CM Dhami pays tribute on Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji's Prakash Parv

Key Takeaways

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted a tribute on 7 August 2026 marking the Prakash Parv of Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji .

Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji was the eighth of the ten Sikh Gurus, installed at age five and passed away at age eight in 1664 .

The Guru is revered for selflessly serving the sick during a smallpox and cholera outbreak in Delhi .

CM Dhami described the Guru's life as a symbol of compassion ( karuna ), service ( seva ), and sacrifice ( tyag ).

Uttarakhand has a visible Sikh population and several historic gurdwaras, making Gurpurab outreach a regular feature of the state's official calendar.

On the auspicious occasion of Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji's Prakash Parv, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered reverent tribute to the eighth Sikh Guru — a figure who embodied compassion, service, and sacrifice in a ministry that lasted only three years yet left a mark that endures three and a half centuries later.

Posting on Friday, 7 August 2026, CM Dhami wrote in Hindi: 'सिख पंथ के आठवें गुरु, करुणा, सेवा और त्याग के प्रतीक गुरु हरकिशन साहिब जी के प्रकाश पर्व पर कोटिशः नमन।' — 'Innumerable salutations on the Prakash Parv of Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji, the eighth Guru of the Sikh faith and a symbol of compassion, service, and sacrifice.' He added that the Guru's luminous life, which carried the message of service to humanity, love, and kindness, remains 'a source of inspiration for all of us.'

The child Guru who served Delhi's sick

Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji was installed as the eighth of the ten Sikh Gurus at the age of just five. His brief ministry became defined by an act of extraordinary selflessness: during a devastating smallpox and cholera outbreak in Delhi, he tended to the sick and the suffering without regard for his own safety. He passed away in 1664 at the age of eight — leaving behind a legacy so profound that the Sikh community's daily prayer, the Ardas, invokes his name to this day.

Uttarakhand's Sikh heritage and official outreach

The tribute is consistent with a broader pattern of engagement by Uttarakhand's leadership with the state's Sikh community. The state is home to several historic gurdwaras and a visible Sikh population, and CM Dhami has regularly marked major Gurpurabs with public messages that emphasise shared values of seva (selfless service) and tyag (sacrifice) — principles that resonate across the state's diverse communities. Across India, state leaders of all parties observe Sikh Gurpurabs as occasions for reaffirming inclusive governance. The Prakash Parv of Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji stands among the more solemn of these observances — a day that asks the faithful, and their leaders, to reflect on what it means to give everything in service of others.

Point of View

With its historic gurdwaras and Sikh communities, such messages carry both symbolic and practical political weight. The invocation of seva and tyag also allows leaders to connect Sikh values to wider governance narratives around public service. As Gurpurabs approach on the calendar, expect similar messaging to intensify ahead of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Prakash Parv later in the year.

NationPress

7 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji?

Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji was the eighth of the ten Sikh Gurus. Installed at age five, he is revered for serving the sick during a smallpox outbreak in Delhi before his passing in 1664 at the age of eight.

What is Prakash Parv?

Prakash Parv, meaning 'festival of light,' marks the birth anniversary of a Sikh Guru. It is observed with prayers, kirtan, and community service at gurdwaras across India and the world.

Why did CM Dhami post a tribute for Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji?

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted the tribute on 7 August 2026 to mark the Guru's Prakash Parv, honouring his legacy of compassion, service, and sacrifice as part of the state's regular Gurpurab outreach.

What is Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji known for?

He is known for his selfless service to the sick — tending to those afflicted by smallpox and cholera in 17th-century Delhi — despite being a child. His name is invoked daily in the Sikh prayer, the Ardas.

Does Uttarakhand have a significant Sikh community?

Yes, Uttarakhand has a visible Sikh population and is home to several historic gurdwaras, making engagement with Sikh religious occasions a regular part of the state government's official outreach calendar.