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When is Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2009? 2009 Guru Nanak Jayanti is on 2nd of November i.e Monday.

The first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Ji’s birthday is celebrated in the month of Kartik.(October -November) with great fervor and devotion by the Sikhs.

History of Guru Nanak Ji
Guru Nanak Ji, who was the founder of Sikhism was born 1469 A.D at a place called Tolevandi, which is situated 30 miles from Lahore. He was a great saint and mystic. He was a greet seer and a prolific poet and sang in praise of God. He happened to be a prophet of love, peace, truth as well as renaissance. He was much ahead of his times in his philosophy and thoughts. His ardent followers, the Sikhs are located all over the world and follow the principles of life propounded by him.

Legends of Guru Nanak Ji
Guru Nanak Ji was the son of Kshatriya (warrior) and studied both Hinduism as well as Islam. He did marry but abandoned his family to become an ascetic. He wandered for many years and was influenced by the Hindus as well as the Muslims ( particularly Sufism). The death of Kabir, a Muslim teacher, who died in 1398 made a deep impression on Guru Nanak. He adhered to the Kabirian philosophy,” there is no Hindu,. there is no Mussalman.”

Celebration of Guru Nanak Ji’s Birthday
The anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Ji are known as Gurpurabs (festivals) and are celebrated with dedication and devotion. The Gurpurabs culminate the Prabhat Pheris, which is the early morning procession, which starts from the Sikh gurudwara and then proceeds through localities. Shabads (hymns) are sung. For three days the Akhand Path is read. The holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, is read continuously throughout the day without a break. During the festival the Granth Sahib is carried through a procession on a float and is decorated with flowers. The procession passes throughout a city or a village. The procession is headed by 5 armed guards who are representative of the Panj Pyares. The procession is headed by them carrying the Nishan Sahibs, the Sikh flag.

Free sweets are distributed and langar( community lunches are organized) to people of any faith and religion. Men, women and children participate in Kar Seva and serve the community and cook lunch and help in its serving, the “Guru Ka Langar”accompanied with “Karah Prasad”. Sikh devotees visit the Gurdwara, where kirtans ( religious songs) and special programs are held. Gurudwara and houses are well lit.

Rituals of Guru Nanak Singh Ji’s Birthday
A copy of the Granth Sahib is kept in the Gurudwara and is read to the devotees, and the Akhand Path is read all throughout the day. Langar, community lunches are arranged and drinking water facilities are arranged in several places. Kirtans (religious songs)are held and kar seva ( community service by the devotees in the form of serving lunch) is organised. Devotees dress up in their traditional attire and don kirpans, reflecting their warrior qualities. Processions are held throughout the city as well as in the villages.

Guru Nanak Ji was a sage much revered by the Sikhs as well as those belonging to other religious communities. The Sikhs worship him and adhere to his religious philosophy.