Illinois Governor declares a 'Guru Granth Sahib Day'

NEW YORK: Illinois State Governor Rod Blagojevich, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins have proclaimed October 20 as "Siri Guru Granth Sahib Day."
 
The leaders greeted Sikh community on the occasion of tercentenary celebration of consecration of Guru Granth Sahib.
 
Meanwhile, Gurudwaras across the State have drawn up elaborate plan to celebrate the occasion and have invited all the leaders to join in.
 
Sikhism originated in India in 1469 and is the fifth largest religion in the world.
 
Twenty five million Sikhs around the world, including about half a million in the US, are celebrating the declaration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib - the Sikh Holy Scripture - as the Eternal Guru (spiritual guide) of the Sikhs by the 10th and the last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, on October 20 in 1708 at Nanded in Maharashtra.
 
The scripture then known as Adi Granth was first compiled by the Fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev in 1604 in Amritsar, Punjab. It was finalised by the 10th Guru in the year 1705-06 at Damdama Sahib in Punjab.