Guru Nanak Jayanti 2022: How is Gurpurab celebrated?

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The auspicious occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the most important festivals in Sikhism. It marks the birth anniversary of the first of the ten Sikh gurus, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Guru Nanak Jayanti is also known as Gurpurab and Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav. This year, it will be the 553rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Ji. The date of Gurpurab varies from year to year as per the traditional lunar calendar. This year the festival of Gurpurab will be celebrated on November 8, 2022.

How is Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrated?

The day is celebrated with much pomp across the world. The celebrations start two days before in Gurudwaras. A 48-hour non-stop recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, called Akhand Path, is held. A procession called Nagar Kirtan is also organised a day before Guru Nanak's birthday. It is led by five men, referred to as the Panj Pyare, holding the Sikh triangular flag, Nishan Sahib. During the procession, the Guru Granth Sahib is placed in a palanquin.

Significance and History:

Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of the religion of Sikhism

and the first of the Sikh Gurus. He was born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib. It is believed that his birth was a mark of divinity.

Guru Nanak Dev firmly believed that an individual could connect to God through sincere prayers. He didn't encourage traditions that included sacrifices. All his teachings and preachings are composed together to form the sacred book called Guru Granth Sahib.