Nanakshahi Calendar Dates and Gurpurab

The International Gurpurab Memorial Day and Sikh events are observed following the Nanakshahi calendar. Other religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism, have their own calendars.

Sikhs around the world have a universal calendar called the Nanakshahi Calendar. Its name comes from the founder of Sikhism; Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

What are the Months in Nanakshahi Calendar?

The dates correspond to the official calendar designed and released by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGCP) in Amritsar, India, in mid-March every year.

NoMonth NameJulian Months
1ChetMarch – April
2VaisakhApril – May
3JethMay – June
4HarhJune – July
5SawanJuly – August
6BhadonAugust – September
7AssaySeptember – October
8KatakOctober – November
9MagharNovember – December
10PohDecember – January
11MaghJanuary – February
12PhalgunFebruary – March
What are the Months in Sikh Gurpurab Calendar?

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What are the Benefits of the Nanakshahi Calendar?

The new calendar will make life easier for Sikhs because Sikh holy days will no longer move on the calendar every year.

Now, Gurpurab (celebrations dedicated to specific Gurus) will always happen on the same date, and every year (once).

The era of this calendar is the birthday of the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev in 1469. New Year’s Day is March 14 of the Gregorian calendar every year. The calendar cannot determine the dates of all Sikh festivals.

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The dates of Sikh festivals that are celebrated at the same time as Hindu religious events like Diwali and Hola Mohalla are still set by the Vikrami calendar.

What are the features of the Nanakshahi Calendar?

  1. Solar Calendar-based on the time required for the earth to revolve around the sun
  2. Scientific design, consistent with the position of the sun; the season does not slip all year round
  3. Based on the Gurbani language-the month is taken directly from Guru Granth sahib
  4. The length of the year is the same as the Western calendar (365 days, 5 hours, 48 ​​minutes, 45 seconds)
  5. Including 31 days of 5 months, then 30 days of 6 months; last month is 30 or 31 of a leap year.
  6. Every 4 years, includes an extra day in the Phagun month.

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Chet Month

But in most of its history, Sikhs have used traditional Vikram or Bikrami calendar shared by Hindus in northern India to determine the date of the festival.

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Chet Month
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Chet Month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
11 ChetMarch 14thNanakshahi New Year begins, Guru Har Rai becomes the seventh master of Sikh and Hola Mohalla festival
22 ChetMarch 15thCommemorate the victory of Bhai Baghel Singh (1730-1802).
36 ChetMarch 19thGuru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, passes away
410 ChetMarch 22ndCommemorating martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh revolutionary freedom fighter of India
511 ChetMarch 23rdAnnual Sikh martial arts festival – Hola Mohalla
612 ChetMarch 24thMartyrdom of Bhai Sabeg Singh and Shahbaz Singh March of 1746.
723 ChetApril 5thCommemorating the inauguration of seventh guru, Guru Har Rai Ji
826 ChetApril 8thCommemorating the inauguration of third guru, Guru Amar Das Ji
927 ChetApril 9thCommemorating the birth of the second eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh
1028 ChetApril 10thcommemorating the death of second guru, Guru Angad Dev Ji
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Chet Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Vaisakh Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Vaisakh Month
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Vaisakh Month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
11 VaisakhApril 13thBaisakhi and Commemorating Origin of Khalsa Panth
27 VaisakhApril 19thCommemorating the death of eighth guru, Guru Har Krishan Ji, and Inauguration of Ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
315 VaisakhApril 27thCommemorating the birth of ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
417 VaisakhApril 29thCommemorating the birth of fifth Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji.
521 VaisakhMay 3rdCommemorates the Martyrdom of the 40 Liberated Ones at the Khirdana reservoir (Muktsar).
625 VaisakhMay 7thCommemorating the birth of second Guru, Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Vaisakh Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Jeth Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Jeth Month
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Jeth Month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
13 JethMay 16thChhota Gallughara, 7,000 Sikhs slaughtered at Kaahnoovaan.
27 JethMay 20thCommemorating the birth of third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji.
316 JethMay 29thCommemorating inauguration of sixth Guru, Guru Har Govind Ji.
422 JethJune 4thAkal Takht 1984 – Attack by Operation Blue Star
524 JethJune 6thMartyrdom of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale and Bhai Amrik Singh in the attack of Golden Temple complex 1984.
626 JethJune 8thCommemorating Martyrdom of fifth Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Jeth Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Har Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Har Month
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Har Month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
17 HarJune 20thCommemorating the birth of sixth Guru, Guru Har Govind Ji.
28 HarJune 21stCommemorating the birth of third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji.
311 HarJune 24thCommemorating Martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadar renowned warrior saint
415 HarJune 28thCommemorating the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh the last Sikh regent of Khalsa Raj.
518 HarJuly 2ndCommemorating laying the first foundation stone of construction of Akal Takht
625 HarJuly 8thCommemorating martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh in 1737.
731 HarJuly 15thCommemorating Sixth Guru Hargobind establishing spiritual and secular sovereignty.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Har Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Sawan Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Sawan Month
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Sawan Month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
11 SawanJuly 16thCommemorating the courageous Bhai Taru Singh’s martyrdom in 1745.
213 SawanJuly 28thCommemorating the birth of eighth Guru, Guru Har Krishan Ji.
316 SawanJuly 31stCommemorating the martyrdom of Uddham Singh
424 SawanAugust 8thGuru ka Bhag commemorating agitation to regain historic to cut firewood on confiscated gurdwara lands.
531 SawanAugust 15thCommemorating India’s independence from British rule.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Sawan Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Bhaadon Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Bhaddon Month
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Bhaddon Month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
13 BhaadonAugust 20thCommemorating inauguration of ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
25 BhaadonAugust 21thcommemorating the martyrdom of the Akali leader Sant Harchand Singh Longowal
314 BhaadonAugust 24thCommemorating the completion of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
418 BhaadonSeptember 2ndCommemorating the initial installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Harmandir Sahib.
519 BhaadonSeptember 3rdCommemorating inauguration of fifth Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji.
620 BhaadonSeptember 4thCommemorating the death of fourth guru, Guru Raam Das Ji.
724 BhaadonSeptember 8thCommemorating marriage of Guru Nanak Dev to Bibi Sulakhni at Batala.   A scheme to bury the Guru beneath a crumbling mud wall by disgruntled Brahmans opposed to the wedding failed, and the wall stands until the present day.
830 BhaadonSeptember 14thCommemorating inauguration of fourth Guru, Guru Raam Das Ji.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Bhaadon Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Assu Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Assu Month
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Assu Month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
11 AssuSeptember 16thCommemorating the death of third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji.
25 AssuSeptember 20thJor Mela Baba Buddha festival commemorating his life long service to eight of Sikhism’s ten gurus.
36 AssuSeptember 21stCommemorating inauguration of second guru, Guru Angad Dev Ji.
410 AssuSeptember 25thCommemorating the death of Sikhism’s first guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
513 AssuSeptember 28thCommemorating the birth of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
622 AssuOctober 7thJor Mela Bir Baba Buddha Ji, commemorating the forest and shrine where the revered saint blessed Mata Ganga to conceive her son Sixth Guru Har Govind.
724 AssuOctober 9thCommemorating retaliation of martyrs who assassinated Bluestar operative General Arun Shridhar Vaidya who led the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple.
826 AssuOctober 11thDarbar Khalsa Dussehra festival in tribute to the marshal attributes of Goddess Durga.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Assu Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Katak Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Katak Month
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Katak Month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
12 KatakOctober 17thCommemorating the birth of fourth guru, Guru Raam Das Ji.
25 KatakOctober 20thCommemorating the birth of Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale
37 KatakOctober 22ndCommemorating the birth of the revered saint Baba Buddha.
49 KatakOctober 23rdCommemorating the death of seventh guru, Guru Har Rai, and the inauguration of Eighth Guru, Guru Har Krishan Ji.
514 KatakOctober 29thCommemorating the founding of charitable religious reform society Chief Khalsa Divan.
615 KatakOctober 30thCommemorating the release of Sixth Guru Har Govind and 52 princes from prison.
717 KatakNovember 1stCommemorating the movement led by Master Tara Singh to form a Punjabi majority state in India.
821 KatakNovember 5thCommemorating the death of tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
927 KatakNovember 11thCommemorating the birth of one of 43 authors whose collected works make up the holy scripture of Guru Granth Sahib.
1030 KatakNovember 14thCommemorating the birth of Sikhism’s founder and first guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Katak Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Maghar Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Maghar month
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Maghar month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
11 MagharNovember 1stCommemorating foundation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGCP).
215 MagharNovember 29thCommemorating the birth of Zorawar Singh, third son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
318 MagharDecember 2ndCommemorating inauguration of tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
419 MagharDecember 3rdCommemorating martyrdom of Baba Gurbaksh Singh.
520 MagharDecember 4thCommemorating martyrdom of ninth guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
629 MagharDecember 13thCommemorating the birth of Fateh Singh, youngest son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
730 MagharDecember 14thCommemorating foundation of Shiromani Akali Dal.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Maghar Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Poh Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Poh month
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Poh month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
17 PohDecember 21stMartyrdom of Bhai Jiwan Singh
28 PohDecember 22ndCommemorating martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s elder sons at Battle of Chamkaur.
39 PohDecember 23rdCommemorating martyrdom of Bhai Sangat Singh who impersonated Guru Gobind Singh to aid in the tenth gurus escape from Battle of Chamkaur
413 PohDecember 27thCommemorating martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons and mother at Sirhind.
522 PohJanuary 5thCommemorating the birth of tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji
623 PohJanuary 6thCommemorating martyrdom of Bhai Kerah Singh and Bhai Satwant Singh for the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Poh Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Maagh Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Maagh month
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Maagh month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
11 MaaghJanuary 14thCommemorating laying of the foundation stone at Sri Harmandir Sahib
27 MaaghJanuary 20th1920’s campaign by SGPC for recovery of keys to Golden Temple treasury.
313 MaaghJanuary 26thCommemorating Republic Day.
414 MaaghJanuary 27thCommemorating the birth of Baba Deep Singh
519 MaaghFebruary 1stBasant Panchami tribute to the spring season festival of India.
627 MaaghFebruary 9thCommemorating the birth of the seventh guru. Guru Har Rai Ji.
728 MaaghFebruary 10thCommemorating the birth of illustrious 15th-century poet Ravidas and contributor to Guru Granth Sahib scripture.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Maagh Month

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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Phalgun Month

Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Phalgun month
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Phalgun month
S.noNanakshahi DateCommon Era CalendarDescription
110 PhalgunFebruary 21stCommemorating martyrdom of 200 Sikhs attempting to regain control of Gurdwara under corrupt management.
225 PhalgunMarch 7thKaumatari Mela Divas tribute festival.
330 PhalgunMarch 13thHola Mohalla martial arts festival.
Important Dates in Sikh Calendar for Phalgun Month

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Conclusion

Sikhs believe that adopting the Nanakshahi calendar is a big step for Sikh identity, which will help to eliminate any assumption that Sikhism is a branch of other religions.

The Punjabi SGPC calendar is calculated in a way that corresponds to the East India Bikrami fluctuating calendar & may be different from the Nanakshahi fixed historical date calculated by the Western calendar.

Therefore, Western Sikh holidays are usually observed on weekends for a few weeks in a row, which is most convenient for various Gurdwaras.

In a calendar year, holidays may be reduced twice, or not at all.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Who made the Nanakshahi calendar?

The Nanakshahi Calendar was developed by a Canadian Sikh, Pal Singh Purewal, a retired computer engineer. He started work on the calendar in the 1960s.

What is Gurpurab?

A Gurpurab in Sikh tradition is a celebration of the anniversary of a Guru’s birth marked by the holding of a festival. The term gurpurab first appeared in the time of the gurus. It is a compound of the word purab (or parva in Sanskrit), meaning a festival or celebration, with the word guru.

Why is gurpurab celebrated?

Guru Nanak Gurpurab or Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated as the day to remember the holy guru, Guru Nanak, and is a reminder for the followers of Sikhism to remember his teachings and overcome the five vices – lust, greed, attachment, anger, and pride and devote one’s life in the selfless service of God.

What do Sikh call their god?

WAHEGURU is all the names: wa Allah, he Adam, gu guru, ru ram. Wahe meaning all present guru teacher and the names of ram. So, Sikh guru is a living God that is Guru Granth Sahib.

Is Guru Nanak a Hindu?

Guru Nanak Sahib was born in a Hindu family but he never adopted the Hindu religion. On the other hand, he rejected Hinduism and its rituals. He refused to wear Janeo (a thread which is sacred to the Hindus). Similarly, Guru Nanak Sahib, though born to Hindu parents, founded a distinct religion.