Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) 2026

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab or Prakash Utsav, is the Sikh festival honouring the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. It is observed on the full moon of the month of Kartik, usually falling in November. That observance date is long established and universally kept; the month of Guru Nanak's birth is a separate question on which the janamsakhi traditions and later scholarship differ. Among the most cherished days in the Sikh calendar, the Gurpurab is marked with prayer, processions and shared meals.

For the full story — history, meaning, traditions, foods and FAQs — see the Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) guide.