PARBHAAT PHERI
‘Parbhaat’ means ‘early in the morning’ and ‘Pheri’ means, ‘to go around’.
A few days before a Gurpurab, groups of Sikhs go round the streets to prolong the duration of the celebrations as well as to add more enthusiasm and to seek participation and co-operation of more and more people for the forthcoming celebrations.
Keertan is the main activity during the Parbhaat Pheri. On its route, the residents of the streets serve the participants of Parbhaat Pheri with refreshments.
The tradition of Parbhat Pheri seems to be very old. During the time of the Gurus, whenever any Guru would visit a village, people will from groups and go around the streets of that village or the villages nearby to inform the people about the Guru’s visit; and, people would rush to listen to the Guru’s words. When the Sikhs established their rule in the Sikh Homeland, they began celebrating Gurpurabs (birthdays and martyrdom days of the Gurus), and, to add enthusiasm for celebrations, they began Parbhat Pheris.
Also see: Nagar Keertan.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)