WASHINGTON, DC, USA—The following statement was issued from the White House by President Barrack Obama on the Parkash (Birth) Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh Religion.

I want to extend my best wishes to all our Sikh friends, across the United States and around the world, who this weekend are observing the anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru. This sacred time is an occasion to reflect on Guru Nanak’s timeless teachings and the principles that are at the heart of Sikhism, including the equality of all human beings, the pluralism we cherish in diverse societies and the compassion we owe one another. Here in the United States, we’re grateful to the many Sikh Americans who give life to these values and enrich our country every day, reminding us that these shared principles are not only at the heart of the Sikh faith, they are central to who we are as Americans.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/11/15/statement-president-anniversary-birth-guru-nanak-dev-ji