A gurpurab is the term used for the celebration by Sikhs of an anniversary related to the lives of any of the Sikh Gurus.  This past weekend was the gurpurab of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism who was born in 1469 in present-day Pakistan.

President Obama offered his greetings to Sikhs for this occasion, and for the second year in a row, the White Host hosted an event to commemorate the birth of Guru Nanak.  Interestingly:

The program featured traditional kirtan (hymn singing) by Nirmal Singh Nagpuri, Sukhjeevan Singh and Sucha Singh of the Golden Temple, Amritsar, India.

Again, if the Obamas wouldn’t go to Amritsar, a little of Amritsar came to the White House (even if the President wasn’t there).