Why do we do Nagar Kirtans?

[rrss]

Nagar kirtan a waste of time, money, energy etc. It is not gurmat, it is not part of rehat, it simply is maya. If you disagree, please contemplate on the shabad. If you still disagree, may God help you. One does not need a parade to spread the message of sikhi, one needs committed Gursikhs who are so full of love for God that they will spread His true message throughout mankind and serve them.

Rather, NGD is PPD (Punjab Parade Day)- complete with stubble faced dhol players leading masses of people, for most of whom, it's one of few occasions in the year that they step into the Gurdwara. PPD is an ego-boost and an opportunity to celebrate. Youth do not need 'pride' to connect to God (rather Sikhi teaches the manmukh to eliminate false pride from the mind) nor does a gurmukh need to celebrate anything but God's glory (which can be celebrated all the time). You get the customary gatka performance, which is arguably not even an authentic and practical martial art. All cultures and faiths have some kind of parade. E.g. The Christians do Easter parades, especially in Europe.

Waheguru ji has spoken dur ki shabad through the great guru. This is all one needs in life. Spend all your time, money, energy etc on gurmat- serve humanity, sing God's praises and remember him day and night and continuously, contemplate on the Shabad, and strive to spread the true essence of God throughout humanity.

Boycott your next nagar kirtan. Rather, gather as many people as you can and organise smagam or the like. Expend no money on festivities, rather ask for donations for charity. And for Waheguru ji's sake, please somebody tell the peacock turbanned dhol bhajas to stay at home.

Now is the time to do simran. Switch off your computer/phone and allow the gurmantar to permeate through your mind. And don't stop.

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh

[SunSingh]

Nagar Kirtans were begun by the sixth Guru ji. This was during a time when the worldly emperors would take out processions. As the Sixth Guru was introducing the concept of temporal authority to the sangat, the nagar kirtan was a part of this process of honouring Guru ji as a spiritual and temporal Lord.

Really what it comes down to for the individual is what you choose to focus on. You can go to the Gurdwara and waste time in the nindya, the politics, the food, the socialising, or you can focus on Naam. The same thing goes with the nagar kirtans. Although I do agree that a lot of the gandh that people try to bring into the nagar kirtans should be removed/blocked by the organising committees.