Guru Nanak Gurpurab

Guru Nanak Gurpurab commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His teachings emphasise devotion to one God, honest work, equality, service and the rejection of caste discrimination. The anniversary is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar and a compulsory holiday for central administrative offices.

Gurdwaras hold kirtan, readings from the Guru Granth Sahib and processions known as nagar kirtan. Langar—the community kitchen open to all—makes the ethic of equality tangible through shared food and service. The festival follows the lunar calendar, and the annual All India holiday list provides the authoritative civil date.

The 2026 central schedule fixes Guru Nanak’s Birthday on Tuesday, November 24. It is compulsory for central administrative offices outside Delhi, while bank, state and private closures require their own calendars. The historical focus belongs on Guru Nanak’s teachings and the Sikh institutions built around scripture, congregation and service, not on treating the day as a generic Indian festival. Punjab and Sikh communities elsewhere may organise major programmes, while gurdwaras across the country welcome visitors of different backgrounds.