Guru Purab

Gurupurab means the "festival of the Gurus". The sikh festivals are celebrated as Gurupurabs. Every morning, for three weeks before any Gurupurab, there are processions through the streets of a town called Prabhat Pheris, these early-morning processions have Sikhs going around localities singing hymns. Those marching in the procession are offered sweets and tea by the faithful. The Gurupurab day signals the end of the Prabhat Pheris.Beginning three days before the holy day, the Sikh holy book - the Guru Granth Sahib - is read continuously, from beginning to end, without break, in the gurudwaras. This is known as the akhand path. The reading concludes on the day of the festival. All Gurpurabs are considered auspicious and important but special significance is accorded to the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, in the month of Kartik.

On the day of the festival, the Granth Sahib is decorated with flowers and carried in a procession, accompanied by religious music.A special open lunch also known as langar, for anyone who is hungry, is arranged at gurudwaras. The food is served with a spirit of seva (service) and bhakti (devotion). On Guru Arjan Dev's martyrdom day, sweetened milk is offered to passers-by. In the afternoon/evening,special programmes are arranged in the gurudwara. Later in the evening, the houses and gurudwaras are brightly lit, and add to the festive feel.

Guru Nanak's birthday falls in the Indian month of Kartik (October/November). Sikhs believe that Guru Nanak brought enlightenment to the world. So, the festival is also called Prakash Utsav, or the festival of light.The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, was born on December 2, 1666. The martyrdom day of the fifth Guru, Arjan Dev, falls in May/June, while that of the ninth guru, Tegh Bahadur, is in November. The other six gurupurab days are connected to the birthdays of Guru Angad Dev (March 31) Guru Ram Das (September 29) Guru Har Gobind (June 19) Guru Har Rai (January 16) and Guru Har Kishan (July 7).