Guru Nanak Jayanti History: Who was Guru Nanak Dev?
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti History holds great significance for the natives. The founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of the Sikh Gurus was Guru Nanak (1469-1539 C.E.). As per the Hindu lunar calendar, his birth is celebrated worldwide on the day of Kartik Purnima.
One of the holiest festivals celebrated by the Sikh community around the world is Guru Nanak Jayanti, or Gurpurab. This day marks the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, who was the father of Sikhism. Born in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi (now in Pakistan; Nankana Sahib) on April 15, 1469, Guru Nanak is considered to be one of the ’greatest religious innovators of all time.’ He travelled widely to spread God’s message of peace and teaching. The Almighty dwells, according to beliefs, in each of his creations and constitutes the everlasting truth. He developed several social and political spiritual forums focused on equity, goodness, and virtue.
He married at the age of 19 and had two sons, but he drifted to the spiritual realm due to his lack of interest in worldly affairs and visited different holy places at the age of 30 to learn wisdom. He also pursued various occupations, but failed to succeed, such as agriculture, cattle-tending, and shop-keeping. According to Sikh traditions, the early years of the life of Nanak Dev were marked by numerous events that revealed that he was marked by divine grace.
In Guru Granth Sahib’s holy texts, the teachings of Guru Dev are recorded in the form of 974 hymns. It is assumed that, according to the teachings of the Sikh faith, the spirit of Nanak Dev descended upon each of the nine following Gurus.
Guru Nanak Jayanti: Astrological Significance
Guru Nanak’s birthday is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartik month, or Kartik Poornima, according to the lunar calendar. On November 12 2019, followers of Guru Nanak celebrate the 549th Prakash Parv, or Guru Nanak Jayanti. Baba Guru Nanak Dev, the Sikhs’ first guru, holds the highest rank among the 10 community-worshipped gurus. The first of the 10 Sikh Gurus was Guru Nanak and he was born in 1469.
Guru Nanak Jayanti Celebrations
Two days prior to the main day, the Guru Nanak Jayanti festivities begin with the continuous reading of the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, for 48 hours in the Gurudwaras, and it is called the Akhand Route. A ceremony is held on the day before Jayanti, Nagarkirtan. The Panj Pyaras leads this procession, carrying the holy book Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh flag, Nishan Sahib. During the grand procession, devotees chant devotional songs and hymns from Sikh scriptures.
As Guru Nanak is the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated each year. The Sikh community worships him and his birth is a celebration of the wonderful life that he led. The Sikh community celebrates the birth anniversary of all 10 Sikh Gurus, but as he is the first guru and also the father of this faith, this one is on a larger scale. Celebrations are not only conducted in India, but also in other parts of the world where the Sikh community lives.
With Prabhat Pheris, the morning procession of Guru Nanak Jayanti, the celebration starts as early as 4 am. The processions beginning at Gurdwaras are adorned with flowers and lights. A special group lunch called Langar follows this. Langar can be attended by people regardless of age, caste or creed. The festivities end at about 2 am with the singing of Gurbani. In Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab, grand celebrations can be witnessed.
With the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh faith, Gurpurab celebrations commence at least two days in advance. The 48-hour-long, non-stop reading of the book is called Akhand Path.
Nagar Kirtan is what this part of the celebration is called. As the procession goes into the streets and passes on the teachings of Guru Nanak, there are singers who accompany the five individuals and sing hymns. Such streets are typically decorated with Sikh flags and flowers for the festivities and people join the procession as well. In several areas, there is also a party that follows along and practises martial arts using traditional Sikh weapons to demonstrate their swordsmanship. They even display mock battles sometimes. In essence, these processions are aimed at making individuals more conscious of Guru Nanak and his contribution to the Sikh community. Usually, you will find community leaders walking through the procession and sharing the teachings of Sikh gurus. Other devotees are also joining in to make it a pleasant celebration.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2019 Wishes
- ‘May the name of Waheguru Ji be enshrined in your life. A very Happy Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti to you.’
- ‘May happiness and blessings surround you as we join together to remember our beloved Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Happy Gurpurab.’
- ‘May the teaching of the Guru reflect goodness and compassion in you and bring into your life the glow of happiness and prosperity. Happy Gurpurab!’
Guru Nanak Jayanti Observances
| Year | Weekday | Date | Name | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tue | 12 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public Holiday |
| 2020 | Mon | 30 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public Holiday |
| 2021 | Fri | 19 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public Holiday |
| 2022 | Tue | 8 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public Holiday |
| 2023 | Mon | 27 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public Holiday |
| 2024 | Fri | 15 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public Holiday |
| 2025 | Wed | 5 November | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Public Holiday |
FAQs
1. Is Guru Nanak Jayanti a bank holiday?
Yes, Guru Nanak Jayanti is given the status of a bank holiday.
2. What are langars?
In Sikhism, a langar is the community kitchen of a gurdwara, which serves meals free of charge to all visitors—without making a distinction of religion, caste, gender, economic status or ethnicity.
3. Who sings the Path?
The paths are read by Sikh heads of the gurdwara. Other people can join as well.
From the above information, it is evident that Guru Nanak Jayanti 2019 in India is observed on November 12 2019 with grandeur. We hope you have liked this article on Guru Nanak Jayanti in India. Thank you for being an important part of AstroSage.