World Pedestrian Day
The World Pedestrian Day is still on papers. It has not been celebrated in the world yet. The idea of World Pedestrian Day was proposed by the Punjab Police.
About World Pedestrian Day
The Punjab Police want the world to celebrate the birthday of Sikh founder Guru Nanak Dev as the World Pedestrian Day. Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in Kattak. Kattak is now in Shekhpura district of Pakistan. Guru Nanak birthday is a Gazetted holiday in India. Gazetted holiday is public holiday that has cultural or religious or nationalistic importance. However, the state legislations of such holidays differs in different states.
Why Guru Nanak birthday as World Pedestrian Day?
Guru Nanak Dev travelled the world to spread the message of oneness during 15th and 16th centuries. He was the founder of Sikhism. He aspired to break the barriers across different spiritual faiths. Between 1500-1524, in a period of 24 years, Guru Nanak travelled a lot to show the path of equality, love, humanity, and selfless services to mankind. Most of his journeys were on foot. During those journeys he was accompanied by Bhai Mardana. Guru Nanak travelled in all four directions. He made walking an integral part of Sikhism. He travelled from Mecca to Haridwar and also from Sylhet to Mount Kailash. During his travel, he visited thousands of interfaith sites related to Islam, Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Some of these sites have constructed Gurudwaras to commemorate his visit. Such sites are spread across nine countries such as India, Iran, Pakistan, China, Iraq, Bangladesh, Tibet, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Some are located in conflict zones are inaccessible. He undertook most of his journey on foot as on those days the early mode of transport was restricted to animals and boats. As Guru Nanak travelled on foot to spread above principles, the Punjab police wants to celebrate his birthday as World Pedestrian Day.
What is the proposal of Punjab Police?
The proposal was made by the Punjab Police to the State Transport Minister Amrinder Raja Warring. The proposal demands to celebrate the Pedestrian Day on Gurupurab of Guru Nanak. The birthdays of the ten Sikh Gurus are celebrated as Gurupurab. It further proposes to first celebrate National Pedestrian Day in the country. The Government of India can then take up the matter to the United Nations to celebrate Gurupurab as World Pedestrian Day.
When is World Pedestrian Day celebrated?
The World Pedestrian Day, that is, Guru Nanak Dev’s birthday has no standard date on the Gregorian Calendar. His birthday is celebrated on full moon day of Karthik month of the Indian Lunar Calendar. It is usually during November. Guru Nanak Dev was the first guru of the Sikhism. In 2021, it was proposed to celebrate the day on November 15 (full moon day of Karthik month of lunar calendar falls on November 15).
