The birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru and founder of Sikhism, is celebrated every year on Kartik Purnima with great pomp and show not only by Sikhism followers but people of every religion. Guru Nanak Ji has many names like Guru Nanak, Baba Nanak, and Nankashah. The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is celebrated on the day of Kartik Purnima. This time the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak dev Ji will be celebrated. Guru Nanak Jayanti is on 12 November this year. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first Guru of the Sikhs. This day is also known as Guru Parv or Prakash Parv. Shabad-kirtans are performed in Gurdwaras on this day. Langars are organized at different places and Guruvani is recited. Two days before the Guru Parv, Akhand Path (a forty-eight-hour non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib) is held in the Gurudwaras. A day prior to the birthday, Nagarkirtan, is organized.

This year has Guru Nanak Jayanti has special significance for the Sikh followers as it is the 550th Birth anniversary of the Nanak Ji and after so many years Kartarpur corridor has been opened for Indian Sikh followers on November 9. Kartarpur Sahib is a sacred pilgrimage site for Sikhs and the abode of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It was here where he took his last breath. This place is about 3 to 4 kilometers from the border of India in Pakistan. This corridor has been built from Dera Baba Nanak which is in Gurdaspur to the Pakistan border. Now Indians are allowed to visit the Kartarpur Gurudwara.

Life History and teachings of Guru Nanak Ji

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born at a place named Rai Bhoi’s Talwandi (Rai Bhoi di Talwandi), which is now in Nankana Sahib, Punjab province of Pakistan. In his whole life, he worked for the poor and downtrodden people. He believes in one god and preached that women are equal to men. Nanak Ji devoted his life to fighting against the superstitions.