Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is a festival that commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last human guru of the Sikhs. It is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm by the Sikh community across the world. In this article, we will explore the date, history, significance, celebrations and important facts of this auspicious occasion.
Date
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is observed according to the Nanakshahi calendar, which is a solar calendar based on the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The date of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti varies from year to year in the Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used civil calendar in the world. In 2024, Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti will fall on Wednesday, January 17. The festival is usually celebrated in the month of January or December.
History
Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna, Bihar, on December 22, 1666, according to the Julian calendar, which is no longer in use. His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was the ninth guru of the Sikhs, who was martyred by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam. His mother, Mata Gujri, raised him with courage and faith. The birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh is now a sacred shrine called Takhat Shri Harimander Ji Patna Sahib.
At the age of nine, Guru Gobind Singh was proclaimed the tenth guru of the Sikhs on Baisakhi in 1676. He dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity. He was a warrior, a poet, a philosopher and a spiritual leader. He established the Khalsa Panth, a brotherhood of saint-soldiers, who were baptized with the Amrit (nectar) of the double-edged sword. He also introduced the five Ks, the symbols of the Khalsa identity: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (comb), Kara (steel bracelet), Kachera (cotton underwear) and Kirpan (sword).
Guru Gobind Singh fought against the tyranny and oppression of the Mughal rulers, who wanted to impose their religion on the people of India. He also faced the treachery of some Hindu kings, who allied with the Mughals against him. He lost his four sons, two in battle and two by execution, as well as his mother and many of his followers, in the course of his struggle. He never gave up his faith and principles, and inspired his followers to do the same. He declared the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, as the eternal guru of the Sikhs before his death in 1708.
Significance
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is a day to remember and honor the life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh, who sacrificed everything for the sake of truth and justice. He is revered as a champion of human rights, religious freedom and social equality. He taught his followers to be brave, compassionate, humble and generous. He also enriched the Sikh literature and culture with his writings and compositions, which are full of wisdom and devotion. He is regarded as a perfect example of a true Sikh, who follows the path of God’s will.
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is also a day to celebrate the spirit of the Khalsa, which is the collective identity of the Sikhs. The Khalsa is a community of pure and devoted souls, who are committed to the service of God and humanity. The Khalsa is a force of good, which stands against the evil of ignorance, injustice and violence. The Khalsa is a source of inspiration, which motivates the Sikhs to live up to the ideals of their faith and guru.
Celebrations
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is celebrated with various religious and cultural activities by the Sikhs. Some of the common ways of celebrating this festival are:
- Gurdwara Visit: The Sikhs visit the gurdwaras, the places of worship, to pay their respects to Guru Gobind Singh and the Guru Granth Sahib. They listen to the recitation and exposition of the guru’s hymns and teachings. They also participate in the langar, the community kitchen, where free food is served to everyone, regardless of their caste, creed or status.
- Nagar Kirtan Procession: The Sikhs organize a nagar kirtan, a religious procession, in which they carry the Guru Granth Sahib on a decorated palanquin, accompanied by the Panj Pyare, the five beloved ones, who represent the first five members of the Khalsa. They also sing the guru’s praises and play the musical instruments. They distribute sweets and prasad, the blessed food, to the people along the way.
- Langar Seva: The Sikhs perform langar seva, the service of preparing and serving food, as a way of expressing their gratitude and generosity. They cook and offer a variety of dishes, such as makki di roti (corn bread), sarson da saag (mustard greens), kheer (rice pudding), jalebi (sweet fritters) and karah prasad (wheat flour halwa), to the visitors and the needy. They also donate money and other items to the gurdwaras and the charitable organizations.
- Kirtan and Katha Programs: The Sikhs organize kirtan and katha programs, in which they sing and listen to the devotional songs and stories related to Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa. They also recite the Chaupai Sahib, the prayer composed by the guru, and the Ardas, the supplication to God. They seek the guru’s blessings and guidance for their lives.
- Akhand Path: The Sikhs conduct akhand path, the continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, which takes about 48 hours to complete. They start the akhand path a day before the guru’s birthday and end it on the day of the festival. They take turns to read the scripture and listen to its message. They also offer flowers, fruits and other offerings to the Guru Granth Sahib.
- Educational Sessions: The Sikhs conduct educational sessions, in which they teach and learn about the history, philosophy and culture of Sikhism. They also discuss the current issues and challenges faced by the Sikh community and the society at large. They also organize quizzes, competitions and exhibitions to showcase their knowledge and skills.
- Community Service: The Sikhs perform community service, in which they help and support the people in need. They also engage in environmental and social causes, such as planting trees, cleaning the surroundings, donating blood, providing medical aid, educating the children, empowering the women and promoting peace and harmony.
- Decorate Homes and Gurdwaras: The Sikhs decorate their homes and gurdwaras with lights, candles, flowers and flags to mark the festive occasion. They also wear new and colorful clothes, especially the traditional attire of the Khalsa, such as the turban, the kurta and the chola. They also exchange gifts and greetings with their family and friends.
- Special Prayers at Home: The Sikhs perform special prayers at home, in which they light a lamp and recite the Japji Sahib, the morning prayer, and the Rehras Sahib, the evening prayer, composed by Guru Nanak. They also read the Dasam Granth, the collection of the writings of Guru Gobind Singh. They also meditate on the name and the form of God, and chant the mantra “Waheguru”, which means “wonderful lord”.
Important Facts
Here are some important facts about Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti that you should know:
- Guru Gobind Singh was the only son of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Mata Gujri. He had three wives: Mata Jito, Mata Sundari and Mata Sahib Kaur. He had four sons: Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh.
- Guru Gobind Singh was a master of many languages, such as Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi and Braj. He wrote many works, such as the Jaap Sahib, the Tav-Prasad Savaiye, the Benti Chaupai, the Zafarnama and the Bachittar Natak. He also compiled the Dasam Granth, which contains his own compositions as well as the works of other poets and saints.
- Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa Panth on Baisakhi in 1699, at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. He asked for five volunteers, who were willing to sacrifice their lives for their faith. He took them inside a tent and came out with blood on his sword. He then revealed that he had slaughtered five goats, and not the volunteers. He baptized them with the Amrit and gave them the title of Singh, which means lion. He also asked them to follow the five Ks and the code of conduct of the Khalsa. He then asked them to baptize him as well, and called himself Gobind Singh, the servant of the Khalsa.
- Guru Gobind Singh fought many battles against the Mughal forces and their allies, such as the Battle of Bhangani, the Battle of Nadaun, the Battle of Anandpur, the Battle of Chamkaur, the Battle of Muktsar and the Battle of Khidrana. He displayed great courage, skill and leadership in these battles, and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He also inspired his followers to fight valiantly for their faith and freedom.
- Guru Gobind Singh wrote the Zafarnama, a letter of victory, to Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, in 1705. He challenged him to a moral and spiritual duel, and exposed his hypocrisy and injustice. He also declared that he had won the war, even though he had lost his family and his army. He asserted that he was the true servant of God, and that God was on his side.
- Guru Gobind Singh passed away in 1708, at Nanded, Maharashtra. He was stabbed by a Pathan assassin, who was hired by Wazir Khan, the governor of Sirhind, who had ordered the execution of his two younger sons. He forgave his assailant, and asked his followers not to seek revenge. He also announced that he would be the last human guru of the Sikhs, and that the Guru Granth Sahib would be the eternal guru of the Sikhs. He instructed his followers to obey the Guru Granth Sahib as his living word, and to regard it as their guide and leader.
