Sikh Holidays Calendar 2014

 

 

 Sikh Holidays are a beautiful blend of religious and festive occasions that commemorate the important events in the history of Sikhism. These festivals are observed according to the Nanaksahi Calendar.

The amended version of this calendar has the names of the months as mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, but commemorative days are fixed according to the modern day calendar so that Sikhs all around the world can celebrate the occasions together year after year.

The common tradition in a Sikh Festival is a parade that carries the Guru Granth Sahib and walks round the city singing devotional songs known as Nagar Kirtan. Customs also include free food (Langar) that is served as the parade gets over and people meet at the Gurdwara.

Here is a list of festivals that occur in the Sikh Holiday Calendar in the year 2014 -

    Sunday, January 5, Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Nanakshahi calendar) – This day is known as Parkash Utsav Dasveh Patshah which literally means the Rising of the 10th Divine Light or Knowledge, and is celebrated by Sikhs all over the world. On this day Sikhs celebrate the birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who was the founder of the Khalsa (collective body). He is believed to have been born in the year 1666, and he had nominated the Guru Granth Sahib to be the next Guru of the Sikhs after him.

    Monday, January 13, Maghi – This festival commemorates the day when forty Sikh men were martyred while fighting a huge Mughal Army who were marching to capture Guru Gobind Singh at Mukhtsar in 1705. These men are known as the Chali Mukte or the Forty Immortal/ Liberated ones. These men fought bravely for their religion and were blessed by Guru Gobind Singh with Mukti (Salvation/ Liberation). They were cremated at Mukhtsar, and in their honor every year an annual fair is held in that place. Traditional customs include visiting Gurdwara and listening to Kirtan.

    Friday, January 31, Birthday of Guru Har Rai (Nanakshahi calendar) – This day commemorates the birth of the seventh Guru of the Sikhs Guru Har Rai who was born in the year 1630. On this day it is considered auspicious to listen to Gurbani (Sayings of the Guru).

    Monday, March 17, Hola Mohalla – This is an Annual festival where thousands of Sikhs gather for mock battles and other forms of military exercises. This tradition was started by Guru Gobind Singh who wanted to train his followers in martial arts, horse riding and swordsmanship. Today this day is celebrated as Sikh Olympics where many people participate in martial arts, horse riding or swordsmanship competitions. Processions are also organized that uphold the Sikh Flag and the Guru Granth Sahib. At the end of the event people attend Kirtan at the Gurdwara. Music and poetry competitions too are often organized.

    Monday, April 14, Vaisakh/ Baisakhi – This day commemorates when the Khalsa Brotherhood came into existence in the year 1699. With the birth of the Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh gave the Sikhs a distinct identity of their own. He also set some code of conduct that every Sikh should adhere to. He then baptized the first Sikhs using sweet nectar that they called Amrit. Even today on the Vaisakhi day those who are ready to join the Brotherhood are baptized on this day. To mark the occasion, parades with beautiful floats that flaunt the Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh Flag. People also visit the Gurdwara to pay their respects.

    Friday, April 18, Birthday of Guru Angad Dev and Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar) – Guru Angad Dev was born as Lehna in the year 1504 in a small village in the Mukhtsar district of Punjab. He succeeded Guru Nanak as the second Sikh Guru in the year 1538 and then came to be known as Angad Dev. He is believed to have introduced the Sikh script known as Gurmukhi.

    Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth guru of the Sikhs and was born in the year 1921. Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb for he had resisted the Emperor’s attempt to convert the whole country into Islamic Faith.

    Friday, May 23, Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Nanakshahi calendar) – This day commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Amar Das, the third Guru of the Sikhs. He is known for championing social equality and abandoning untouchability and discriminations related to caste and creed.

    Monday, June 16, Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib – This day commemorates the martyrdom of the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjan, who was tortured to death as per the instructions of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in the year 1606. Usual celebrations of Kirtan and Langar are observed. Apart from that a chilled sweet drink is distributed in Gurdwaras and in the neighborhood keeping in mind the scorching heat of the season. The drink is made of milk, sugar, water and aromatic essence.

    Saturday, July 5, Birthday of Guru Hargobind (Nanakshahi calendar) -- This marks the birth anniversary of the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind.

    Wednesday, July 23, Birthday of Guru Har Krishen (Nanakshahi calendar) – This marks the birth anniversary of the eighth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Har Krishen.

    Monday, September 1, Phalia Parkash Guru Granth Sahib – This commemorates the day from when the Holy Scripture of Guru Granth Sahib was nominated to be the Guru of the Sikhs eternally. This ended the human line of Gurus for the Sikhs. The tenth Guru of the Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh nominated the Granth Sahib to succeed after him.

    Thursday, October 9, Birthday of Guru Ram Das (Nanakshahi calendar) – This marks the birth anniversary of the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ram Das, who is revered for organizing the Sikh society and also for composing the four hymns that constitute the Sikh Wedding Rites.

    Thursday, October 23, Bandi Chhor Divas (Deewali) – This day commemorates the event of release of Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, and fifty two others, from the prison. Sikhs were fighting for their rights and against the oppression of Mughal rule. Narag Keertan (parade where people sing devotional songs) is commonly observed to mark the occasion.

    Thursday, November 6, Guru Nanak Jayanti – – This marks the birth anniversary of the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak shaped the Sikh religion. This day is considered to be one of the most auspicious days by the Sikhs. It is celebrated by organizing morning parades around the Gurdwara followed by Kirtan.

    Monday, November 24, Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib – This is a significant day in the history of Sikhism. It is the day when Guru Tegh Bahadur accepted martyrdom championing the right to follow a religion of one’s choice. During that time, Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb had undertaken a mission of converting the whole country into Islam. Guru Tegh Bahadur was killed under the instructions of Aurangazeb. From then Sikhs uphold a very noble principle of tolerance and respect to every faith.