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Guru Nanak Jayanti is Sikhism’s most important festival, marking the birth anniversary of the religion’s founder, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
This year, Sikhs worldwide will observe the auspicious festival on Friday, November 15. (Image: Shutterstock)
Gurpurab, also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti or Prakash Parv, is a significant festival for the Sikh community worldwide. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. According to the Nanakshahi calendar, the revered Sikh guru was born on the full moon day of the Kartik month, which corresponds to November in the Gregorian calendar. This year, Guru Nanak Jayanti falls on Friday, 15 November, as per the Drik Panchang.
Gurpurab is celebrated with enthusiasm and splendour throughout India, particularly in Punjab and Haryana. The day is also widely celebrated in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
When is Gurpurab? Date & Time
People commemorate the festival on Kartik Poornima, the fifteenth lunar day of the Hindu month of Kartik, as it is known in the Gregorian calendar. This occurs during the month of November in the Hindu calendar. This year, Sikhs worldwide will observe the auspicious festival on Friday, November 15, with the deepest respect and affection. It will be observed as Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 555th birthday.
According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious times for conducting the rituals of Guru Nanak Jayanti are as follows:
- Purnima Tithi Begins – 06:19 AM on November 15, 2024.
- Purnima Tithi Ends – 02:58 AM on November 16, 2024.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2024: History and Significance
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in Talwandi Nankana Sahib in 1469, according to religious sources. His parents were Kaluram Mehta ji Khatri, also known as Kaluran Chand Das Bedi and Tripta Devi.
Sulakhani Devi, the daughter of Mul Chand (also known as Mula) and Chando Rani, was the woman he married. The names of their children are Lakhmi Chand ji and Shri Chand ji.
The final hours of Shri Guru Nanak Dev’s life were spent tending to a farm near Kartarpur before he died. Guru Nanak Dev Ji is known for establishing the Sikh religion and imparting wisdom to humanity.
This sacred festival commemorates his legacy, accomplishments, and life.
Guru Nanak was acknowledged as the spiritual founder of Sikhism in the fifteenth century. He started writing the Guru Granth Sahib’s songs and completed 974 of them.
The main sacred religious text of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, is a collection of all of his instructions. People acknowledge the Guru Granth Sahib as the supreme, all-pervading, and eternal Guru. Regardless of disparities, the passages encourage affluence, social justice, and selfless service to humanity.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2024: Rituals
In Sikhism, Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, is celebrated with major rituals.
- Devotees take part in nagar kirtan processions, read the Guru Granth Sahib continuously along the akhand path, and organise kirtan and katha meetings to sing songs and discuss teachings.
- Langar Seva, a community kitchen, provides free meals to promote equality.
- Gurbani recitation, prayers, and ardas all communicate appreciation and hope for well-being.
- Kar Sewa also includes volunteer community service, which reflects Sikhism’s essential principles and honours Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings.
- Location :
Amritsar, India