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Guru Gorvind Singh Jayanti is a Sikh festival that commemorates the birthday of Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. It is a religious celebration in which prayers for prosperity are offered. The processions held for Guru Govind Singh in India are decorated with religious posters, banners, flags, flowers and other things that portray the different aspects of Sikhism. Generally, a procession carries a picture of Guru Govind Singh along with symbol of Sikh – Ek-Onkar.
Guru Govind Singh was the 10th Sikh Guru of Nanak. He was born at Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666. His birthday sometimes falls either in December or January or even both months in the Gregorian calendar. The annual celebration of the Guru’s birthday is based on the Nanakshahi calendar.
Guru Govind Singh was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who gave his life to protect religious freedom. He succeeded his father when he became a Guru at nine years of age. Guru Gorvind Singh’s teachings have a big impact on Sikhs. In his lifetime, he stood against the Mughal Rulers and fought against injustice.
In 1699, Guru Gorvind Singh took five men from the lower caste of society and baptized them as His Five Beloveds, endowing them with great courage and a devotion to God. It was his dedication to God, his fearlessness and his desire to protect the people from being oppressed that led Guru Gorvind Singh to establish the Khalsa, a military force of saint-soldiers which he baptized.
It is common for large processions to go through markets in India on Guru Gorvind Singh Jayanti. People sing devotional songs during the procession and share sweets and a cold drink or a sharbat among the adults and children. There are also special prayer gatherings that are held at places of worship known as Gurudwaras.
Historical lectures are conducted and poems recited as part of praising the Guru on his birthday. Special dishes that are unique to this occasion are prepared and served during the festivities. These dishes include Holige, a sweet bread eaten with Ugadi Pachadi, which is a sweet and sour chutney made of tamarind, raw mango, neem flowers and jiggery which is a type of sugar and Puligore, a dish of tamarind rice.
Guru Govind Singh was the 10th Sikh Guru of Nanak. He was born at Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666. His birthday sometimes falls either in December or January or even both months in the Gregorian calendar. The annual celebration of the Guru’s birthday is based on the Nanakshahi calendar.
Guru Govind Singh was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who gave his life to protect religious freedom. He succeeded his father when he became a Guru at nine years of age. Guru Gorvind Singh’s teachings have a big impact on Sikhs. In his lifetime, he stood against the Mughal Rulers and fought against injustice.
In 1699, Guru Gorvind Singh took five men from the lower caste of society and baptized them as His Five Beloveds, endowing them with great courage and a devotion to God. It was his dedication to God, his fearlessness and his desire to protect the people from being oppressed that led Guru Gorvind Singh to establish the Khalsa, a military force of saint-soldiers which he baptized.
It is common for large processions to go through markets in India on Guru Gorvind Singh Jayanti. People sing devotional songs during the procession and share sweets and a cold drink or a sharbat among the adults and children. There are also special prayer gatherings that are held at places of worship known as Gurudwaras.
Historical lectures are conducted and poems recited as part of praising the Guru on his birthday. Special dishes that are unique to this occasion are prepared and served during the festivities. These dishes include Holige, a sweet bread eaten with Ugadi Pachadi, which is a sweet and sour chutney made of tamarind, raw mango, neem flowers and jiggery which is a type of sugar and Puligore, a dish of tamarind rice.
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