Guru Nanak Jayanti is a major Sikh festival, which is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak Jayanti is also known as Gurupurab and is celebrated all over the nation as well as World wide. The festival of Gurupurab usually falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik. Besides the followers of Sikhism, Gurupurab is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Nanakpanthi Hindus as well as by those who believe in the philosophy preached by Guru Nanak Dev.
About Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism was born in the year 1469 at Talwandi, a village in the Sheikhupura district, 65 kms west of Lahore, to Mehta Kalu and Tripta. His father was a official in the Local village revenue administration. He was the second child of their parents and hand an elder sister named Nanaki. When he was born, the astrologers predicated that he would become a great prophet as per the signs that accompanied his fortune. Since the age of 5, Nanak took interest in subject matters related to spirituality. He was a brilliant student and besides having a good hold over the regional language, he also flared in Persian and Arabic languages. There are many instances related to his childhood, which provides an account of his divinity. Nanak being attached to his sister, and, as per Indian traditions, he followed her to Sultanpur to live with her and her husband. In Sulatanpur, he worked as a Storekeeper with Daulat Khan Lodhi, who was the Governor of that place at that time. On 24 September 1487, Nanak was married to Mata Sulakkhani, the daughter of Mūl Chand and Chando Rāṇī and was blessed with two sons. Guru Nanka travelled to different places, where he spread his beliefs in God and spirituality, which later became his teachings. He believed that God dwells in every living creature, which constituted the eternal Truth and this is the message that he spread to people while travelling. Also during his tours to different parts of the undivided India, he studied the religious system of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism that prevailed in India and was spread all over. He being of constructive mindset, who believed in progress and growth of the nation, started preaching his own doctrines and founded the new religion that came to be known as Sikhism. On the completion of his tours, he settled as a farmer at Kartarpur, a village in Punjab.
Significance and Celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti
Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated to relive the preaching and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev that are quoted in the sacred scripture of the Sikh Guru Grant Sahib. Gurpurab essentially refers to the anniversary festivities that gyrate around the lives of 10 Sikh Gurus to mark their noteworthy contributions towards Sikhism. Owing to these reasons, celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti is much similar to other Gurpurabs with the exclusion of the hymns. Celebration of Guru Nanak’s Birthday starts a couple of days before the specified date by embellishing Gurdwaras attractively and organizing Akhand Path (reading of the Guru Granth Sahib continually for 48 hours). A day earlier of Guru Nanak Jayanti, devotees take out processions holding Nishan Sahib (the Sikh flag) and singing hymns. The major attraction of this auspicious festival is the the Palki for Guru Granth Sahib, Panj Pyaras and 'Gatka' team displaying their arts, which forms the integral part of the celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti. The followers of Sikhism as well as the followers of Guru Nanak, known as the Nanakpanthi Hindus sings hyms that are inscribed in the holy book, “Guru Granth Sahib”. The festival of Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurupurab is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India as in different parts of the World. Gurdwaras on the grand celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti serve Langar to everyone.
About Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism was born in the year 1469 at Talwandi, a village in the Sheikhupura district, 65 kms west of Lahore, to Mehta Kalu and Tripta. His father was a official in the Local village revenue administration. He was the second child of their parents and hand an elder sister named Nanaki. When he was born, the astrologers predicated that he would become a great prophet as per the signs that accompanied his fortune. Since the age of 5, Nanak took interest in subject matters related to spirituality. He was a brilliant student and besides having a good hold over the regional language, he also flared in Persian and Arabic languages. There are many instances related to his childhood, which provides an account of his divinity. Nanak being attached to his sister, and, as per Indian traditions, he followed her to Sultanpur to live with her and her husband. In Sulatanpur, he worked as a Storekeeper with Daulat Khan Lodhi, who was the Governor of that place at that time. On 24 September 1487, Nanak was married to Mata Sulakkhani, the daughter of Mūl Chand and Chando Rāṇī and was blessed with two sons. Guru Nanka travelled to different places, where he spread his beliefs in God and spirituality, which later became his teachings. He believed that God dwells in every living creature, which constituted the eternal Truth and this is the message that he spread to people while travelling. Also during his tours to different parts of the undivided India, he studied the religious system of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism that prevailed in India and was spread all over. He being of constructive mindset, who believed in progress and growth of the nation, started preaching his own doctrines and founded the new religion that came to be known as Sikhism. On the completion of his tours, he settled as a farmer at Kartarpur, a village in Punjab.
Significance and Celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti
Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated to relive the preaching and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev that are quoted in the sacred scripture of the Sikh Guru Grant Sahib. Gurpurab essentially refers to the anniversary festivities that gyrate around the lives of 10 Sikh Gurus to mark their noteworthy contributions towards Sikhism. Owing to these reasons, celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti is much similar to other Gurpurabs with the exclusion of the hymns. Celebration of Guru Nanak’s Birthday starts a couple of days before the specified date by embellishing Gurdwaras attractively and organizing Akhand Path (reading of the Guru Granth Sahib continually for 48 hours). A day earlier of Guru Nanak Jayanti, devotees take out processions holding Nishan Sahib (the Sikh flag) and singing hymns. The major attraction of this auspicious festival is the the Palki for Guru Granth Sahib, Panj Pyaras and 'Gatka' team displaying their arts, which forms the integral part of the celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti. The followers of Sikhism as well as the followers of Guru Nanak, known as the Nanakpanthi Hindus sings hyms that are inscribed in the holy book, “Guru Granth Sahib”. The festival of Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurupurab is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India as in different parts of the World. Gurdwaras on the grand celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti serve Langar to everyone.