Guru Nanak Jayanti



Detailed Information about Guru Nanak Jayanti & Its Importance


Guru Nanak was the first Sikh guru who became popular during the Bhakti movement in India around the 16th century AD. He is known to be the founder of the Sikh religion which firmly believes that god is one and just the names are different. In fact he is known to be the founder of the Sikh religion. Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated every year on the birthday of the Sikh guru according to the Hindu calendar. Guru Nanak Dev was born in a place called Talwandi that is at a distance of nearly 30 miles from the present day location of Lahore in Pakistan. He was born on a full moon night of Kartik in the year 1469 AD.

The Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti or simply Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated with much enthusiasm in the whole of the country in the Gurudwara and in a much grand way in the state of Punjab which bears the maximum population of the Sikhs. During this time the kirtans or the devotional songs are done in the Gurudwara and the Sikh prayer halls are decorated with lights. The people are served free food or the "parsads". The Langars or the kitchens run 24 hours a day to serve free food to the people. The Langars are called the "Guru Ka Langar" or the kitchen of the guru. Even the people at high post and the elite class come and offer their help in preparing the food at the langars. The people sit down on the floor and eat the same food together to promote the feeling of the brotherhood irrespective of the caste creed colour of race that is offered in the spirit of "Sewa" meaning service and "Bhakti" meaning devotion.

The Asa-di-Var is sung in the "amrit vela" that is around the 3 am to 6 am which is considered a very much holy timing according to the Sikh holy books. During this time the processions are taken out with chanting of the Shadabs starting from the GurudwaraS. For the three days the holy book of the Sikhs the "Guru Granth Sahib" is read continuously which is called the "akhand path" on this occasion. The holy book is also carried through the streets for the blessings of the people decorated with the flowers and guarded among the 5 guards known as the "panj pyaras" who carry the saffron Sikh flag.

Guru nanak was a great philosopher, a mystic and a poet too. He preached the message of the love, truth and peace throughout his own life. At some of the gurudwaras the prayers continue into the night too. after the sun goes below the horizon the Rehras or the evening prayers are recited and then it is followed by the bhajans and the kirtans into the nights.

At around 1:20 am in the night the congregations at the Gurudwaras start singing the "Guru Vani" that marks the actual time of the birth of the Sikh Guru Nanak Dev. It continues for about an hour usually.

The Sikhs are known for their bravery and have proved at times for the country. The martial arts and the sword skills are also displayed during this time that is called the "Gatka".