Nirankari Samagams

 Nirankari Samagams

Nirankari Samagams

              The gathering of Mission’s devotees
in large numbers periodically to celebrate the essence of enlightenment;
also intending to share it with other brothers and sisters across the
world is what we know as Samagam. Nirankari Samagams have become
synonymous with selfless service, discipline, togetherness along with
spiritual and ethical discourse, everything contributing to manifest a
blissful festival of brotherhood in the most quintessential way. In no
uncertain terms, these Samagams are microcosms of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which
literally means ‘The whole world is our family’. The family-like
feeling is so vividly evident at these Samagams, that even the one-time
visitors are left beaming with, both surprise and joy after witnessing
the spirit of oneness that grips these hubs of spiritual bliss. The
presence of Satguru at the Samagams makes it a divine celebration of
sorts, wherein devotees are filled with spiritual rapture on receiving
the ‘Darshan’ (audience) of their master. It is a wonderful platform where devotees not only reinforce their understanding and faith on ‘Gyan’ (God-Knowledge), but also take time to self-introspect and analyse their own journey on the path of righteousness.

ANNUAL SANT SAMAGAM

Having
started in 1948 under the divine aegis of Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh
Ji, the Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam has come a long way. From a small
gathering of merely a few hundred back then, this festival of love and
oneness today witnesses an overwhelming participation by around a
million devotees from across the world. The annual samagam has seen a
change in venue from Nirankari Colony to Idgah to Ram Lila Grounds to
the backside of Lal Qila to large grounds of Burari and now presently
being held at Mission’s own massive land at Samalkha, Haryana. The
yearning for the upcoming Annual Samagam begins immediately after the
conclusion of the previous Samagam. Devotees participate in sewa of
various kinds, months before the samagam is held. The Satguru blesses
the samagam with opening of the Samagam Sewa around a month before the
declared dates. The annual samagam, which virtually takes the shape of a
small city usually in the month of November each year, is characterized
with huge congregations, Sewadal Rally, General Body Meeting, Shobha
Yatra and Guru Vandana programs. The beauty of this Samagam lies in the
organic merger of various languages and cultures through a variety of
media including speeches, hymns, poems, skits and dances. Free community
kitchen along with many subsidized canteens serve quality food
throughout the day and night. Other facilities include free medical
help, railway and flight ticket booking, ATMs and publications etc. The
exhibition centre is another attraction for the visitors, showcasing
history, ideology and the journey of the mission and its masters. 

BHAKTI PARV SAMAGAM

The
Bhakti Parv Samagam is celebrated in the second week of January every
year in various branches of the Mission across the world. The major
congregation though is held in New Delhi near the Sarovar Complex.
Thousands of devotees gather to celebrate the spirit of loving devotion,
which forms the essential component of the Mission’s ideology. The life
and teachings of various saints and sages become the ground for
speeches, poems and songs during the bhakti parv congregation. Bhakti
Parv reminds us to carry gratitude in our conscience, towards the
formless God, Nirankar and his creation. It brings to the fore, the art
of detached attachment that can only be attained with the grace of
Satguru and company of enlightened souls. Many saints take a dip in the
holy waters of the Nirankari Sarovar on this day, which holds a
testimony to the unflinching devotion of Bhai Sahb Santokh Singh Ji. 

MANAV EKTA DIWAS

Manav Ekta
Diwas is the day that solemnly observes the sacrifice of Baba Gurbachan
Singh Ji, who laid his life for humanity. After departure of Baba
Gurbachan Singh Ji in physical form on 24th
April 1980, by the cowardly act of some ill-intended hardliners, Baba
Hardev Singh Ji led the Mission with the narrative of “Blood should flow
in veins and not in drains”. Ever since, thousands of units of blood
are donated by Nirankari devotees and sewadars across the world
throughout the year. Till date, over a million units of blood have been
contributed. Along with thousands of branches that observe Manav Ekta
Diwas, this annual congregation is held at a large scale at the Delhi
headquarters of the Mission on 24th
April every year, where the life and teachings of Baba Gurbachan Singh
Ji form the ground of inspiration and motivation to all. Chacha Pratap
Singh Ji, who laid his life in an attempt to save the life of Baba
Gurbachan Singh Ji, is also remembered with deep veneration on this day.
The underlying message and teaching of the day, most definitely, is
Unity of the entire Humankind. 

SAMARPAN DIWAS

13th
May is observed as Samarpan Diwas in the entire family of Nirankari
devotees, who remember, with deep and heartfelt reverence, the life and
teachings of Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, who lived his entire life
walking and talking the divine principles of Love and selfless devotion
to Nirankar. Ever since he was consecrated as the Satguru of humankind,
Baba Hardev Singh Ji preached forgiveness, magnanimity, compassion,
tolerance, oneness and many more such virtues through his thoughts,
words and actions. He covered millions of miles along with Nirankari
Rajmata Ji and Mata Savinder Hardev Ji across the globe, ensuring to
reach maximum countries, states, cities, towns and villages to spread
the word of God. The purity of his being reflected in his magnetic
smile, which mesmerised everyone who even once received his audience and
blessing. Baba Hardev Singh Ji, whom humanity lost unfortunately on 13th
May 2016 during an accident in Canada, will eternally be remembered for
his social and spiritual initiatives, that transformed the hearts and
minds of zillions, besides of course showing them all the path to
eternal bliss. Rev. Avneet Setya Ji, a staunch and dedicated young
devotee of the Mission, whom we also lost in the same incident, is also
recalled with profound respect on Samarpan Diwas.
 

MUKTI PARV

Mukti, or
Salvation is the ultimate aim of every soul. This fact has been
underlined by almost all saints, sages and scriptures. The Nirankari
ideology, most evidently pivots around this objective of human life.
Mukti Parv, which is commemorated every year on 15th
August in Sant Nirankari Mission, reminds us of the importance and
pathway to eternal merger of the soul into the oversoul. Incidentally,
it also happens to fall on the same day that our great country, India
achieved independence, metaphorically signifying the importance of
freedom. Historically, this day observed as Jagatmata Diwas and later as
Shahenshah-Jagatmata Diwas, is presently observed as Mukti Parv, as a
homage to the life and teachings of Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji, Mata
Budhwanti Ji, Pradhan Labh Singh Ji (The first president of the
Mission) and many more saints who lived and laid their lives for the
Mission of Truth. Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji, following the teachings of
Shahenshah Ji, declared that despite the saints leaving their physical
form on separate days, will be remembered unitedly on Mukti Parv, lest
we start observing another set of ritualistic traditions. Baba Hardev
Singh Ji also took a similar decision when the Mission lost Nirankari
Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji, and Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj followed
suit when even during the most overwhelming days, we lost Satguru Mata
Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj. Today, the Mission pays respect and honour
to all of them, learning from their profound lives at the juxtapose on
Mukti Parv. Congregations are held on similar pattern across all
branches of the Mission worldwide, this day, each year. 

REGIONAL SAMAGAMS

The
journey of Samagams is an ongoing one, just like the connect of Aatma
(Soul) with Parmatma (One Formless Almighty God). Alongside the Annual
Sant Samagam and other important sacrosanct samagams celebrated or
observed the year round, many regional samagams are held all through the
year in various states and cities of India like Maharashtra, U.P,
Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh etc. Each Samagams showcases the spirit of
Oneness and togetherness despite the diverse demographic components.
Lakhs of devotees gather with not much in common. The languages are
different, the costumes are varied, the climates don’t match, but the
underlying ethos of being children of One Supreme God presents a
panoramic view of a ‘World without Walls’ with a unique vivacity.
Imagine! Humankind needs just one single thread of universal identity to
do away with all differences of caste, creed, race, colour, language or
culture etc; which is possible by complete understanding of Truth and
then unconditional surrender unto the lotus feet of the True Master,
Satguru.