Celebrated Sikh devotional singer Bhai Harjinder Singh “Srinagar Wale” has been conferred the Padma Shri 2025 for his remarkable contributions to Art, specifically Gurmat Sangeet—the sacred tradition of Sikh religious music. The award recognizes his decades-long dedication to spreading the message of Gurbani through soulful kirtan performances across the world.
Originally hailing from Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, Bhai Harjinder Singh earned his title “Srinagar Wale” during his early service as a Hazuri Raagi in a Gurdwara in Srinagar. He later settled in Ludhiana, Punjab, where he formed his own jatha (musical group) in 1983. Since then, he has recorded over 100 devotional albums, featuring more than 600 renditions of Gurbani, and has inspired millions with his emotive singing and spiritual clarity.
His unique ability to blend classical raagas with deep devotion has earned him widespread admiration, both in India and abroad. He has performed in gurdwaras and spiritual congregations across the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and beyond, helping to preserve and globalize Sikh spiritual music.
In June 2025, Punjab Governor Shri Banwari Lal Purohit felicitated Bhai Harjinder Singh at Raj Bhavan, Chandigarh, calling him a “messenger of peace whose music uplifts the soul and connects hearts.”
