Today is Guru Nanak Jayanthi which is a Sikh festival.
There are 10 Sikh Gurus who are very important.
Various beliefs such as hard work, etc were given to us by these 10 important Gurus.
Their birthdays are very important and are also known as 'Gurupurab'
Today is Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab and it is also known as Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti.
Out of the 10 Sikh Gurus, today is the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru.
This is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism and people enjoy celebrating it.
It is even more special because it celebrates Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary.
Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism.
He travelled all over the world, helped and taught people that there is one God.
He taught people about love, equality, morals, and goodness.
Guru Nanak's teachings are written in the form of 974 poetic hymns.
It is written in the Guru Granth Sahib.
On this special day, let me tell you about this festival.
Gurupurab is celebrated all over the world.
There are Prabhat Pheris in people staying near Gurudwaras organise processions.
During the procession people sing hymns, sprinkle water, clean the roads and throw flowers.
Akhand Path is where two days before Guru Nanak's Birthday the Guru Grant Sahib is read non stop for 48 hours.
On Guru Nanak Jayanthi 'Nagar Kirtans' are organised where people wear orange kurtas and display their swordsmanship through various weapons.
On this day people make sure the roads are neat and clean.
On the day of Gurpurab, early in the morning at about 4:00am - 5:00 a.m
people gather sing Hymns and read the Guru Granth Sahib.
After singing the hymns, people talk about Guru Nanak's good deeds and his belief about one God.
In the afternoon, Gurudwaras organise a Langar.
Many volunteers cook and serve the food at the Langar.
Regardless of religion, class, rich, poor, gender, etc. all are equally welcome to the Langar to eat food.
This is a symbol of Guru Nanak's large heart.
At 12:00 am in the night people sing in the Gurudwaras.
This is because 1.20am is the actual time of birth of Guru Nanak.
The singing starts at 1.20am and end at around 2:00 a.m.
In India people celebrate this festival with a lot of excitement in Punjab,
Haryana, and Chandigarh.
Even some Sindhis celebrate this festival.
This year Gurupurab is more special because Indian pilgrims can visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan.
It is very important to worship at this place.
It is important to visit this place because after travelling, helping and spreading his teachings around the world.
he settled in that place and started Sikhism by spreading his teachings.
Now the Indian and Pakistan government have worked together
to create the Kartarpur Sahib corridor through which pilgrims can easily travel.
Even though there are political problems pilgrims are happy to visit this holy place.