A Sikh man seen dressed up as Santa distributing sweets to the public in the spirit of a Christmas, in Andheri West area of Mumbai. That’s what Christmas is all about right? Spreading joy and happiness. And it’s not everyday you get to see Sardar Santa Claus ji.With everything being dull and deary because of the ongoing pandemic Surjitt Sahani decided to dress up as Santa Claus and cheer up people by distributing sweets to people around his hotel Ardaas Resideency. Surjitt Sahani is the owner of the boutique hotel Ardaas Resideency and Publisher of Mumbai Messenger. He told us that he started distributing sweets around 12 in the afternoon and finished late around 8 in the evening and that he really loved it, as it really got people into the Christmas spirit and cheered them up as we could see them coming up to click selfies with him and shouting and wishing A very Merry Christmas. It’s very beautiful when people from all walks of life and religions come together for each other in a country like India. I think India is the only country where you will see a Sikh celebrating Christmas or a Muslim celebrating Diwali and Muslims and Hindus praying together. It’s all about love and unity in our country. And that’s what makes a Sikh man dress up like Santa Claus right?
The Sikh Santa Claus made waves in the entire Andheri West Area of Mumbai and whole of India. People were quick enough to share this on social media. Pages like AndheriWest Shit Posting and LOCA posted about it on their social media handles. The post garnered positive response from the public as they loved the kind gesture by Surjitt Sahani. Talking about Sikhs it reminds us of the ongoing farmer’s protest and how Sikhs have always fed people through Guru ka Langar no matter what religion or social status.
Originally a Persian word, Langar translates as ‘an almshouse’ or ‘a place for the poor and needy’, is a community kitchen in the Sikh tradition. It is said that Guru Nanak when he was a child, was given a sum of 20 rupees and was told to visit the market by his father to do ‘Sacha Sauda’ (a good bargain). His father was a well-known trader of his village and wanted young Guru Nanak to learn the family business when he was just 12 years old. Instead of doing a worldly bargain, the Guru instead bought food with the money and fed a large group of saints who had been hungry for days and that is what he said was the “true business”. The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book that is kept in all the gurudwaras, contains such meaningful teachings of the Gurus and is worshipped by the Sikhs. By taking lesson from Guru’s teachings and actions, one of the ideas dearly adopted and followed are, “Naam Japo” “Kirat Karo” and “Vand Chhako”, meaning, meditate of the Guru’s name, lead an honest life and earn honest and dedicated living by walking on the path that the Gurus have made for us and lastly, share what you eat.
We really hope that the farmers protesting gets the justice they deserve. We hope everything gets Merry and happy in this New Year and the farmers get their rights.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2021.
