Guru Nanak Jayanti – We Bow Our Heads in Your Honour, Gurudev!

Many people consider Guru Nanak Dev as the embodiment of morality, loyalty, truth, and spirituality in the human world. To celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak Dev, people observe Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab. It is the most sacred festival for the Sikh and Sindhi communities worldwide. This year, Guru Nanak Jayanti will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. People across the world celebrate this day with prayers, rituals, enthusiasm, and happiness.

Life History of Guru Nanak Dev

Guru Nanak Dev was born on April 15, 1469, in the village of Talwandi to accountant Kalyan Chand Das Bedi and Mata Tripta. He was born into a Hindu family but was surrounded by Muslims. In 1475, Guru Nanak’s elder sister married Jai Ram. Guru Nanak lived with his sister and brother-in-law. At the age of 16, he started working under Daulat Khan Lodi. On September 24, 1487, he married Sulakkhani. They had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Chand. Taking a step toward social justice and the welfare of all, he became the founder of Sikhism. Faith, honesty, spirituality, and humanity are among the main principles of Sikhism. For this great contribution, the Sikh community honored Guru Nanak as their supreme spiritual power. On September 22, 1539, Guru Nanak’s life came to an end in Kartarpur, Pakistan.

Guru Nanak Dev – The Great Spiritual Healer

People respect and worship Guru Nanak as a religious teacher. They also know him as a spiritual healer. He contributed 974 hymns and began the composition of Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Granth Sahib is the holy scripture of the Sikhs. The scriptures contain hymns written in a poetic and musical style. Guru Nanak Dev believed in selfless service to humanity, social justice, and prosperity for all.
Not only Sikhs but people around the world believe in the miraculous powers of Guru Nanak. His birthday celebration also promotes communal harmony. Every year, people celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm and devotion. During his lifetime, he opposed many religious superstitions and taught people valuable lessons of life, emphasizing that God is one and worship of Him is for followers of all religions.

Meaning of Guru Nanak Jayanti

The word “Gurpurab” is made up of two words: “Guru,” meaning “teacher,” and “Parb,” meaning “day.” On Gurpurab, Sikhs and Sindhis across the world honor Guru Nanak Dev as their teacher. Guru Nanak Dev enlightened humans with his wisdom, so this day is also known as the Festival of Lights. The birthday of Guru Nanak Dev is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month. According to the Gregorian calendar, people celebrate Gurpurab every year in October or November. Traditionally, it is a three-day festival. Preparations for the Festival of Lights begin two days before the main event. This year, the date of Guru Nanak Jayanti is Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Importance of Guru Nanak Jayanti

According to the Hindu lunar calendar, people celebrate Guru Nanak’s birthday on Kartik Purnima. He is the founder of Sikhism. The Gurpurab celebration reminds disciples and devotees of the teachings he emphasized. It conveys the message that one should live life in a righteous and moral way. On Guru Nanak Jayanti, people recite Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, with full devotion. It is said that before the festival begins, priests recite the Guru Granth Sahib continuously for about 48 hours.

Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev

The teachings of Guru Nanak Dev have enlightened and inspired his followers and continue to do so today. Follow the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev to achieve success in life:
Always work diligently throughout life and worship God, who is present everywhere.
Learn to always remain content instead of complaining about what is lacking in life.
Focus on giving a small part of your earnings to the less fortunate.
Food is the most essential need to keep the human body steady and healthy.
God’s presence can be seen in all living beings.