Experience this powerful "Waheguru Simran" brought to life by four amazing vocalists, Anantvir Singh, Amrita Kaur, Aruna Sairam and Zeeshan Ali along with percussionists Patri Satish Kumar, Surdarshan Chana, Giridhar Udupa, Gurdain Rayatt and BeiBei Wang and on sarangi, Momin Khan.

Guru Nanak's Message of Peace through Music is part of Darbar's Liberators of Humanity series, celebrating great spiritual masters who used sacred text and Indian classical music—Sufi, kirtan and bhajan—to elevate the human spirit.

Significance of Waheguru
Waheguru, the primary mantra in Sikh dharam, translates as "Wondrous Lord" or "Wonderful Enlightener" - combining "Wah" (an expression of ecstatic wonder) with "Guru" (teacher or remover of darkness). It represents the formless, omnipresent Divine.

Origins and Structure:
The term first appeared in hymns around 1604 in the Guru Granth Sahib and writings of Bhai Gurdas Ji. According to Bhai Gurdas, Waheguru's four syllables (Va-He-Gu-Ru) connect to the four yugas (cosmic ages): "Va" from Vishnu (Satya Yuga), "He" from Hari Krishna (Dvapara Yuga), "Gu" from Gobind (Kali Yuga), and "Ru" from Ram (Treta Yuga) - synthesising divine manifestations across all time.

Spiritual Practice:
As a trikuti mantra with three distinct sounds (Wah-Hay-Guru), proper chanting stimulates specific physiological points: lips on "Wah," deep breath from heart on "Hay," and tongue on palate for "Guru," activating the pineal gland and third eye.

Moral and Spiritual Impact:
Waheguru simran (remembrance) erases ego, develops divine qualities like compassion and peace, eliminates negativity, and connects practitioners with Ultimate Reality. It's practised during Amritvela (early morning hours) and throughout the day, serving as a sacred vibration that awakens divine consciousness and unifies cosmic history with transcendent realisation.

About the Project:
Performance Date: 6 April 2025
Venue: Barbican Centre, London

This project explored how Guru Nanak’s timeless message of equality, compassion and spiritual awakening continues to resonate. Music was central to his mission—he travelled with Bhai Mardana, a Muslim rababi, using song to share spiritual wisdom beyond caste and creed. Darbar honoured this tradition by bringing musicians of diverse faiths onto one stage, spreading unity and peace.

Credits: -
Musicians:
Aruna Sairam (carnatic vocals)
Zeeshan Ali (sufi vocals)
Bhai Anantvir Singh (kirtania)
Amrita Kaur (kirtania)
Momin Khan (sarangi)
Patri Satish Kumar (mridangam)
Giridhar Udupa (ghatam)
Surdarshan Chana (tabla & jori)
Gurdain Rayatt (tabla)
Beibei Wang (da ga drum)

Darbar Team:
Sandeep Virdee OBE (Artistic Director)
Simrat Lall (Darbar Festival Manager)
María Guardiola (Festivals and Events Manager)
Depesh Patel (Events Manager)
Jamie Craven (Head of Design)
Rahul Ravindran (Creative Video Editor)
Sana Ejaz (Marketing Executive)
Zahabiya Patharia (Marketing Executive)
Christoph Bracher (Head of Sound)

Filming Crew:
Pritpal Sagoo (Digital Consultant)
Gurwinder Soor (Technical Production)
Tom Grancia (Technical Production)
Carl Owen (Camera Operator)
Chris Connel (Camera Operator)
Anup Parmar (Camera Operator)
Nick Morchang (Camera Operator)

Technical Team:
Phil Jones (Front of House Sound)
John Duckett (Sound Monitors)
Mark Gardner (Lighting Designer)