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Sikhism - An Introduction: Gurpurbs

by Owen Cole

All times should be regarded as the same by Sikhs who do not have a weekly holy day or believe in auspicious seasons. However, they do remember and celebrate certain events in their history, especially those related to their Gurus. These are called gurpurbs. The Singh Sabha movement was largely responsible for the observance of these occasions, seeking to draw Sikhs back to their own history and beliefs and away from popular Hindu practices. The three gurpurbs of particular importance are: the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh in January, the martyrdom of Guru Arjan in June and the birthday of Guru Nanak in October/November. Dates are according to the recently introduced Nanakshahi calendar and so do not correspond to the Gregorian calendar. Therefore it is quite possible to find Guru Gobind Singh’s birth gurpurb celebrated twice in one Gregorian year and not at all in another. The date of the installation of the Adi Granth, Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom and the birthday of Guru Arjan may also be observed, but Guru Har Krishan schools wherever they are will remember his birth in 1656 and his short life.


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