Author Archives: Hannah Pynn

Holidays and Holy Days – Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Sikh)

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This blogpost series is called Holidays and Holy Days to inform our OSU community about significant religious or spiritual observances.  If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to Hannah Pynn hannah.pynn@oregonstate.edu in the Dean of Student Life office.

This Wednesday celebrates the holiday of Guru Nanak Gurpurab.

Happy Gurupurab!
Happy Gurupurab!

Context

The Sikh holiday Guru Nanak Gurpurab Diwali (also called Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Utsav) celebrates the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak who was born in 1469 in what is now present day Pakistan.  Sikh’s holidays revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus and the dates change every year according to the traditional Indian calendar.  Guru Nanak Gurpurab begins on 28 November, 2012. 

Guru Nanak is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and celebrating his birthday is a time for festivals and prayers among Sikhs.

Significance

Guru Nanak is remembered in the Sikh sacred scriptures and is famous for saying, “There is neither Hindu nor Mussulman (Muslim) so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow God’s path. God is neither Hindu nor Mussulman and the path which I follow is God’s.”  This is a fundamental belief of Sikhs, that there is a supreme God that manifests in all major religions.

Guru Nanak’s teaching is understood to be practiced in three ways:

  • Vaṇḍ Chakkō:  Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need
  • Kirat Karō:  Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud
  • Naam Japna:  Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God)
In 1499, Guru Nanak was moved by seeing suffering in the world and set out to spread a message of peace and compassion.  Guru Nanak is famous for his five journeys across Asia, spreading his Divine message.

 

Rituals/Traditions

  1. Singing hymns
  2. A huge procession, beginning at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, the birthplace of Guru Nanak
  3. Swordsmanship and various martial arts to demonstrate mock battles
  4. Flags and flowers are displayed
  5. Early morning Katha, exposition of Sikh scriptures
  6. A community lunch that welcomes all, regardless of caste
  7. Demonstrations in the spirit of seva (service) and bhakti (devotion)
  8. Sunset prayer sessions that last into the late night until 1:20am, the actual time of Guru Nanak’s birth
Happy Gurpurab!
Additional Resources

Due to the political unrest in Pakistan, there is some tension about permitting Sikh’s entry to their traditional place of celebration for this holiday.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/police-banned-entry-of-sikhs-to-haridwar-say-devotees/1036817/0

A video of Sikh pilgrims to celebrate in 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxk-2PWTpBM 

 

http://in.news.yahoo.com/citys-sikhs-prepare-guru-nanak-jayanti-183000129.html

http://www.newkerala.com/news/newsplus/worldnews-106495.html#.ULWentPjnbk

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/sikhs-and-muslims-on-542n_b_1087327.html 

 

Holidays and Holy Days – Diwali (Hindu)

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This blogpost series is called Holidays and Holy Days to inform our OSU community about significant religious or spiritual observances.  If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to Hannah Pynn hannah.pynn@oregonstate.edu in the Dean of Student Life office.

This week celebrates the holiday of Diwali.

Happy Diwali!

Context

The Indian festival Diwali (also called Divali and Deepavali) is translated into the Sanskrit definition of “row of lamps” and is often referred to as the Festival of Lights.  Diwali, the five-day festival celebrated on one of the darkest night of the year, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and is one of the most important festivals of the year.  An official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji, Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world.  Diwali begins on 13 November. 

Diwali marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year, commemorating spiritual peace, familial relationships, and hoping for good things to come in the next year.

Significance

Diwali is celebrated by Hindu’s as the return of the Lord Rama from a 14 year exile.  In celebration of his return, people light small lamps to light his way home after he defeated the evil of Ravana and his armies.

Janism observes Diwali as the attainment of nirvana by Lord Mahavira, a spiritual leader who valued meditation, the respect of all living things, and giving up earthly comforts for the sake of spiritual peace.

Sikhs also celebrate Diwali as the mark of Chhorh Divis, when their sixth guru Guru Hargobind Ji, released 52 Hindi kings from prison.

The spiritual significance of Diwali asserts the Hindu philosophy of good over evil, that humans have “the awareness of the inner light” that brings joy and peace.

Rituals/Traditions

  1. Lighting innumerable small lamps, candles, and lights
  2. Visiting family
  3. Fireworks
  4. Wearing new clothes
  5. Exchanging special sweets with neighbors
  6. Going to the temples as a family
  7. Decorating homes with flowers, colored sand, and lots of lights
Additional Resources

President Obama is the first president to officially observe the holiday of Diwali.  Take a look at his Presidential address wishing people a Happy Diwali.  Presidential Happy Diwali

This is a short animated video that illustrates the story of Lord Rama and his victory of light over darkness.  Lord Rama – Defeat of good over evil

National Geographic shows footage of beautiful sights in India during Diwali celebrations.

National Geographic Diwali

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/diwali-2012-festival-of-lights-photos_n_2115208.html

http://www.diwali2012.in/

 

 

Hannah Pynn – Graduate Assistant

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Hello!  My name is Hannah Pynn, I’m the Graduate Assistant for the Dean of Student Life (DOSL) at Oregon State University.

Now that the rain is here, it finally feels like fall in Oregon.  Since this is my first term as a grad student, the rain gives me a good excuse to settle in every evening with a cup of tea and a stack of books to study for my College Student Services Administration (CSSA) masters program.  The CSSA program is a masters program that studies student affairs and higher education, which means that maybe some day I’ll be a Dean of Student Life myself!  For now, I’m focusing on writing lots of papers and absorbing lots of information about how to serve college students.

As the Graduate Assistant in the office, I am working on several campus-wide initiatives that focus on the community and holistic development of every student on our beautiful campus.

Everyone Matters @ OSU is a global social media campaign that promotes inclusivity and non-judgement.  Check out how you can voice your thoughts on why YOU think Everyone Matters @ OSU.

 

I am also a coordinator for the Interfaith Community Service Initiative which is a campaign that aspires to initiate meaningful dialogue between religious and nonreligious individuals, bringing together students from all walks of life under the common umbrella of community service.

When I go home, I go home to a mansion that is the home of about 130 women.  My husband and I are the House Directors at Kappa Delta Sorority and this is our fifth year living in the residence.  We love our KD ladies.  This is us at Mock Rock last year, the huge KD philanthropy event that raised over $35,000 for child abuse prevention locally and nationally.

I’m looking forward to continuing my work in DOSL for the next two years.  I love when people visit me at work, so feel free to stop by to chat in Kerr A200.

Hannah