‘Guru Ka Bagh’ (Guru Nanak’s Garden) was created in 2019 by the Canberra Punjabi Sports & Cultural Association (CPSCA). It has since planted more than 1000 native plants in the area. Photo: CPSCA.
Canberrans are invited to join a passionate cultural group as they come together in celebration of the region’s most beautiful native plants.
‘Guru Ka Bagh’ is held every spring in the Native Garden at John Knight Memorial Park, a 12-hectare area on the eastern foreshores of Lake Ginninderra. Featuring expansive views, open grass areas, water rapids, picnic and playground facilities, the park is the perfect backdrop to highlight Australian natives.
The event began four years ago when the Canberra Punjabi Sports & Cultural Association (CPSCA) diligently planted 550 natives in one day to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. Since then, CPSCA members have planted more than 1000 trees, shrubs, florals and creepers in the garden.
Sunita Dhindsa has been an integral part of the association since its beginning.
“We started Guru Ka Bagh to celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the very first Sikh teacher, or guru,” she says.
“He was born in 1469 AD in Nankana Sahib, India, which is now in Pakistan.
“An educated man, he travelled over 28,000 kilometres to engage with learned people across Asia and share a message of oneness, or Ek Onkar.”
In the Sikh religion, oneness means everything in creation is made of one entity in many forms, which `exists everywhere, interconnecting everything and everyone’.
“Guru Nank Dev Ji believed no one person could be superior or inferior and that all were equal irrespective of gender, religion, caste or status, because we were all created from and by the same source,” Sunita says.
“He gave great importance to respecting our environment and spoke against inequality, blind worship, superstition, suppression of freedom and mistreatment of people.”
The Guru is revered under many names, by people of many faiths and nationalities, including Bhutan, India, Iraq, Nepal, Tibet, Egypt, China and Russia.
He expressed and taught his ideas through a phrase still used today: ‘Pavan guru paanee pitaa; Maataa dharat mahat; Divas raat du-i daa-ee dayaa; Khaylai sakal jagat.’
This translates to: ‘Air is the teacher, water is the father; Earth is the great mother; Day and night are the two nurturers; And (the world) plays under them.’
CPSCA is run entirely by volunteers who want to support and promote traditional Panjabi sports, food and culture.
“We also attract visiting Panjabi artists and writers, develop local initiatives, and advocate on behalf of our community by liaising with ACT and federal government, and the High Commission of India,” Sunita says.
“No matter our faith or background, the concepts we celebrate during Guru Ka Bagh are ones I believe all people can relate to.
“We welcome everyone and invite all to join us on 26 November at the park to promote and share these concepts, and to help improve the native biodiversity in Canberra.”
Join CPSCA for Guru Ka Baag in 2023: 26 November from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm at John Knight Park Belconnen, corner of Aikman Drive and Townsend Place. All are welcome and gloves and plants will be provided.
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