Sonam Bajwa Reflects on Gurpurab Traditions While Filming in Punjab

Post by : Mina Rahman

Sonam Bajwa, the Punjabi film actress known for projects such as the Carry On Jatta series and Godday Godday Chaa (2023), has outlined her personal connection to Gurpurab, the celebration of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth.

Although she has not lived in Punjab, Bajwa says the festival has been central to her upbringing. She was born in Uttarakhand and spent her formative years in Uttar Pradesh with her grandparents, where she remembers taking part in Prabhat Pheris each year.

The 36-year-old recalls childhood excitement around the day. She says the holiday meant attending prayers, enjoying treats like kada prasad, boondi and laddoos, and sharing in a community mood that she associates with happiness and togetherness.

Bajwa also credits her household’s spiritual practices for shaping her early years. Her mother is an amritdhari who performed sewa, and that environment influenced the way she experienced religious observances, even if she does not recall taking on sewa duties herself.

She highlights the langar as one of her enduring memories, singling out kaali daal and phulka. Bajwa notes that even when attempted at home, the flavours never fully replicate those served at the gurudwara.

Work commitments have altered how she marks festivals. Since branching into Hindi cinema with recent titles including Baaghi 4, Housefull 5 and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat this year, she often finds herself working through occasions that were once reserved for family.

Looking ahead, Bajwa says she will be on set in Punjab during this Gurpurab, reflecting a wider trend in her schedule where festivals, New Year’s and birthdays are frequently spent on assignments rather than at home.