Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026

What this countdown tracks

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026 – Gurpurab, the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhism – falls on Tuesday November 24, 2026. The day commemorates the birth of the first Sikh Guru in 1469 and is the most widely observed festival in the Sikh calendar, marked across Punjab, the global Sikh diaspora, and historic gurdwaras in Pakistan.

About Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak Dev Ji – Sikhism's founder and first of the ten Sikh Gurus – was born on April 15, 1469 in the village of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province), to a Hindu Khatri family. The traditional Sikh calendar observes his birthday on the full moon of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik (Kartik Purnima), which falls in October or November in the Gregorian calendar – this is a historical adjustment by the Sikh tradition, in part to align with a folk-historical festival date that had developed in 16th-century Punjab. Some Sikh traditions and calendars (notably the original Nanakshahi calendar reform of 2003) propose April 14 as the more historically accurate date, but Kartik Purnima remains the universally observed Gurpurab.

Guru Nanak's life and teaching laid the foundations of Sikhism. He traveled extensively – his udasis (journeys) took him through India, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Mecca, Medina, Baghdad, and Central Asia – preaching a message of one God (Ik Onkar), the equality of all human beings, the rejection of caste and gender hierarchies, the importance of honest livelihood (kirat karo), the sharing of one's earnings (vand chhako), and constant remembrance of the divine name (naam japo). His revolutionary institutions included the langar (the free community kitchen open to all, regardless of caste, gender, religion, or status) and the sangat (the gathered community of equals).

Guru Nanak passed away on September 22, 1539 at Kartarpur on the banks of the Ravi River. The Kartarpur Corridor, opened in 2019 between India and Pakistan, allows Indian Sikh pilgrims visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak spent his final years.

How it's observed

Gurpurab observance traditionally begins three days before the main day. On day one, Akhand Path begins – an unbroken 48-hour reading of the entire Guru Granth Sahib (the 1,430-page Sikh scripture compiled by the fifth and tenth Gurus) by relays of readers in major gurdwaras worldwide. The continuous recitation concludes on the morning of Gurpurab itself, just before dawn.

On the day before Gurpurab, communities organize Nagar Kirtan – grand processions through cities led by the Panj Pyare (five baptized Sikhs in traditional dress, representing the original Five Beloved Ones who founded the Khalsa). The procession is preceded by the Sikh flag (Nishan Sahib) and includes the Guru Granth Sahib carried on a decorated palanquin, with worshippers singing kirtan (devotional hymns) and martial arts displays (gatka) by Khalsa Sikhs. Major Nagar Kirtans in Amritsar, Patna Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Surrey BC, Southall, and Yuba City regularly draw crowds of 50,000 to 250,000.

The day itself begins with the Asa di Var morning prayer at amritvela (3:30 to 4:30 AM, before sunrise) followed by kirtan and katha (devotional recitations and discourses) throughout the day. Langar is served continuously to all visitors, regardless of faith. Many gurdwaras serve special Gurpurab langar – kara prashad (a sweet wheat-flour-and-ghee preparation), dal makhani, sabzi, and sweet rice. Homes and gurdwaras are illuminated with strings of lights and candles in the evening; some communities organize firework displays.

In Pakistan, the Gurpurab is observed at Nankana Sahib (Guru Nanak's birthplace) and Kartarpur (his place of passing). Pakistan typically grants thousands of visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for the occasion; the Kartarpur Corridor allows additional visa-free pilgrimage.

Why this date specifically

Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed on the full moon of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik (Kartik Purnima), even though Sikhism's primary Nanakshahi calendar otherwise uses solar-fixed dates. The Sikh community has retained the lunar date for this Gurpurab to preserve the historical observance pattern and to maintain the festival's traditional alignment with the Diwali / Bandi Chhor Divas season. In 2026, Kartik Purnima falls on November 24 in Indian Standard Time, making Tuesday November 24 the universally observed Guru Nanak Jayanti. The festival fell on November 5 in 2025 and falls on November 14 in 2027, drifting earlier each year because of the lunar reckoning.

What to watch for / notable observances in 2026

• November 22–24 – Akhand Path (continuous 48-hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib) at major gurdwaras
• November 23 – Nagar Kirtan processions in major cities led by the Panj Pyare
• November 24 – Gurpurab; main day prayers, kirtan, katha, and langar from amritvela
• Large pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) – Guru Nanak's birthplace
• Pilgrimage to Kartarpur Sahib via the Kartarpur Corridor (visa-free for Indian Sikhs)
• Major diaspora celebrations: Surrey BC (Canada), Southall (London), Yuba City (California), Birmingham (UK)
• Public holiday in India – a gazetted national holiday
• Public holiday in many Indian states; observed in Pakistan, Canada, UK, and US Sikh-majority municipalities

Related festivals to track

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026 falls between Diwali 2026 on November 8 (which Sikhs observe as Bandi Chhor Divas) and the December festival cluster. Vaisakhi 2027 on April 14 is the next major Sikh observance. The family overview is at the Sikh festival hub.

FAQ

When is Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2026? Tuesday November 24, 2026 – Kartik Purnima.

How is Guru Nanak Jayanti observed? Through Akhand Path (a 48-hour unbroken reading of the Guru Granth Sahib), Nagar Kirtan processions led by the Panj Pyare, dawn prayers, kirtan and katha through the day, langar (free community meal) for all visitors, and illumination of gurdwaras.

Is Guru Nanak Jayanti a public holiday? Yes, in India as a gazetted national holiday; observed in Pakistan, Canada (in some provinces), and Sikh-majority US municipalities.

What is the typical greeting? "Guru Nanak Dev Ji ke Prakash Purab di Lakh Lakh Vadhaiyan" (countless congratulations on Guru Nanak's birthday) or "Happy Gurpurab"; "Sat Sri Akal" is the standard Sikh greeting.