Chandigarh, Nov 25 (IANS): Holiest of Sikh shrines 'Harmandar Sahib', popularly known as Golden Temple, in Amritsar and other gurdwaras elsewhere across Punjab and Haryana saw religious fervour as 'Gurpurab', the birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev was celebrated on Wednesday.

Thousands of devout thronged the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar from early morning to offer prayers.

The shrine complex, which did not see any celebrations earlier this month on the occasion of Diwali and 'Bandi Chorr Diwas' due to recent incidents of sacrilege of Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib, was illuminated on Tuesday evening to mark Gurpurab eve.

There was a security ring around all leading Sikh shrines in Punjab.

At gurdwaras across Punjab and Haryana, devotees could be seen offering prayers to mark the 546th birth anniversary of the Guru. Hymns were rendered at the holy shrine and hundreds of other gurdwaras across the region to mark the occasion.

'Langars' (community kitchen), were arranged at several places in and around gurdwaras.

Over 2,000 devotees, mostly Sikhs, have gone to neighbouring Pakistan to celebrate Gurpurab at Nankana Sahib, 100 km from Lahore, at the birthplace of the Guru Nanak Dev, who was born there in 1469.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal greeted people on the occasion of Gurpurab and urged them to follow the Guru's teachings and to maintain peace and harmony.