Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2023 marks the 554th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the revered founder of Sikhism. Known as Gurpurab and Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav as well, this significant day is observed with immense devotion and enthusiasm. Devotees come together in Gurudwaras to honour Guru Nanak Dev Ji's teachings, engage in prayers, and recite hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, emphasizing messages of unity and peace. Let's explore the history and significance of this great festival.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023:Date and Time
This year, the joyous occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti is being celebrated with great zeal, commemorating the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Sikhism's first Guru. The festival, also referred to as Gurpurab and Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav, is a time when followers pay homage to Guru Nanak Dev Ji's teachings. In 2023, the festival falls on November 27, marking Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 554th anniversary, born on the Purnima Tithi of Kartik Month. The Purnima Tithi this year begins on November 26, 2023, at 03:53 PM and ends on November 27, 2023, at 02:45 PM.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023: Significance
Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2023 holds immense religious significance, especially among the Sikh community. This auspicious day, falling on the Purnima Tithi of Kartik Month marks the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Known as Guru Purab and Nanak Prakash Utsav, it's one of the most significant festivals for Sikhs, observed worldwide with grandeur and joy. Devotees pay homage to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru of Sikhism, by offering prayers and reflecting on his teachings. The day involves gatherings in Gurudwaras where devotees chant hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the sacred scripture of Sikhism, as a mark of respect and devotion.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023: History
The historical background of Guru Nanak Jayanti dates back to the 15th century. According to some narratives, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on April 15, 1469, in Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. However, the Sikh community recognizes his birth date as the Purnima Tithi of the Kartik Month. He was the son of Mehta Kalu and Mata Tripta. Recognized as a spiritual leader during the 15th century, Guru Nanak Dev Ji emphasized peace and composed the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, a holy scripture of Sikhism containing 974 hymns (Shlokas). His teachings, including the pivotal concept of "Ik Omkar," which signifies the oneness and omnipresence of God, transcended religious and caste distinctions, promoting the understanding that God is present everywhere and denouncing all forms of discrimination.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023: Celebration
Guru Nanak Jayanti, a day of immense sanctity in Sikhism, is celebrated with splendid grandeur worldwide. This revered day sees devotees engaging in a variety of religious and spiritual practices. Visits to significant Gurudwaras, including Bangla Sahib, Sheesh Ganj, Golden Temple, and Hemkunth Sahib, are common. Participants illuminate earthen lamps and exchange insights from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Community services like langar sewa (community kitchen service), prayer offerings, and Ardaas (supplication) are integral parts of the celebration. In Gurudwaras, Gurbani (hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib) echo throughout the day. Many followers also conduct Akhand Path, a continuous 24-hour reading of the holy book, in their homes, seeking Guru Nanak Ji's blessings.
Guru Nanak Ji, revered not only by Sikhs but also deeply respected within the Hindu community, is honoured by both communities on this day. Hindus are encouraged to partake in the celebrations, light Diyas (lamps), offer prayers and embrace the teachings and blessings of Guru Nanak Ji on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Splendid Illumination at Golden Temple During Gurpurab
Gurpurab 2023 is marked by a spectacular display of lights at the revered Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib, in Amritsar, Punjab, India. This sacred Sikh shrine becomes a vision of beauty, adorned with thousands of lights and decorations. The entire area, including the adjacent Sarovar (sacred pool), is transformed into a captivating array of colourful lights, creating an atmosphere that is both enchanting and deeply spiritual. This year's Gurpurab sees the Golden Temple in a resplendent display, symbolizing the joy and reverence with which the Sikh community celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Pilgrims and visitors from across the globe gather to experience this magnificent spectacle.
The ambience is imbued with devotion, prayer, and a strong sense of community. The reflection of the brilliantly lit Golden Temple in the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar) enhances the visual magnificence, offering a scene that is as spiritually uplifting as it is visually stunning. On Gurpurab, prayers and services are conducted in Gurdwaras throughout the day and into the night, culminating in the communal langar. The langar meal is held in high regard, with kada prasad, a traditional offering, served on this significant day. Many devotees engage in Sewa, selflessly offering food and services, embodying the spirit of community and devotion central to the celebration.
Top 10 Inspirational Sayings from Guru Nanak Dev Ji
- "Transform worldly affection into ink by burning it, use the heart as a pen and intellect as the scribe, and inscribe a narrative that transcends boundaries and limits."
- "There exists only one God, whose name is Truth; He is the creator, fearless, without malice, immortal, and beyond the cycle of life and death, self-enlightened."
- "Wealth given by God, if hoarded or used selfishly, is like a dead body. However, when shared with others, it attains the purity of sacred food."
- "Engaging in debates over eating meat is futile. Such arguments miss the essence of truth and meditation. Defining meat and plants, or discerning the sin between vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism, is beyond human understanding."
- "True comfort and lasting peace are achieved by removing selfishness from within."
- "A seed, when sown in a field at the right time, gives rise to a plant embodying the seed's inherent qualities."
- "Just as a rope mistaken for a snake causes fear, ignorance of the self gives rise to the fleeting, individual, and phenomenal aspects of existence."
- "Even kings and emperors, with immense wealth and vast properties, are incomparable to an ant that remains mindful of God."
- "The creation and nurturing of children, and the daily affairs of life, have women as their evident source."
- "Rejoice in singing praises to the Lord, devote yourself to His name, and become the servant of His servants."
Conclusion
The 554th Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2023 is a beacon of spiritual illumination, bringing together communities in joyous celebration and reverence. This auspicious occasion, revered globally, not only honours the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji but also symbolizes the universal values of unity, peace, and devotion that transcend religious boundaries. Through the vibrant festivities, the lighting of the Golden Temple, and the soulful recitations from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, devotees and admirers worldwide are reminded of the timeless wisdom and compassionate vision of Sikhism's beloved founder.
"Satnaam Shri Waheguru
Waheguru Ji da Khalsa Waheguru Ji di Fateh
Bole Sau Nihaal Sat Shri Aakal"..!!
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