Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. It is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism, observed with deep spiritual devotion across India and around the world.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469 at Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi, present-day Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. From an early age, he challenged rigid social hierarchies and ritualistic practices, advocating for universal brotherhood, gender equality, and devotion to one supreme God. His extensive journeys, known as Udasis, took him across South Asia and the Middle East to spread messages of truth, humility, and selfless service.

The observance of Gurpurab has evolved over centuries into a major religious event. Guru Nanak's teachings and compositions form a foundational part of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scripture of Sikhism, which remains the central focus of all anniversary celebrations.

Festivities begin two days in advance with the Akhand Path, an uninterrupted 48-hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Gurdwaras. A day before the main festival, devotions take to the streets in a procession called Nagarkirtan, led by the Panj Pyare carrying the Sikh flag and the holy scripture on a flower-bedecked palanquin. On Gurpurab itself, devotees gather early in the morning for hymns, spiritual discourses, and prayers. A central element of the day is the Langar, a community meal prepared and served by volunteers to every visitor without distinction of caste, religion, or background.