preschools aim to familiarize young children with the enlightened principles of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and celebrate his universal message of love, harmony and service. Through interactive activities woven around his teachings, the goal is to help them imbibe these virtues from a young age and contribute to a just, compassionate and pluralistic society.