January
5 Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th Sikh Guru and the last human Guru. He started the Khalsa, which is the order of those who put themselves directly under God (it is not confined to just men, but is also equally open to women)
April
14 Vaisakhi (Baisakhi)
Celebrates the beginning of the Khalsa.
June
16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan
A day to remember the 5th Sikh Guru and the first Sikh martyr.
September
1 Installation of Holy Granth Sahib
Sikhs honour the holys criptures, called the Guru Granth Sahib.
October
20 Guru Granth Sahib
The Granth Sahib was given Guruship on this day in 1708.
October
21 Diwali
The Hindu festival of Diwali stands for the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Sikhs celebrate this day because the 6th Guru Hargobind reached Amritsar on Diwali after his release from prison after securing the release of 52 Hindu Kings.
November
23 Birthday of Guru Nanak
Celebrates the birth of the Guru who began the Sikh religion.
24 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
A day to remember the death of the 9th Guru, which happened in 1675. Explain what the martyrdom was about.
Guru |
Parkash
(Birthday) |
Gur Ghaddhi
(Guruship) |
Jyoti Jot
(Death) |
Guru Nanak Dev |
Katik Pooranmashi* |
from Parkash |
Asu 8
September 22 |
Guru Angad Dev |
Vaisakh 5
April 18 |
Asu 4
September 18 |
Vaisakh 3
April 16 |
Guru Amar Das |
Jeth 9
May 23 |
Vaisakh 3
April 16 |
Asu 2
September 16 |
Guru Ram Das |
Asu 25
October 9 |
Asu 2
September 16 |
Asu 2
September 16 |
Guru Arjan Dev |
Vaisakh 19
May 2 |
Asu 2
September 16 |
Harh 2
June 16 |
Guru Hargobind |
Harh 21
July 5 |
Jeth 28
June 11 |
Chet 6
March 19 |
Guru Har Rai |
Magh 19
January 31 |
Chet 1
March 14 |
Katik 6
October 20 |
Guru Harkrishan |
Sawan 8
July 23 |
Katik 6
October 20 |
Vaisakh 3
April 16 |
Guru Tegh Bahadur |
Vaisakh 5
April 18 |
Vaisakh 3
April 16 |
Maghar 11
November 24 |
Guru Gobind Singh |
Poh 23
January 5 |
Maghar 11
November 24 |
Katik 7
October 21 |
Guru Granth Sahib |
Bhadon 17
September 1
Installation in Golden Temple
by Guru Arjan Dev |
Katik 6
October 20 |
|
* Guru Nanaks birthday has been traditionally celebrated on Katik Poornamashi. Althought the correct birth date has been established as Vaisakh 1 (April 14), it will continue to be celebrated on Katik Poornamashi until such time as it is changed to Vaisakh 1. Katik Pooranmashi in 1999 is on November 23 and in 2000 is on November 11.
Other Religious Observances
Event |
Date |
Creation of the Khalsa
Vaisakhi |
Vaisakh 1
April 14 |
Martyrdom of Guru
Gobind Singhs Elder Sons |
Poh 8
December 21 |
Martyrdom of Guru
Gobind Singhs Younger Sons |
Poh 13
December 26 |
|
