Guru Nanak Jayanthi – 545th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak
Today its not only Karthika Purnima celebrated in India. We also celebrate Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak on the full moon day in the month of Kartik. Today November 6th 2014 is 545th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was born on 15 April 1469 in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present Shekhupura District of Pakistan, now Nankana Sahib. His birth is celebrated on Kartik Poornima, the full moon day in the month of Kartik. In the Gregorian Calendar, the celebration usually falls in the month of November, but its date varies from year to year, based on the traditional dates of the Indian calendar. It is a Gazetted holiday in India.
Today Purnima starts at:
Purnima Tithi Begins = 05:36 on 6/Nov/2014
Purnima Tithi Ends = 03:52 on 7/Nov/2014
The celebration is generally similar for all Gurpurabs; only the hymns are different. The celebrations usually commence with Prabhat Pheris. Prabhat Pheris are early morning processions that begin at the Gurudwaras and proceed around the localities singing hymns. Generally two days before the birthday, Akhand Path (a forty-eight-hour non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs) is held in theGurdwaras.
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | Nov 15 | 2005 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Sun | Nov 5 | 2006 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Sat | Nov 24 | 2007 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Thu | Nov 13 | 2008 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Mon | Nov 2 | 2009 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Sun | Nov 21 | 2010 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Thu | Nov 10 | 2011 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Wed | Nov 28 | 2012 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Sun | Nov 17 | 2013 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Thu | Nov 6 | 2014 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| Wed | Nov 25 | 2015 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
As the procession proceeds, the followers sing shabads (religious hymns) while the local bands play religious music. The day of Guru Nanak Jayanti begins at around 4 or 5 a.m. with singing Asa-di-Var (morning hymns) and hymns from the Sikh scriptures. This is followed by Katha which continues till noon. A lavish Langar or special community lunch is served to the people present at the gurudwara. People volunteer for this service as they consider it to be seva (service) and bhakti (devotion) towards Lord.
The day of the festival is marked by a special procession in which pride of place is reserved for the Guru Granth Sahib, carried on a beautifully decorated float and accompanied by musicians and five armed guards (who represent the panj piaras). Prayers and kirtans at gurudwaras are followed by community meals (langar), where all- irrespective of religious conviction- are welcome.
Wish you all happy Guru Nanak Jayanthi…