Guru Nanak Dev Ji Guruparab, also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti, is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Sikhs worldwide. It marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh faith and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
The festival falls on the full moon day of the Kartik month in the Nanakshahi calendar, which usually falls in November. It is a time of great significance for the Sikh community, who come together to celebrate the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The celebration typically begins with Prabhat Pheris, which are early morning processions that take place a few days before the festival. The main event takes place on the day of Guruparab, when Sikhs visit gurudwaras (Sikh temples) to offer prayers and participate in kirtan (devotional singing) and katha (religious discourse).
The gurudwaras are decorated with lights and flowers, and special langars (community meals) are organized to feed the devotees and the needy. The highlight of the celebration is the reading of the Sikh holy scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib, which is done continuously for 48 hours.
Sikhs also participate in community service activities, such as cleaning the gurudwaras and helping the less fortunate. The festival is a time for reflection and introspection, and it reinforces the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, which emphasize the importance of selfless service, equality, and compassion.
Overall, Guru Nanak Dev Ji Guruparab is a time of great joy and celebration for the Sikh community, who come together to honor the life and teachings of their beloved Guru.
Mainly associated with the Sikh community, Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated with utmost joy all over the nation. Not just Sikhs but even Hindus celebrate this day to commemorate the birthday of Guru Nanak. People visit Gurudwaras and recite verses from Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism, on this day. People from the Sikh community decorate their homes and organize grand get-together. Multiple celebrations and feasts take place at the Golden Temple, and thousands of Sikh and Hindu families visit Amritsar every year on this day for offering prayers at the holy shrine.
