Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Prakasha Parva Tithi

Sikh

Also known as: Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav, Guru Nanak Jayanti

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2026 Sikh Date

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Prakasha Parva Tithi

About Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Prakasha Parva Tithi

Prakasha Parva (Festival of Light) celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539), the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was born on the full moon day of Kartik (October–November) in Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. The word 'Prakasha' means 'light' or 'radiance,' signifying that Guru Nanak's birth brought the light of divine truth into a world darkened by ritualism, caste discrimination, and spiritual ignorance.

Guru Nanak's life was a revolutionary journey of spiritual truth, equality, and service. He taught the oneness of God (Ik Onkar), the equality of all human beings regardless of caste or creed, and the importance of honest living (Kirat Karni) and selfless service (Seva). His travels (Udasis) across South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia spread the message of divine love and universal brotherhood. He composed 974 hymns that form part of the Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal Guru of the Sikhs.

On Prakasha Parva, Gurdwaras worldwide hold special prayers, including the Akhand Path — a continuous 48-hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib that begins the day before. The celebrations start before dawn with Prabhat Pheris (early morning hymn processions), followed by Nagar Kirtan (street processions) led by the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones). Kirtan (devotional singing), langar (free community kitchen), and distribution of sweets mark the joyous occasion.

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

The celebration centres on the Akhand Path, Nagar Kirtan processions, kirtan, and langar in honour of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Participate in the Prabhat Pheri — early morning processions singing hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib.
Attend the Akhand Path, a continuous 48-hour reading of the holy scripture that begins the day before.
Join the Nagar Kirtan, a procession through the streets led by the Panj Pyare with music and hymns.
Serve in the langar (community kitchen) as an act of seva (selfless service).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the significance of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Prakasha Parva?

It marks the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who brought the light of divine truth and founded Sikhism with the message of one God, equality of all people, and selfless service.

Q: What is Akhand Path?

Akhand Path is a continuous, uninterrupted reading of the entire Guru Granth Sahib, which takes approximately 48 hours. It is performed on major Sikh festivals.

Note: All timings are represented in 24-hour notation in local time of the selected location with DST adjustment (if applicable).

Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang, a day starts and ends with local sunrise.