About this Holiday
Guru Nanak Jayanti, also called Guru Nanak Gurpurab or Prakash Utsav, commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus, born in 1469 in Nankana Sahib (present-day Pakistan). Guru Nanak preached the message of one God, equality of all human beings, and selfless service (seva). Celebrations include the Akhand Path (continuous 48-hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib), Nagar Kirtan processions, and langar (community meals). The Golden Temple in Amritsar is illuminated spectacularly on this day.