Ottawa, Canada: October 26, 2026, became a historic day for the Ravidassia community in Canada as a special celebration marking the 650th Birth Anniversary of Guru Ravidass Ji was held at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
The event brought together members of the Ravidassia community and the wider Indian diaspora from across Canada, as well as participants from the United States and the United Kingdom. The celebration was hosted by Member of Parliament Gurbux Saini at the request of the local organisation, Shri 108 Sant Sarwan Dass Charitable Trust Vancouver.
Virinder Bangar, convenor of the Trust, expressed gratitude to MP Gurbux Saini for hosting the event and for reading a one-minute statement in the House of Commons to mark the occasion.
The Message of Equality and Begumpura
The celebration highlighted the timeless teachings of Guru Ravidass Ji, whose message of equality, humanity, dignity and social justice continues to inspire people around the world. The spirit of Begumpura, Guru Ravidass Ji’s vision of a society free from suffering, discrimination and inequality, formed an important part of the occasion.
Harjit Sohoaul, President of Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Vancouver, described the gathering as a historic moment at the Parliament of Canada and said that Guru Ravidass Ji’s teachings continue to provide inspiration in the struggle for equality and human dignity.
Participation from Across Canada and Beyond
Community leaders, interfaith representatives and devotees travelled from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec to attend the programme. Participants from the United States and the United Kingdom also joined the celebration.
The Shri 108 Sant Sarwan Dass Charitable Trust Vancouver operates under the guidance and blessings of Sant Niranjan Dass Ji Maharaj, the current head of Dera Ballan.
Several organisations contributed to making the event possible, including Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha of Vancouver, Shri Guru Ravidass Society of Calgary, Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha of Ontario, Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha of Montreal, Gurbani Sagar, Guru Ravidass Seniors Immigrant Society of Calgary, Chetna Association of Canada, AIM Toronto, Budh-Vihara Society of Ontario, Vancouver Punjabi Mela Society, and the Worldwide BSP Supporters Group of Vancouver and Toronto.
Posthumous Lifetime Contribution Award
One of the most emotional moments of the ceremony was the presentation of a Posthumous Lifetime Contribution Award in honour of the late Swaran Dass Bangar and his wife, Resham Kaur Bangar, recognising their lifelong and selfless contributions to humanity and community service. Their four children travelled from the United Kingdom to attend the ceremony and receive the award on behalf of their parents.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Raj Kumar Bangar expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the historic event. He said that the recognition of his parents’ lives, contributions and commitment to Seva was a matter of great pride for the entire family.
He also highlighted the significance of taking the teachings and message of Guru Ravidass Ji to a national platform as important as the Parliament of Canada.
A Historic Day for the Community
The celebration concluded with thanks to the community members, organisations and elected representatives from different political parties who participated in the event.
The programme at Parliament Hill was more than a religious or cultural celebration. It provided an important international platform for taking Guru Ravidass Ji’s message of equality, social justice and human dignity to a wider audience, making the 650th anniversary celebration a memorable milestone for the Ravidassia community in Canada.
Jai Birdi based in Canada. He is the president and executive director of Chetna Association of Canada. Email- jpbirdi@gmail.com