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The religion of Sikhism
preaches that there is one God but that he is formless. That is why the
Sikhs do not worship idols. The festivities in the Sikh religion revolve
around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus. These Gurus were responsible
for shaping the beliefs of the Sikhs. Their birthdays, known as Gurpurabs,
are occasions for celebration and prayer among the Sikhs.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the First Nanak, the founder of Sikhism) was born on 20th
October, 1469 in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present Shekhupura District of
Pakistan, now Nanakana Sahib. The Birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib falls on
Kartik Puranmashi i.e. full moon day of the month Kartik. In the Gregorian
Calendar, the birthday of Guru Nanak usually comes in the month of November,
but its date varies from year to year, based on the traditional dates of the
Indian Calendar.. |
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The
Festival
The celebration is generally similar for all Gurpurabs; only the hymns are
different. The birthday celebration usually lasts three days. Generally two
days before the birthday, Akhand Path (a forty-eight-hour non-stop reading
of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs) is held in the
Gurdwaras.
The day prior to the birthday, a procession is organised which is led by the
Panj Pyaras (Five Beloved Ones). They head the procession carrying the Sikh
flag, known as the Nishan Sahib and the Palki (Palanquin) of Sri Guru Granth
Sahib. They are followed by teams of singers singing hymns, brass bands
playing different tunes, 'Gatka' teams (Martial Arts) display their
swordsmanship, and devotees sing the chorus. The procession pours into the
streets of the town which are covered with buntings and decorated gates for
this special occasion. The leaders also spread the message of Guru Nanak.
On the day of the Gurpurab, the day begins early in the morning with the
singing of Asa-di-Var (morning hymns) and hymns from the Sikh scriptures
followed by Katha (exposition of the scripture) together with lectures and
recitation of poems in the praise of the Guru. Following that is the Langar
or special community lunch, which is arranged at the Gurudwaras by
volunteers. The idea behind the free communal lunch is that people should be
offered food in the spirit of seva (service) and bhakti (devotion).
Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated by the Sikh community all over the world
and is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar. The
celebrations are especially colourful in Punjab and Haryana. - wikipedia
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