ReligiousOct – NovLunar layoutDate varies

Guru Nanak Jayanti - the birth anniversary of Sikhism's founder, observed on the full moon of Kartik

Guru Nanak Jayanti (also Gurpurab) is the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. Observed on the full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November), it is one of the most important Sikh festivals. Major celebrations at the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar.

IN

Religious observancePublished October 14, 2026

At a glanceReligious observance
Observed in
IN
Where observed
When
Oct - Nov
Frequency
Lunar calendar (date shifts)
Type
Days off
0 days - cultural observance only
Public status
Religious observance - schools / shops normally open
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
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Guru Nanak Jayanti (also Prakash Purab or Gurpurab) is the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. Observed on the full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Kartik, it is one of the most important Sikh festivals and a gazetted public holiday.

The one-line summary

Sikh festival commemorating the birth of Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), founder of Sikhism. Observed on the full moon of Kartik. Major celebration at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

30M+Sikhs worldwide (Pew Research estimate)
Sikh traditionThe langar (free community kitchen) is open to all visitors regardless of religion, race, or background - a core Sikh principle established by Guru Nanak himself. The world's largest langar operates daily at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, serving up to 100,000 meals per day.

When it falls

Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed on the full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Kartik, the same lunar month that also contains Diwali. The date moves between mid-October and mid-November in the Gregorian calendar. In 2026, it falls on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. In 2027, it falls on Saturday, November 13, 2027. The exact Gregorian date shifts each year because the Hindu lunisolar calendar does not align with the Gregorian.

Origin and history

Guru Nanak Dev was born on the full moon of Kartik in 1469 in Talwandi, a village in present-day Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. According to Sikh tradition, he was born with distinct spiritual marks and his birth was accompanied by miraculous events. He founded Sikhism after a spiritual experience at age 28-30 and spent the next 25 years traveling across South and Central Asia (including visits to Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Middle East, and possibly Mecca and Baghdad) preaching the oneness of God (Ik Onkar), the equality of all humans, the dignity of labor (Kirat Karni), and the rejection of caste and empty ritualism.

He composed 974 hymns that form part of the Guru Granth Sahib, the central Sikh scripture. He appointed Guru Angad Dev as his successor before his death in 1539 in Kartarpur, establishing the lineage of the ten Sikh Gurus that ended with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708, after which the Guru Granth Sahib became the eternal Guru.

Legal status

Guru Nanak Jayanti is a gazetted public holiday in India under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Banks, government offices, and most businesses close for the day. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) close. Schools close for 1-2 days. In Pakistan, it is an optional holiday with major observances in Nankana Sahib (birthplace), Lahore, and other Sikh-heritage cities.

How it is observed

Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed with a 48-hour non-stop Akhand Path (continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib from beginning to end) at gurdwaras, Nagar Kirtan processions carrying the Guru Granth Sahib through streets with kirtan (devotional singing), Gatka (Sikh martial arts) displays, and the distribution of langar (free community meals) to all visitors regardless of religion, caste, or background. Gurdwaras are illuminated with lights and oil lamps for the occasion.

Major pilgrimage sites

The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar, Punjab, hosts one of the largest Guru Nanak Jayanti gatherings in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. The Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, marking the birthplace of Guru Nanak, hosts a major celebration organized by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee with kirtan, processions, and langar. Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, marking the site where Guru Nanak spent his final 18 years, has been a pilgrimage site since the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in 2019.

Global observance

Sikh diaspora communities in the UK, Canada, the US, and Malaysia mark Guru Nanak Jayanti with Nagar Kirtan processions. The largest Nagar Kirtan processions outside India take place in Southall (London), Birmingham, and Leicester in the UK; Surrey and Brampton in Canada; and Yuba and others in Malaysia. These processions regularly draw 50,000+ participants and are major cultural events in their host cities.

Guru Nanak Jayanti by the numbers

1469year of Guru Nanak Dev's birth (Kartik Purnima)
974hymns of Guru Nanak included in the Guru Granth Sahib
~30MSikhs worldwide who observe Guru Nanak Jayanti
500K+pilgrims who gather at the Golden Temple in Amritsar for the day

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026?

Tuesday, November 24, 2026 (Guru Nanak's Prakash Purab). Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed on the full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Kartik, falling between mid-October and mid-November in the Gregorian calendar.

Who is Guru Nanak?

Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. Born in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan), he spent 25 years traveling across South and Central Asia preaching the oneness of God, the equality of all humans, the dignity of labor, and the rejection of caste, ritual, and empty ritualism.

Is Guru Nanak Jayanti a public holiday?

Yes. Guru Nanak Jayanti is a gazetted public holiday in India under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Banks, government offices, and most businesses close. Stock markets (BSE, NSE) close for the day. Schools close for 1-2 days. It is also widely observed in Pakistan, especially in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, and in Sikh diaspora communities worldwide.

What is Gurpurab?

Gurpurab is a general term for a Sikh festival commemorating a Guru. There are several Gurpurabs in the Sikh calendar, including the birthdays and martyrdoms of the ten Gurus. Guru Nanak Jayanti is the most celebrated Gurpurab, followed by Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti and the martyrdoms of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur.

How is Guru Nanak Jayanti observed?

Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed with a 48-hour non-stop Akhand Path (continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib) at gurdwaras, Nagar Kirtan (processions with the Guru Granth Sahib, music, and martial arts displays), kirtan (devotional singing), langar (community meals), and the illumination of gurdwaras. The Golden Temple in Amritsar hosts one of the largest gatherings, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

Where is Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrated most prominently?

The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar, Punjab, hosts one of the largest Guru Nanak Jayanti gatherings in the world. The birthplace of Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan is also a major pilgrimage site, with kirtan, processions, and langar organized around the date. Sikh communities in the UK, Canada, the US, and Malaysia also mark the day with large processions.

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