Guru Nanak Jayanti 2027 date and the 558th Gurpurab

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2027, also called Gurpurab or Prakash Purab, falls on Sunday, 14 November 2027. It marks the 558th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus, who was born in 1469.

It is a gazetted holiday on the Union government's list for 2027. Here are the dates of the main celebrations and what the day means.

Key points

• Guru Nanak Jayanti 2027: Sunday 14 November (gazetted holiday).
• It is the 558th Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev (born 1469).
• The festival falls on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the month of Kartik.
• Akhand Path usually begins on Friday 12 November, with the Nagar Kirtan on Saturday 13 November.
• Gurdwaras hold kirtan, katha and langar on 14 November, and are lit up at night.

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2027 dates

The exact timing of the Akhand Path and Nagar Kirtan is set by each gurdwara committee, so check with your local gurdwara.

Why the date changes every year

Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day of the month of Kartik in the traditional calendar, so its date in the Western calendar moves each year, usually falling in November. In 2027, the full moon runs from the morning of 13 November into the morning of 14 November in India, and the festival is observed on Sunday 14 November.

Guru Nanak was born on 15 April 1469 according to some historical accounts, in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, but his birth has long been celebrated on Kartik Purnima.

Who was Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak Dev (1469 to 1539) taught that there is one God, present in all of creation, and that all people are equal regardless of caste, religion or gender. His teachings rest on three principles:

• Naam Japna: Remembering God through meditation and prayer.
• Kirat Karni: Earning an honest living through one's own work.
• Vand Chakna: Sharing what one has with others, especially those in need.

He travelled widely across South Asia, Tibet and the Middle East on long journeys known as udasis, spreading his message through hymns (shabads). His compositions, including the Japji Sahib, open the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. He spent his last years at Kartarpur, on the banks of the Ravi, now in Pakistan, where he founded a community of farmers and worshippers.

Ik Onkar and a message for everyone

The Guru Granth Sahib opens with Ik Onkar, "there is one God", the first words of the Mool Mantar composed by Guru Nanak. It is the most important statement of Sikh belief, and the symbol is seen on gurdwaras, homes and vehicles across Punjab.

Guru Nanak's message was addressed to all people, not to one community. A saying widely attributed to him after his enlightenment, "there is no Hindu, there is no Muslim", is often understood as a call to look past religious labels to the shared humanity underneath. He travelled with his companion Bhai Mardana, a Muslim musician who played the rabab while Guru Nanak sang his hymns, and his followers came from many backgrounds.

He also spoke strongly for the dignity of women, at a time when this was rare, and against empty ritual, caste pride and the exploitation of the poor.

How Gurpurab is celebrated

• Prabhat pheris: In the weeks before Gurpurab, groups of devotees walk through neighbourhoods in the early morning, singing shabads.
• Akhand Path: A continuous, 48-hour reading of the entire Guru Granth Sahib, ending on the morning of Gurpurab.
• Nagar Kirtan: On the day before Gurpurab, a procession led by the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones), with the Guru Granth Sahib carried in a decorated palki, moves through the streets with kirtan, gatka (Sikh martial arts) displays and bands.
• The day itself: Gurdwaras hold kirtan and katha (talks on the Guru's life and teachings) from the early morning, often starting with Asa di Var.
• Langar: The community kitchen serves free meals to everyone who comes, regardless of religion or background, a practice started by Guru Nanak himself.
• Lights: Gurdwaras and homes are lit with lamps and lights at night, and fireworks are common in Punjab.

Langar, the open kitchen

Langar is one of Guru Nanak's most visible legacies. Everyone sits together on the floor, in rows called pangat, and eats the same simple meal, usually dal, roti, a vegetable dish and kheer, regardless of caste, religion, wealth or status. The food is cooked and served by volunteers, and anyone can help, from chopping vegetables to washing dishes.

The langar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar is one of the largest free kitchens in the world, serving tens of thousands of people every day, and far more on Gurpurab. Gurdwaras in every city and abroad run langar on the day, so you do not need to travel to take part. Cover your head and remove your shoes before entering.

Where to celebrate

• Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib), Amritsar: The complex is lit up and draws very large crowds.
• Delhi: Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Sis Ganj Sahib and Rakab Ganj Sahib hold large celebrations and langar.
• Patna Sahib, Hazur Sahib (Nanded) and Anandpur Sahib: Major Sikh centres with special programmes.
• Sultanpur Lodhi (Punjab): The town where Guru Nanak is believed to have received enlightenment, with special celebrations.

Kartik Purnima and Dev Deepawali

The same full moon is also sacred in Hindu tradition as Kartik Purnima. In Varanasi it is celebrated as Dev Deepawali, when the ghats of the Ganga are lit with lakhs of diyas, and pilgrims take holy dips in rivers across north India. In 2027, both festivals fall in the same weekend.

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2027 for Indians abroad

Sikh communities in Canada, the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Italy celebrate Gurpurab on a large scale, with Nagar Kirtans that close streets in cities such as Brampton, Surrey, Southall and Birmingham. Many are held on the nearest weekend, which in 2027 is the Gurpurab weekend itself.

Holidays and planning

• Holiday: Guru Nanak Jayanti on Sunday 14 November 2027 is a gazetted holiday, but because it falls on a Sunday, central government staff do not get a separate day off. Some states may announce their own arrangements.
• Travel to Amritsar: Book trains and hotels early for the Gurpurab weekend.
• Next: Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom day falls on Wednesday 24 November 2027.

See every festival of the year in our full festival calendar for 2027.

On 14 November 2027, gurdwaras across the world will open their doors and their kitchens to everyone. Join the langar, listen to the kirtan, and remember the message of one God and equality for all.