AMN
The Gurudwara in Dubai today entered the Guinness Book of Records for hosting Breakfast for people of 101 nationalities on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi, . Officially called “Breakfast for Diversity” , the occasion exemplified the spirit of charity, religious and cultural tolerance amongst people of various nationalities and faith.
Making the announcement Ms Hoda Khachab, Records Manager and Official Guinness World Record Adjudicator, said that the minimum that was required to enter the Guinness Book of Records was the participation of 55 nationalities but the Gurudwara at Dubai had people of 101 nationalities participating in the “Breakfast for Diversity” event and hence have set a new World Record.
People of various countries dressed up in their national attire turned up for this historic occasion and participated in the “Breakfast for Diversity” programme. A number of diplomats from various countries also participated in the event. People from various countries like Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan etc travelled to Dubai to participate in this community programme. More than 600 people took part in the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Indian Ambassador to UAE Navdeep Suri said that this was a ‘Unique and remarkable occasion which highlighted the spirit of inclusiveness and sharing by the Sikh Community”, which is a hallmark of the diversity of faith practiced in India. He hailed the Sikhs as being a community that is open to all communities. He said that this one of most modern Indian religion which truly believes in treating people of all faith equally. The langar at any Gurudwara is a standing testimony for it.\
Chairperson of the Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple, Mr. Surender Kandhari tol media that he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the response of the people of UAE in spreading this ‘message of peace and harmony and celebrating the Community Spirit.’ Mr Kandhari who has been a resident of UAE since the past 41 years added that this record was also special as this was achieved in the ‘Year of Giving’. UAE government has declared 2017 as the “Year of Giving”.
Meanwhile Sikh community in Dubai hailed the visit of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, to Guru Nanak Darbar at Jebel Ali on Wednesday.
The first such visit by a shaikh to the temple, which opened in January 2012, Sikhs in Dubai hailed it as a momentous occasion.
Shaikh Nahyan hailed the Guru Nanak Darbar as a symbol of the multiculturalism of the UAE.
Likening the UAE leadership’s vision, which welcomes people of all faiths and ethnicities to the country, to that of Indian Emperor Akbar, Shaikh Nahyan called the UAE a cradle of all faiths.
“I commend the Sikh community’s dedication for building such a wonderful place of worship,” said Shaikh Nahyan as he visited the temple.