The most important celebration for the Sikh community takes place today, Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurupurab, Prakash Parv, and Guru Nanak’s Prakash Utsav.
Observed every year all over the world, this year will mark the 553 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and will be observed on Tuesday, November 08, 2022.
The festival commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of the ten Sikh gurus and the religion’s founder. According to the lunar calendar, it is celebrated once a year on the full moon day of Kartik, which often falls between October and November.
History
In the Sekhpura district of present-day Pakistan, at Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi, close to Lahore, Guru Nanak was born on April 15, 1469. At his birthplace in the city that is now called Nankana Sahib, a Gurudwara was constructed. It is situated in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Guru Nanak, who established Sikhism in the fifteenth century, is revered as a spiritual leader. He began the Guru Granth Sahib and finished it with 974 hymns.
The Guru Granth Sahib’s key verses expound on the idea that the universe’s creator was one. His verses also advocate for social fairness, wealth, and selfless service to humanity, regardless of individual distinctions. The core of the Sikh religion is the Guru’s function as a spiritual and social master.
Celebration
The festivities on Guru Nanak Jayanti often start as early as three o’clock in the morning. After the morning prayers, large feasts called langars are held.
Nagar Kirtans are conducted in the weeks preceding or during Guru Nanak Jayanti. The triangular Sikh flag, known as Nishan Sahib, is carried during the procession by five men recognized as Panj Pyare. After the parade, Guru Granth Sahib is held in a palanquin as hymns are sung, traditional instruments are performed, and martial arts techniques are demonstrated.
Langar
Langar, a word with Persian origins, means “an almshouse” or “a shelter for the needy and poor.” Langar is the term given to a communal kitchen in Sikh tradition. No of their caste, class, religion, or gender, anybody in need is to be given food at the Langar, and they are always treated as the Guru’s guests.
We are Brit Asia TV would like to wish everyone a very Happy Gurpurab.
