Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev. Guru Nank Dev was the founder of Sikh faith. He was born in the month Kartik in 1469 A.D. in the village of Talwandi which is near Lahore in Pakistan . Guru Nanak Dev founded Sikh religion on the faith that God is formless. Sikh people do not worship any idol.

Besides Guru Nanak Jayanti, birthdays of ten Sikh Gurus are celebrated as Guru Purabs.

Date of Guru Nanak Jayanti:

Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed in the month of Kartik according to Hindu calendar. It falls in the month of October or November.

Celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti:

Before actual day of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Prabhat Pheris or early morning processions are performed. These processions include group of followers start walking from neighborhood gurudwara to localities with singing devotional hymns called Shabads. Prabhat Pheris are performed only till Guru Nanak Jayanti. Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations are performed for three days in a row. Two days before the Guru Nak Dev’s birthday; a non-stop reading of Guru Granth Sahib is carried. This is a forty eight hours long and is called Akhand Path. Besides, Panj Pyaras (Five Beloved Ones) carry processions, a day before birthday. These processions carry Nissan Shaib or Sikh flag or palanquin of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. These processions are taken to spread the teachings of Guru Nanak. During these processions, Shabads are sing which are dedicated to Guru Nanak.

In the morning of actual day of celebration of Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti, morning hymns called Asa-di-Var are sung alongwith other hymns from Sikh holy books. After that “Katha” is told, a reading of scripture, verses and lectures in praise of Guru Nanak Dev. At all the gurudwaras, a special community lunch, called langar, is prepared and offered to all the people who come there irrespective of caste or religion. Karah Prasad is special pious food offered to all.