Guru Purab

 Holy days of Sikh Gurus are called as Gurupurab. Gurupurab means festival of the guru. There are ten Sikh Gurus which are worshipped as God by Sikh people. Preaching of all ten Sikh gurus are written in holy book of Sikhism, Guru Granth Sahib. Gurupurabs are the holy days for Sikhs. Sikhs celebrate these gurupurabs with great devotion.

On the occasion of Gurupurabs, Gurudwaras are decorated with bright lights. Community lunch, called lungar is prepared and all are invited on this without any discrimination. People pay community services to gurudwaras for various tasks like cleaning, preparing food and any other service. Karah Prasad, made from semolina and sugar, is prepared and distributed in all the devotees.

Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikh religion. His birthday is regarded as the biggest Gurupurab. It is also called Prakash Utsav that is festival of lights. Guru Nanak’s birthday comes in the month of Kartik which falls in October or November. Three weeks before the gurupurab, devotees start performing Prabhat Pheris which are early morning processions. Sikh devotees take rounds of streets of localities and sing devotional songs of Sikh religion. Devotees are offered sweets and tea during the time of procession. Prabhat Pheris end on the day of Gurupurab.

Three days before gurupurab, non-stop reading of Guru Granth Sahib is performed. It is concluded on day of eth festivals. On the gurupurab day, Guru granth Sahib is decorated with flowers and brand new holy cloth. Then it is taken into the procession in which hundreds of devotees take part and sing devotional songs.

Sweetened milk is offered to the passers-by on the martyrdom day of fifth Guru Arjan Dev. It is celebrated in the month of May or June. Martyrdom Day of ninth Guru, Tegh Bahadur is observed in November. Birthday of tenth Guru Gobind Singh is celebrated on December 2. Birthdays of six Sikh Gurus are as follows

 Guru Angad Dev (March 31),

Guru Ram Das (September 29),

Guru Har Gobind (June 19),

Guru Har Rai (January 16) and

Guru Har Kishan (July 7).

All these days are celebrated as gurupurab.