Guru Nanak Jayanti
Also called Guru Nanak Gurpurab, Prakash Utsav Guru Nanak Dev Ji
When
Tuesday, 24 November 2026 in 75 days
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See the complete panchang for that day โ
Why this date?
Kartik Purnima. The date is kept on the lunar full moon of Kartik in common observance, which is why it moves against the civil calendar even though the Nanakshahi calendar assigns Guru Nanak's birth to a fixed date.
- Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
- Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
- Governed by the whole day rather than a specific period
- The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar
Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate โ
Dates in the coming years
- Tuesday, 24 November 2026 in 75 days
- Sunday, 14 November 2027 in 430 days
- Thursday, 2 November 2028 in 784 days
- Wednesday, 21 November 2029 in 1168 days
- Sunday, 10 November 2030 in 1522 days
Published to 2030. Later years appear as the dataset is extended and validated.
What In short
The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. Gurdwaras hold a forty-eight-hour continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, a nagar kirtan procession the day before, and langar throughout.
Why The reason behind it
Nanak's teaching was of one formless divine reality and of the rejection of caste and ritual distinction, and the day's form follows it: the Akhand Path is unbroken and open, the procession goes through the streets rather than staying in the building, and everyone eats the same food sitting in the same line.
Traditional basis
Janamsakhi tradition โ The narrative accounts of Guru Nanak's life on which the observance rests.
Sikh Rehat Maryada โ Prescribes the Akhand Path and the gurpurab observance.
How At home, step by step
- Attend the Akhand Path โ the unbroken reading concluding on the morning of the gurpurab.
- Join the nagar kirtan, led by the Panj Pyare.
- Take and serve langar; the seva is part of the observance.
What you'll need
- Karah prasad
- Offerings for the langar
Fasting and breaking the fast
Not a fasting observance; Sikh practice does not keep ritual fasts.
Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice โ if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.
Personal In your region
- North India yours
Kept across the Sikh diaspora with the same Akhand Path and nagar kirtan. - Punjab (Punjabi)
The largest gurpurab of the year; Nankana Sahib and Amritsar are the reference observances.
For children
The birthday of Guru Nanak, who started the Sikh faith. The whole holy book is read out loud without stopping for two days, and everybody eats together at the gurdwara.
Common questions
- Why is it on a different date each year if the Nanakshahi calendar fixes it?
- Because the gurpurab is observed on Kartik Purnima by long custom, and that is lunar. The Nanakshahi calendar assigns a fixed date for the birth itself, and the two have not been reconciled in general practice.
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.