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.
| No | Month Name | Julian Months |
| 1 | Chet | March – April |
| 2 | Vaisakh | April – May |
| 3 | Jeth | May – June |
| 4 | Harh | June – July |
| 5 | Sawan | July – August |
| 6 | Bhadon | August – September |
| 7 | Assay | September – October |
| 8 | Katak | October – November |
| 9 | Maghar | November – December |
| 10 | Poh | December – January |
| 11 | Magh | January – February |
| 12 | Phalgun | February – March |
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?
- Solar Calendar-based on the time required for the earth to revolve around the sun
- Scientific design, consistent with the position of the sun; the season does not slip all year round
- Based on the Gurbani language-the month is taken directly from Guru Granth sahib
- The length of the year is the same as the Western calendar (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 45 seconds)
- Including 31 days of 5 months, then 30 days of 6 months; last month is 30 or 31 of a leap year.
- Every 4 years, includes an extra day in the Phagun month.
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.
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 1 Chet | March 14th | Nanakshahi New Year begins, Guru Har Rai becomes the seventh master of Sikh and Hola Mohalla festival |
| 2 | 2 Chet | March 15th | Commemorate the victory of Bhai Baghel Singh (1730-1802). |
| 3 | 6 Chet | March 19th | Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, passes away |
| 4 | 10 Chet | March 22nd | Commemorating martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh revolutionary freedom fighter of India |
| 5 | 11 Chet | March 23rd | Annual Sikh martial arts festival – Hola Mohalla |
| 6 | 12 Chet | March 24th | Martyrdom of Bhai Sabeg Singh and Shahbaz Singh March of 1746. |
| 7 | 23 Chet | April 5th | Commemorating the inauguration of seventh guru, Guru Har Rai Ji |
| 8 | 26 Chet | April 8th | Commemorating the inauguration of third guru, Guru Amar Das Ji |
| 9 | 27 Chet | April 9th | Commemorating the birth of the second eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh |
| 10 | 28 Chet | April 10th | commemorating the death of second guru, Guru Angad Dev Ji |
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Vaisakh Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 1 Vaisakh | April 13th | Baisakhi and Commemorating Origin of Khalsa Panth |
| 2 | 7 Vaisakh | April 19th | Commemorating the death of eighth guru, Guru Har Krishan Ji, and Inauguration of Ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. |
| 3 | 15 Vaisakh | April 27th | Commemorating the birth of ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. |
| 4 | 17 Vaisakh | April 29th | Commemorating the birth of fifth Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji. |
| 5 | 21 Vaisakh | May 3rd | Commemorates the Martyrdom of the 40 Liberated Ones at the Khirdana reservoir (Muktsar). |
| 6 | 25 Vaisakh | May 7th | Commemorating the birth of second Guru, Guru Angad Dev Ji. |
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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Jeth Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 3 Jeth | May 16th | Chhota Gallughara, 7,000 Sikhs slaughtered at Kaahnoovaan. |
| 2 | 7 Jeth | May 20th | Commemorating the birth of third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji. |
| 3 | 16 Jeth | May 29th | Commemorating inauguration of sixth Guru, Guru Har Govind Ji. |
| 4 | 22 Jeth | June 4th | Akal Takht 1984 – Attack by Operation Blue Star |
| 5 | 24 Jeth | June 6th | Martyrdom of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale and Bhai Amrik Singh in the attack of Golden Temple complex 1984. |
| 6 | 26 Jeth | June 8th | Commemorating Martyrdom of fifth Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji. |
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Har Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 7 Har | June 20th | Commemorating the birth of sixth Guru, Guru Har Govind Ji. |
| 2 | 8 Har | June 21st | Commemorating the birth of third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji. |
| 3 | 11 Har | June 24th | Commemorating Martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadar renowned warrior saint |
| 4 | 15 Har | June 28th | Commemorating the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh the last Sikh regent of Khalsa Raj. |
| 5 | 18 Har | July 2nd | Commemorating laying the first foundation stone of construction of Akal Takht |
| 6 | 25 Har | July 8th | Commemorating martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh in 1737. |
| 7 | 31 Har | July 15th | Commemorating Sixth Guru Hargobind establishing spiritual and secular sovereignty. |
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Sawan Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 1 Sawan | July 16th | Commemorating the courageous Bhai Taru Singh’s martyrdom in 1745. |
| 2 | 13 Sawan | July 28th | Commemorating the birth of eighth Guru, Guru Har Krishan Ji. |
| 3 | 16 Sawan | July 31st | Commemorating the martyrdom of Uddham Singh |
| 4 | 24 Sawan | August 8th | Guru ka Bhag commemorating agitation to regain historic to cut firewood on confiscated gurdwara lands. |
| 5 | 31 Sawan | August 15th | Commemorating India’s independence from British rule. |
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Bhaadon Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 3 Bhaadon | August 20th | Commemorating inauguration of ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. |
| 2 | 5 Bhaadon | August 21th | commemorating the martyrdom of the Akali leader Sant Harchand Singh Longowal |
| 3 | 14 Bhaadon | August 24th | Commemorating the completion of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. |
| 4 | 18 Bhaadon | September 2nd | Commemorating the initial installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Harmandir Sahib. |
| 5 | 19 Bhaadon | September 3rd | Commemorating inauguration of fifth Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji. |
| 6 | 20 Bhaadon | September 4th | Commemorating the death of fourth guru, Guru Raam Das Ji. |
| 7 | 24 Bhaadon | September 8th | Commemorating 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. |
| 8 | 30 Bhaadon | September 14th | Commemorating inauguration of fourth Guru, Guru Raam Das Ji. |
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Assu Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 1 Assu | September 16th | Commemorating the death of third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji. |
| 2 | 5 Assu | September 20th | Jor Mela Baba Buddha festival commemorating his life long service to eight of Sikhism’s ten gurus. |
| 3 | 6 Assu | September 21st | Commemorating inauguration of second guru, Guru Angad Dev Ji. |
| 4 | 10 Assu | September 25th | Commemorating the death of Sikhism’s first guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. |
| 5 | 13 Assu | September 28th | Commemorating the birth of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. |
| 6 | 22 Assu | October 7th | Jor 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. |
| 7 | 24 Assu | October 9th | Commemorating retaliation of martyrs who assassinated Bluestar operative General Arun Shridhar Vaidya who led the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple. |
| 8 | 26 Assu | October 11th | Darbar Khalsa Dussehra festival in tribute to the marshal attributes of Goddess Durga. |
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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Katak Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 2 Katak | October 17th | Commemorating the birth of fourth guru, Guru Raam Das Ji. |
| 2 | 5 Katak | October 20th | Commemorating the birth of Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale |
| 3 | 7 Katak | October 22nd | Commemorating the birth of the revered saint Baba Buddha. |
| 4 | 9 Katak | October 23rd | Commemorating the death of seventh guru, Guru Har Rai, and the inauguration of Eighth Guru, Guru Har Krishan Ji. |
| 5 | 14 Katak | October 29th | Commemorating the founding of charitable religious reform society Chief Khalsa Divan. |
| 6 | 15 Katak | October 30th | Commemorating the release of Sixth Guru Har Govind and 52 princes from prison. |
| 7 | 17 Katak | November 1st | Commemorating the movement led by Master Tara Singh to form a Punjabi majority state in India. |
| 8 | 21 Katak | November 5th | Commemorating the death of tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. |
| 9 | 27 Katak | November 11th | Commemorating the birth of one of 43 authors whose collected works make up the holy scripture of Guru Granth Sahib. |
| 10 | 30 Katak | November 14th | Commemorating the birth of Sikhism’s founder and first guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji |
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Maghar Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 1 Maghar | November 1st | Commemorating foundation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGCP). |
| 2 | 15 Maghar | November 29th | Commemorating the birth of Zorawar Singh, third son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. |
| 3 | 18 Maghar | December 2nd | Commemorating inauguration of tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. |
| 4 | 19 Maghar | December 3rd | Commemorating martyrdom of Baba Gurbaksh Singh. |
| 5 | 20 Maghar | December 4th | Commemorating martyrdom of ninth guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. |
| 6 | 29 Maghar | December 13th | Commemorating the birth of Fateh Singh, youngest son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji |
| 7 | 30 Maghar | December 14th | Commemorating foundation of Shiromani Akali Dal. |
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Poh Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 7 Poh | December 21st | Martyrdom of Bhai Jiwan Singh |
| 2 | 8 Poh | December 22nd | Commemorating martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s elder sons at Battle of Chamkaur. |
| 3 | 9 Poh | December 23rd | Commemorating martyrdom of Bhai Sangat Singh who impersonated Guru Gobind Singh to aid in the tenth gurus escape from Battle of Chamkaur |
| 4 | 13 Poh | December 27th | Commemorating martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons and mother at Sirhind. |
| 5 | 22 Poh | January 5th | Commemorating the birth of tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji |
| 6 | 23 Poh | January 6th | Commemorating martyrdom of Bhai Kerah Singh and Bhai Satwant Singh for the assassination of Indira Gandhi. |
Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Maagh Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 1 Maagh | January 14th | Commemorating laying of the foundation stone at Sri Harmandir Sahib |
| 2 | 7 Maagh | January 20th | 1920’s campaign by SGPC for recovery of keys to Golden Temple treasury. |
| 3 | 13 Maagh | January 26th | Commemorating Republic Day. |
| 4 | 14 Maagh | January 27th | Commemorating the birth of Baba Deep Singh |
| 5 | 19 Maagh | February 1st | Basant Panchami tribute to the spring season festival of India. |
| 6 | 27 Maagh | February 9th | Commemorating the birth of the seventh guru. Guru Har Rai Ji. |
| 7 | 28 Maagh | February 10th | Commemorating the birth of illustrious 15th-century poet Ravidas and contributor to Guru Granth Sahib scripture. |
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Important Dates in Nanakshahi Calendar for Phalgun Month
| S.no | Nanakshahi Date | Common Era Calendar | Description |
| 1 | 10 Phalgun | February 21st | Commemorating martyrdom of 200 Sikhs attempting to regain control of Gurdwara under corrupt management. |
| 2 | 25 Phalgun | March 7th | Kaumatari Mela Divas tribute festival. |
| 3 | 30 Phalgun | March 13th | Hola Mohalla martial arts festival. |
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.