Guru Nanak Jayanti 2022: What you need to know about the festival

Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated yearly on the full moon date of Kartik month. This year the date falls on 8th November. The festival is celebrated to honor the birth anniversary of the Guru Nanak Dev. The festival is also known as Guru Purab or Prakash Parv.

Guru Nanak Dev was born in the year 1469 on the day of Kartik Purnima. That is why on this day various programs along with kirtan are organized in every corner of the country and abroad.

Here is all you need to know about the history and date of Guru Nanak Jayanti.


Guru Nanak Jayanti 2022: Date

This year Guru Nanak Jayanti is being celebrated on November 8, 2022. This year, it will be the 553rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

kartik purnima 2022: Time

Karthik Purnima starts - November 7, Monday at 04:15 pm


Kartik Purnima date ends - November 8, Tuesday till 04.31 pm

History of Guru Nanak Jayanti

As per religious sources, it is believed that Guru Nanak is the first Guru of Sikhism. Guru Nanak Dev was born on 15 April 1469 at Talwandi Nankana Sahib. That is why he is addressed by the name of Nanak. It is believed that Guru Nanak Dev laid the foundation of Sikh society and that is why he is called the founder. The festival is to honour his life, his achievements and, most importantly, his legacy. Hence his hymns are read aloud and appreciated.

At the age of 16, Guru Nanak Dev was married to a girl named Sulakhni, who lived in a place called Lakhauki. He had two sons Srichand and Lakhmichand. It is believed that after the birth of his sons, Guru Nanak Dev went out on a pilgrimage with his companions and used to preach while travelling in many countries including India, Afghanistan, Persia, and Arabia. These journeys are called 'Udasiyan' in Punjabi.

Celebrations

Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations usually go on for three days, two days before the prayer, and Akhand Path, a continuous reading, of the Guru Granth Sahib is conducted at Gurudwaras.

One day before the birth anniversary, there is a procession where the Guru Granth Sahib is carried on a palanquin accompanied by music, singing and 'Gatka' teams demonstrating their swordsmanship. The town is usually decorated in advance and the procession is accompanied with festivities.

On Guru Nanak Jayanti day, there are prayers conducted in Gurudwaras (or at home if one does not have a Gurudwara close enough) first thing in the morning, as early as 4-5am! The different aspects of prayer go on till past noon, depending on when they started, and after that Langar is served.

Guru Nanak is said to have been born at 1:20 am so around this time, the congregation starts singing Gurbani.
The langar food is considered auspicious and the kadrai halwa is the traditional Prasad given out on this festival.
Sometimes night prayers are conducted as well.