Maha Sivarathri

Guru Nanak Jayanti is the greatest festival of the Sikhs and one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Punjab. The Guru Nanak Jayanti festival of Punjab is the birthday celebration of Guru Nanak Dev - the founding father of the Sikh religion. Nanak was born in the year 1469 at a place called Tolevandi near Lahore.

Guru Nanak Jayanti is the most popular GurPurabs or birthday anniversary of the Sikh religious leaders. These days are observed with great respect for the Gurus and the dedicated devotees remember them amid huge fanfare.

The celebrations start with processions taken out early in the morning, which are known as Prabhat Pheri. The Prabhat Pheri start at the crack of the Dawn from the Gurdwaras, covering the localities with men singing the Shabads - the Sikh hymns. The Guru Nanak Jayanti invites people irrespective of religion or race to participate in the Langar or the community lunches.

In this way the festival promote social interaction and brotherhood. Adults and children attends the community service - Kar Seva, with great enthusiasm. They cook and distribute the cooked food in the Langar feasts.

Special devotional songs known as the Kirtans are sung in the Gurdwaras and people crowd in thousands to hear the recitals. Guru Nanak along with all his prodigal qualities was a messenger of peace, love and equality. No wonder the same messages are carried on during the Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations.