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Guru Purab
The birth anniversary of
Guru Nanak -the first or the
founder guru of the Sikhs, is celebrated with great fervour on
the full moon day of Kartika
(October-November). Guru Parab, also known as
Jyototsava is one of the most
sacred festivals of the Sikhs.
Guru Nanak was
born in 1469 at
Talwandi about 45 kms away from Lahore and is now known as
Nankana Sahib. Nanak was a reformer, preacher and a saint. In
Sikhism he tried to harmonize both
Hinduism and Islam.
He traveled widely and preached the name of God as a
potent means of spiritual realization. Guru Nanak was followed by nine
other Gurus, in succession under whom Sikhism gradually developed. Other
Gurus are also commemorated on other Guru Purabs.
Celebrations
The akhand path or the continuous reading of Granth
Saheb, the sacred book of the Sikhs, begins three
days before Guru Nanak Jayanti. The sacred scripture
is read sans stops from beginning to end. The Akhand Path
culminates on the day of the Guru
Purab and the holy book is then taken out in a procession.
It is beautifully decorated with flowers and carried on
a float. Children participate in the procession and march
to the tune of local band playing religious hymns. Five
armed guards who are called the panj
pyare lead the procession. At the head of the procession
is the Nishan Saheb. The
festival also brings home the NRI citizens who belong to
Punjab and the festive zing in the atmosphere is everywhere.
Prabhat Pheri
A few days before Guru Purab, people take out Prabhat
Pheris or the early morning processions from the Gurdwaras.
They go around their locality singing shabd
or the religious hymns.
Langar
Later in the day, special kirtans are arranged in
the Gurdwaras. The devotees attend langar
or the common meals where
everyone eats the same food irrespective of caste, class,
or creed. Devotees offer their services for cooking food,
cleaning the Gurdwara or carrying out other chores. This
is called the Kar Seva.
Illumination
In the evening, the Gurdwaras are
illuminated and people visit them in large numbers.
People also illuminate their homes with candles and earthen
lamps. Guru Purab celebrations are seen at their best at
the
Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab
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