India celebrates Guru Nanak Gurpurab on Guru Nanak Jayanti which marks the birthday of the first Sikh Guru, that was Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Not only this but Guru Nanak birth anniversary assumed as the scariest day in Sikh religion. And the Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrated across the India on November 4 this year. The Guru Nanak Jayanti differ from year to year, it depends on the Indian Lunar calendar. This year Guru Nanak Jayanti marks the 548th birthday of Guru Nanak. In India, Guru Nanak Jayanti is considered as a Gazetted holiday. Here we will on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti tell you that how this festival is celebrated in India.
Two days prior to the festival, Akhand Path - a 48-hour non-stop reading of the holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib is held in the Gurdwaras. A day before Gurpurab, Nagarkirtan, which is a procession by believers, is conducted. The rally, which poured into the streets of the towns, is led with a Palki or Palanquin of Guru Granth Sahib and followed by a chorus of devotees singing hymns and prayers. On the day of the Guru Nanak Jayanti, the celebrations begin as early as 3 am, during Amrit Vela, a period between 3 am and 6 am, considered apt for daily meditation and recitation of prayers. The day begins with the singing of morning hymns and is followed by Katha and Kirtan, which is a program of scriptures and hymns in the blessing of the Guru.
A special society lunch, which is called the langar, is also conducted at the gurdwaras and everyone, irrespective of caste, creed or class is offered food as part of the selfless service by the devotees and volunteers. Some gurdwaras also hold the night prayers which begin around the sunset and continue late at night. Prayers from the Guru Granth Sahib are recited by the devotees at 1:20 am, the actual birth time of Guru Nanak and continue till about 2 am. Guru Nanak Gurpurab is celebrated as the day of honour and is a reminder for the devotees to follow the teachings of Guru Nanak and devote one's life to the selfless service of the God.
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