Guru Nanak Jayanti – History, Celebration in Nepal 2021

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak Jayanti is a festival that is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak dev. This festival holds much belief in the Sikh community. This day is also known as Gurupurab. During this day people remember the story and the lesson that Guru Nanak has taught. People visit Gurudwaras and worship guru Nanak dev. Gurudwara is a place where the legend guru Nanak is worshipped. Unlike other religion Sikh people does not worship an idol. Guru Nanak Jayanti taught the people about humanity and the importance of life.

On the special occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, people eat community lunch which is also called “Langar” which is served near Gurudwaras. The food created on langar is completely vegetarian. Many individual people or organizations pledge to volunteer to distribute food to people during this special occasion. Without a doubt, Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the widely celebrated festivals. After the death of Guru Nanak, every year people celebrated his birth anniversary.

 

Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak is known as the founder of Sikh. He was born on April 15, 1469, in Bhodi Di Talvandi, near Lahore India. He died in 1539, in Punjab India. Guru Nanak is known for his spiritual knowledge and educating people. Sikhs in the only monotheistic religion that combines Hindu and Muslim religion and this was only possible due to the effort of Guru Nanak. He made a remarkable change through his teaching. Guru Nanak word and composed many hymns. These hymns were later told by Adi Granth by Guru Arjun who was the fifth Sikh Guru. Throughout his life, Guru Nanak has contributed very much to humanity.

According to one of the versions of guru Nanak once guru Nanak decides to travel and experience the hardship of the world. So he decided to travel around the different parts of the world. So he made five trips, one in every four directions of the compass. During this journey, he traveled to the east and south of Sri Lanka. After that, he traveled to the north deep in the Himalayas. He also travels to the west of Baghdad, Mecca, and Medina. During this trip, he also visits Kartarpur where he ended his travel journey and settled.

According to Bhai Bala Janamsakhi, it is believed that Guru Nanak was born on the full moon of the lunar month of Kartik which is why Guru Nanak Jayanti always falls on the day of the full moon. Guru Nanak Jayanti is a festival to celebrate the special significance of the Sikh community and is one of the most awaited festivals of the year.

Rituals performed on Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Sikh people. The celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti starts with reading the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Granth Sahib is one of the holy books of the Sikh. People begin to read this holy book before 2 years days of Guru Nanak Jayanti, In order to finish the book in Gurupurab. This process is called Akhanda Path which is one of the important traditions of Guru Nanak Jayanti. People visit Gurudwaras early in the morning after having a bath. After that, they chant the sacred hymns. Devotee sings many hymns and offers different prayers to Guru Nanak.

After that people go to a grand feast or Langar. Many people gather together in the langar. The celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti is continued till night in Gurudwaras. Since, Guru Nanak was born at 1:20 AM and offers their final prayers for the well-being of their friend, family, and everyone around the world.

Guru Nanak’s life journey

He is known for his determination for spreading the message of God. Guru Nanak is believed to be god’s child. With the modernization, everything was changing. Social problems were increasing day by day. Guru Nanak was deeply saddened to see people suffering like that. Then Guru Nanak decided to travel across different parts of the world to educate people about the meaning of life. On his first journey guru, Nanak traveled to most parts of India and some parts of Pakistan. His first journey began in 1500 and 1507. After that Guru Nanak continued this second journey toward a different part of Sri Lanka.

‘Then for his third journey, he wanted to travel through difficult terrains for which he chooses mountainous countries like Nepal, Sikkim, and Kashmir. For his fourth journey guru, Nanak traveled toward Mecca and different parts of the middle east county of Asia. His last journey was through different regions of Punjab. These were the five journeys of Guru Nanak dev. Guru Nanak belongs to the Hindu community, during the conflict between Hindu and Muslim he chooses to be neutral. He also discovers Sikhs to establish peace around the world. The main principle of Sikhs is to promote and spread peace.

Guru Nanak contribution to humanity

In the early ages there used to be many conflicts between people in the name of religion. Hindu and Muslim were the main religion which was fighting with each other. Seeing that guru Nanak started teaching and making people aware of unity. He believed that there are no Hindus and no Muslims. Guru Nanak made a huge effort to end the fight against hinds and Muslims. Guru Nanak came to the peach and many people started to know and admire him. After that, he began to teach people about how we need to end the existing social problem that he saw from his five different journeys.

Guru Nanak also began to emphasize people in the importance of equality among all. He also raises his voice and against slavery and racial discrimination. He is one of the most religious figures. Guru Nanak made many efforts for the respect of women and to treat them as equal to a man.

 

Teachings

The word guru means teacher in the Sanskrit language. The name Guru Nanak is set by normal people as Guru Nanak spread education and made people understand many things. Guru Nanak is said to the child sent by God himself. Guru acted as a bridge in the conflict between Hindus and Muslims. He spread his knowledge and spiritual education. Guru began to teach people that every human being is capable of attending spiritual perfection which will ultimately lead them to god. He also taught people we do not need to go to the temple or any place for having god’s blessing. He emphasized that God has created May worlds and also people from slavery and much other social evil.

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2021

It is one of the important and awaited festivals for Sikh people. Guru Nanak Jayanti is the day when the founder of Sikhs Guru Nanak dev Ji was born. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Guru Nanak Jayanti always falls on the day of the full moon day of Kartik. To celebrate the birth anniversary of their idol devotee start their day with an early morning procession which is also called Prabhat Pheri. People chant and sing the hymns of Guru Nanak all day.

At the time of sunset, devotees gather together near Gurudwaras and offer special prayers which are called Rehrasi. Guru Nanak Jayanti is a festival that is widely celebrated around the entire world. This festival is known to be the main festival special in north India including Punjab and Lahore in Pakistan. Sikh people around the world celebrate this festival with huge excitement and energy.

History of Guru Nanak

We all know about the five trips that guru Nanak took in the course of changing the world. After the competition of his journey, he settled on Punjab. He spent his entire life there. It is believed that the wealthy admirer of Guru Nanak built the village in honor. Guru Nanak bought many changes in the world by staying in Punjab. Due to lots of efforts of Guru Nanak, he established the Sikh community. Seeing the revolution that Guru Nanak had bought in human society, he was established as the teacher. He began to teach discipline and the meaning of life to the people. Guru Nanak used to tell a famous story about his rebellion when he was at the age of eleven.

As Guru Nanak was a Hindu according to Hindu tradition adult boys must wear a thread in their body but Guru Nanak refuses to do that. He believed that a person should be distinguished by the individual quality of a person, not by some thread. Guru Nanak used to speak against other evil social problems openly. Later he also solved many religion-related disputes. After that, he sacrifices his entire life to teaching people and spreading knowledge.

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2021

Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the main festivals of Sikh people. Many countries provide national holiday on this special occasion. Guru Nanak Jayanti has been celebrated in the world for a very long time. This year 2020 is more special to the people as this year we will celebrate the 255th birth anniversary of the legend Guru Nanak. On this special occasion, people also do many social works and deeds. The outside Gurudwaras, people feed many homeless people. On the auspicious occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti 2021, people organize different programs in various parts of the world.

Guru Nanak Jayanti during the pandemic of 2021

Guru Nanak Jayanti is an international festival. People almost around the country celebrate this festival. Every year people gather together during this festival and celebrate it with family and friends. But this year 2020 during the pandemic many of us are in lockdown. The risk of coronavirus is all around the world. The entire world is suffering from this virus. Many people around the world have lost their life due to this disease. On the other hand, we should also celebrate our festival and save our culture.

During this crucial time, we must be careful while celebrating the festival. The government has prohibited public gatherings and celebrating festivals. But during this time we must celebrate the festival cautiously.  Thanks to invention and technology there have been many virtual ways of celebrating festivals. Video conference with the family will keep you close to your near once during this festive season. Also, there are many online stores that provide a safe delivery system.

You can Guru Nanak Jayanti send gifts and food via online stores to your family or friends.  While going to langar we have to be more prepared and safe.  And this year we will pray for the well-being of our family and people around the world. We have to be safe and celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti differently during this year.  Stay happy and stay safe!!!

Guru Nanak Jayanti wishes

• “May Guru Nanak be your guidance and support through the course of your life. Happy Gurpurab!”
• “May lord Guru Nanak inspire you to achieve your goals in life and help maintain peace and tranquility. To and your family, a very Happy Gurpurab.”
• “May Wahe Guru shower his blessings on you! Happy Guru Nanak Jayanti!”