Guru Nanak's Jayanti

The religion of Sikhism preaches that there is one God but that he is formless. That is why the Sikhs don't worship idols. The festivities in the Sikh religion revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus. These Gurus were responsible for shaping the beliefs of the Sikhs. Their birthdays known as Gurpurabs, are occasions for celebration and prayer among the Sikhs. The most important Gurupurab is that of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of the Sikh religion. Guru Nanak was born in 1469 at Talwandi, 50 kilometers from Lahore, in the month of Kartik (October/November). His birthday is known as Guru Nanak Jayanti. The celebrations of Guru Nanak's birthday start with the three-day akhand path in which the Granth Sahib (the holy book of the Sikhs) is read from beginning to end without a break. The 3rd day is usually the Gurupurab.

Did you know? The Sikhs did not always keep their hair uncut. It was only in 1699, that Guru Govind Singh, the last Guru, introduced this practice. The Guru wanted the Sikhs to stand out from other communities. They were ordered to keep the five K's: Kesh -unshorn hair and beard, Kangh - comb in the hair, Kara - steel bangle on the right wrist, Kachcha - short drawers and Kirpan - a steel dagger. The use of Singh (lion) as a surname was also started during Guru Govind Singh's time. On this day the Granth Sahib is carried in a procession throughout the city on a big float. Five armed guards, who represent the panj pyaras, head the procession carrying the Sikh flag. Ladies accompanying the procession sing hymns from the Granth Sahib. Schoolchildren marching to the tune of local bands are a special feature of the procession. The route of the procession is lined with people offering sweets and cold drinks to the general public and the marchers. The procession ends at the Gurudwara where a special langar or community lunch is organised.

The most sacred shrine of the Sikhs is the Golden Temple. The temple is located in the city of Amritsar, in Punjab, where Sikhs comprise the majority of the population. The Golden temple is named after its dome which is covered completely with 400 kg of gold leaf.