Sri Guru Granth Saheb Ji Prakasha Parva Tithi

Prakasha Parva celebrates the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of the Sikhs. This momentous event took place in 1708, when Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth and final human Guru, declared the holy scripture as the living Guru of the Sikh community for all time. The word 'Prakasha' means 'light' or 'radiance,' signifying that the scripture is the eternal light that guides the Sikh community.

The Guru Granth Sahib is not merely a book — it is the living Word of God, containing the hymns and compositions of six Sikh Gurus and fifteen Hindu and Muslim saints. It was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru, and later expanded by Guru Gobind Singh Ji with the additions of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's compositions and his own writings. The Guru Granth Sahib is treated with the same reverence as a living Guru — it is ceremonially awakened each morning (Prakash), placed on a throne, and put to rest each night (Sukhasan).

On Prakasha Parva, Gurdwaras hold special prayers, Akhand Path, kirtan, and langar. Devotees reflect on the significance of the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru and the importance of living in accordance with its teachings. The day is a celebration of the continuity and integrity of the Sikh spiritual tradition, which has been guided by the Word of God for over three centuries.