Gurupurab is on November 15 this year and the celebrations have already begun. Sikhs across the world celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti to honour the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The festival falls on Karthik Purnima, the full moon day of the Karthik month. This year will be Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 555th birth anniversary. Read more about the significance of the occasion and how it is celebrated.

Significance of Gurupurab

Born in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib) near Lahore, Guru Nanak preached love, sacrifice, and equality. He was known to be progressive as he fought against the caste system and other evils of society. Guru Nanak lived by four major values – Naam Japo (remember God), Kirat Karo (live honestly), Sarbat Daa Bhalaa (wish for everyone’s wellbeing), and Vaand Chhako (share with others).

How is Gurupurab celebrated?

Here are all the festivities and rituals involved in celebrating Gurupurab 2024:

• Akhand Path: This religious ceremony involves a 48-hour continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib. After the Akhand Path, devotees perform kirtans, singing hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib.
  
• Nagar Kirtans: These processions take place a day before Gurupurab. It is led by the baptised leaders of the Sikh community or the Panj Pyare. They sing soulful hymns and some devotees even demonstrate traditional martial arts called Gatka. The leaders place the Guru Granth Sahib at the centre of the procession.
• Prabhat Pheri: Sikhs carry out an early morning procession from 4 am to 7:30 am, reciting shabads or divine hymns. They also read Asaa-ki-Vaar or Saga of Hope, a collection of 24 verses from the holy scripture.
• Rehras Sahib: In the evening before Gurupurab, Sikhs perform Rehras (daily evening prayer) and kirtans.
• Gurbani: Devotees read Gurbani on Gurupurab at around 1:20 am as that is considered the birth hour of Guru Nanak. This is done till 2 am.
• Langar: Gurudwaras organise community kitchens called langar where volunteers prepare and serve free meals to everyone. Seva is considered one of the most auspicious principles of Sikhism. People of all ages take part in various activities to be in service of God and the pilgrims.

Celebrations in India and around the world

Amritsar is one of the holiest cities for every Sikh devotee. Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple, located in Amritsar, witnesses a huge crowd on Gurupurab with people arriving from across the world for the occasion. The Golden Temple is decorated and lit up for Gurupurab and is a sight to behold on that day.

Gurupurab is also celebrated with grandeur in Kartarpur Sahib and Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. The latter is where Guru Nanak was born. He spent the last years of his life in Kartarpur Sahib. On Gurupurab, the Kartarpur Corridor, connecting India and Pakistan, is open for Indian pilgrims to visit the gurudwara without a visa. Both Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib arrange an impressive langar for the devotees on the pious occasion.

So, how are you celebrating Gurupurab in 2024?

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