Guru Nanak Gurpurab

Guru Nanak da Gurpurab is also popular as Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav. On this day Sikh society rejoices the birthday of their very 1st Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Nanak Gurpurab is one of the holy festivals of Guru Nanak Gurpurab; this festival is also followed by Non Sikhs who are followers of Nanak Panth

History

Guru Nanak was born on 15th April 1469 the originator of Sikhism in Raibhoidi, Talwandi which is currently in Pakistan. The birth of Guru Nanak is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Kartik which is known as Kartik Poornima.

Sikh festivals rotates around mainly the birthdays of their Gurus, They believe the Guru were responsible for influencing the belief in Sikh. Their birthdays are there by known as Gurpurab, mainly the occasion to rejoice in the Sikh community.

Celebrations & Rituals

The celebrations and rituals are usually alike to all the Gurpurabs in which songs and chants are different The day starts early with the early morning procession known as Prabhat Pheri which travels along the areas and neighbourhood with the songs in background. Akhand Path means reading of Guru Granth Sahib uninterrupted 48 hours prior to the birthday is said in Gurudwara.

24 hours before the birthday Nagarkirtan is arranged, a parade is led by the main five gurus of the gurudwara known as Panj Pyare. The main head will be holding the Sikh flag; the procession is carried in the Palki with Guru Granth Sahib in the parade which is shadowed by the singers and followers singing as choir. The brass band plays a unique melody, few martial arts artist known as Gatka pretend a battle thru their martial art performance using customary arms.

On the Birthday of Gurpurab the festivities starts early in morning by 4am which is mainly referred as Amrit Mela. The day starts with the Katha or Story narration, singing spiritual Song in remembrance and admiration of Guru.

A community lunch is organised by the members known as Langar, the main intention of this free lunch at Gurudwara is that regardless of class or creed or caste food should be offered to them as communal service or seva with dedication or Bhakti.

In the night a special prayer known as Rehra is narrated followed by the spiritual Song known as Kirtan. Special Hymn or Gurbani is recited at 1.20 am which is the birth time of Guru Nanak Ji which continues till 2 am in the morning.

Guru Nanak Gurpurab is one of the most significant festivals celebrated in the most part of world by the sikh community in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana.

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