Kejriwal pays tribute on Guru Harkrishan's Gurgaddi Divas
Synopsis
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal marked the Gurgaddi Divas of Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji, the Eighth Sikh Guru known as Bala Preetam, offering reverence and urging people to follow the Guru's path of compassion and service to the suffering.
Key Takeaways
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal posted a tribute in Punjabi on 3 November 2026 marking the Gurgaddi Divas of the Eighth Sikh Guru.
Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji , titled Bala Preetam , assumed the Gurgaddi in 1661 at the age of five.
The Guru is revered for tending personally to the sick during a deadly epidemic in Delhi — an enduring example of seva .
Kejriwal offered koti koti pranaam and called on people to pledge to walk the path the Guru charted.
Indian political leaders across parties routinely mark Sikh Gurgaddi anniversaries, reflecting both cultural respect and outreach to Sikh communities in Delhi and Punjab .
On the auspicious occasion of the Gurgaddi Divas of the Eighth Sikh Guru, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal offered reverent greetings to the Sikh community on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, invoking the legacy of Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji and calling on people to walk the path he illuminated.
Posting in Punjabi, Kejriwal addressed the Guru by his beloved title 'Bala Preetam' — 'the beloved child' — and offered 'koti koti pranaam' (countless salutations) at the Guru's feet. He called on followers to pledge to enrich their own lives by following the path shown by the Guru who relieved the suffering of the afflicted.
Who was Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji?
Guru Harkrishan, the Eighth Guru of the Sikhs, was born in 1656 and assumed the Gurgaddi — the sacred seat of spiritual authority — in 1661, succeeding Guru Har Rai Ji. He was barely five years old at the time, earning the title Bala Preetam, the 'cherished child'. His ministry, though brief, left a profound mark: he is remembered for his extraordinary compassion during a devastating epidemic in Delhi, where he personally tended to the sick, an act of selfless service — seva — that became the defining image of his short life. He passed away in 1664, aged just seven.
The Gurgaddi Divas marks the anniversary of a Guru's ascension to this spiritual seat, and is observed with prayers, kirtan, and community gatherings at gurudwaras across India and around the world.
Indian political leaders routinely mark such Sikh commemorative dates with public messages — a practice that reflects both genuine cultural acknowledgement and visible outreach to Sikh communities in states like Delhi and Punjab, where AAP holds significant political presence. Kejriwal's message follows this calendar of remembrance, underscoring the Guru's enduring relevance as a symbol of compassion and service to the most vulnerable.
Point of View
Which governs Punjab and built its Delhi base partly on Sikh community support, marking every Gurgaddi anniversary is near-mandatory calendar politics. The invocation of Guru Harkrishan's seva ethos — healing the sick without discrimination — also dovetails with AAP's long-standing 'mohalla clinic' public-health narrative. The message is ceremonial in form but quietly strategic in its alignment of political identity with a cherished Sikh value.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gurgaddi Divas?
Gurgaddi Divas marks the anniversary of a Sikh Guru's ascension to the Gurgaddi, the sacred seat of spiritual authority. It is observed with prayers, kirtan, and community gatherings at gurudwaras.
Who is Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji?
Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji is the Eighth Guru of the Sikhs, born in 1656 and known by the title Bala Preetam. He assumed the Gurgaddi in 1661 at the age of five and is revered for his selfless service during a Delhi epidemic before passing away in 1664.
What does Bala Preetam mean?
Bala Preetam is a Punjabi title meaning 'the beloved child', conferred on Guru Harkrishan because he became Guru at the exceptionally young age of five.
Why did Arvind Kejriwal post about Guru Harkrishan?
Kejriwal posted on the occasion of Guru Harkrishan's Gurgaddi Divas to offer tribute to the Eighth Sikh Guru and call on people to follow his path of compassion. Indian political leaders routinely mark significant dates in the Sikh religious calendar.
What is the significance of Guru Harkrishan's ministry in Delhi?
During a deadly epidemic in Delhi, Guru Harkrishan personally tended to the sick regardless of their background, making his brief ministry a defining example of selfless service, or seva, in Sikh tradition.
