Guru Nanak Gurpurab or Guru Nanak Jayanti marks the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. It is considered as the most sacred day in Sikhism and will be celebrated across India and the world on November 4, Saturday. The date of the festival varies from year to year, according to the Indian lunar calendar. This year will mark the 548th birthday of Guru Nanak.
Two days prior to the festival, Akhand Path - a 48-hour non-stop reading of the holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib is held in the Gurdwaras.
On the day of the festival, celebrations begin as early as 3 am, during Amrit Vela, a period between 3 am and 6 am, considered apt for daily meditation and recitation of hymns.
The day begins with the singing of morning hymns and is followed by Katha and Kirtan, which is recital of scriptures and hymns in the praise of the Guru.
Some gurdwaras also hold the night prayers which begin around the sunset and continue late at night. Hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib are recited by the devotees at 1:20 am, the actual birth time of Guru Nanak and continue till about 2 am.
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