The Sikh Calendar
The Sikh Calendar
Until the 13th of March, 1998, the Sikhs used a Hindu lunar calendar to determine their feast days. They now use their own Nanakshahi calendar which started on 14 March 1999 Gregorian (1 Chet 531 Nanakshahi ) and aligns with the Gregorian calendar as follows. The era (1 Chet 1 Nanakshahi) is the date of the birth of the 1st Guru, Nanak Dev, in the Punjab in 1469. Although there is an obvious relationship with the Hindu Solar Calendar, the Sikh Organization states that these dates are fixed relative to the Gregorian Calendar.
Baramaha
Baramaha is the name of composition in Sri Guru Granth Sahib which mention the twelve months (Indian names of the months) in a Calender year. Famous Baramaha composed by guru Arjan Dev Ji in Rag Majh is generally read in Gurudwaras on the day of Sangrand. Guru NanakDev Ji also composed Baramaha in Reg Tukhari.
Baramaha is a form of folk poetry in which the emotions and yearnings of the human heart are expressed in terms of changing moods of Nature over the twelve months period.
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Gurupurabs
The Nanakshahi calendar is used for all the Gurupurabs (festivals marking events in the lives of the Gurus) except the birthday of Guru Nanak which continues to be celebrated according to the Hindu Lunar calendar on Katik Poornamashi. Events such as Maghi and Hola Mohalla continue to be celebrated according to the relevant calendars. Some Gurupurabs are considered more significant that others. These are the ones that commonly appear as holidays and are marked in bold type.
Gurpurabs mark the culmination of Prabhat Pheris, the early morning religious procession which goes around the localities singing shabads (hymns). These pheris generally start three weeks before the festival. Devotees offer sweets and tea when the procession passes their homes. The celebrations start with the three-day akhand path, in which the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy book of the Sikhs) is read continuously from beginning to end without a break. The conclusion of the reading coincides with the day of the festival. The Granth Sahib is also carried in procession on a float decorated with flowers throughout the village or city. Five armed guards, who represent the Panj Pyares, head the procession carrying Nishan Sahibs (the Sikh flag). Local bands play religious music and marching schoolchildren form a special part of the procession. Free sweets and langar (community lunches) are also offered to everyone irrespective of religious faith. Local volunteers serve it with a spirit of seva (service) and bhakti (devotion). Sikhs visit gurdwaras (Sikh temples) where special programmes are arranged and kirtans (religious songs) sung. Houses and gurdwaras are lit up to add to the festivities.
Nanakshahi Calendar (Fixed dates)Gurpurabs
Gurupurb Guru Sahib |
Nanakshahi |
CE |
Parkash Utsav Guru Gobind Singh Sahib |
23 Poh |
5 Jan |
Parkash Utsav Guru Har Rai Sahib |
19 Magh |
31 Jan |
Gurgadi Guru Har Rai Sahib |
1 Chet |
14 Mar |
Nanakshahi New Year |
1 Chet |
14 Mar |
Hola Muhalla |
1 Chet |
14 Mar |
Jotijot Guru Hargobind Sahib |
6 Chet |
19 Mar |
Parkash Guru Nanak Sahib * |
1 Vaisakh |
14 Apr |
Khalsa Day – Vaisakhi |
1 Vaisakh |
14 Apr |
Jotijot Guru Angad Sahib |
3 Vaisakh |
16 Apr |
Gurgadi Guru Amar Das Sahib |
3 Vaisakh |
16 Apr |
Jotijot Guru Harkrishan Sahib |
3 Vaisakh |
16 Apr |
Gurgadi Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib |
3 Vaisakh |
16 Apr |
Parkash Guru Angad Sahib |
5 Vaisakh |
18 Apr |
Parkash Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib |
5 Vaisakh |
18 Apr |
Parkash Guru Arjun Sahib |
19 Vaisakh |
2 May |
Parkash Guru Amar Das Sahib |
9 Jeth |
23 May |
Gurgadi Guru Hargobind Sahib |
28 Jeth |
11 Jun |
Martyrdom Guru Arjun Sahib |
2 Harh |
16 Jun |
Parkash Guru Hargobind Sahib |
21 Harh |
5 Jul |
Miri-Piri Day Guru Hargobind Sahib |
6 Sawan |
21Jul |
Parkash Guru Harkrishan Sahib |
8 Sawan |
23Jul |
First Parkash Guru Granth Sahib |
17 Bhadon |
1 Sep |
Jotijot Guru Amar Das Sahib |
2 Asu |
16 Sep |
Gurgadi Guru Ramdas Sahib |
2 Asu |
16 Sep |
Jotijot Guru Ramdas Sahib |
2 Asu |
16 Sep |
Gurgadi Guru Arjun Sahib |
2 Asu |
16 Sep |
Gurgadi Guru Angad Sahib |
4 Asu |
18Sep |
Jotijot Guru Nanak Sahib |
8Asu |
22 Sep |
Parkash Guru Ramdas Sahib |
25 Asu |
9 Oct |
Jotijot Guru Har Rai Sahib |
6 Katik |
20 Oct |
GurgadiGuru Harkrishan Sahib |
6 Katik |
20 Oct |
Gurgadi Guru Granth Sahib |
6 Katik |
20 Oct |
Jotijot Guru Gobind Singh Sahib |
7Katik |
21 Oct |
Gurgadi Guru Gobind Singh Sahib |
11 Maghar |
24 Nov |
Martyrdom Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib |
11 Maghar |
24 Nov |
Martyrdom Elder Sahibzadas |
8 Poh |
21 Dec |
Martyrdom Younger Sahibzadas |
13 Poh |
26 Dec |
Movable Dates (Change Every Year)
| Year |
Parkash Guru Nanak Sahib |
Hola Mohalla |
Bandi Chhor Divas |
Birthday Bhagat Kabeer |
Birthday Bhagat Naam Dev |
Birthday Bhagat Ravidas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 |
Monday, November 30, 2020 | Tuesday, March 10, 2020 | Saturday, November 14, 2020 | Friday, June 5, 2020 | Wednesday, November 25, 2020 | Sunday, February 9, 2020 |
2021 |
Friday, November 19, 2021 | Monday, March 29, 2021 | Thursday, November 4, 2021 | Thursday, June 24, 2021 | Sunday, November 14, 2021 | Saturday, February 27, 2021 |
2022 |
Tuesday,November 8, 2022 | Saturday, March 19, 2022 | Monday, October 24, 2022 | Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | Friday, November 4, 2022 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022 |
2023 |
Monday, November 27, 2023 | Wednesday, March 8, 2023 | Sunday, November 12, 2023 | Sunday, June 4, 2023 | Thursday, November 23, 2023 | Sunday, February 5, 2023 |
2024 |
Friday, November 15, 2024 | Tuesday, March 26, 2024 | Thursday, October 31, 2024 | Saturday, June 22, 2024 | Tuesday, November 12, 2024 | Saturday, February 24, 2024 |
2025 |
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
Saturday, March 15, 2025 |
Monday, October 20, 2025 |
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 |
Sunday, November 2, 2025 |
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 |
2026 |
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 |
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
Monday, June 29, 2026 |
Friday, November 20, 2026 |
Sunday, February 1, 2026 |
2027 |
Sunday, November 14, 2027 |
Tuesday, March 23, 2027 |
Friday, October 29, 2027 |
Friday, June 18, 2027 |
Wednesday, November 10, 2027 |
Saturday, February 20, 2027 |
2028 |
Thursday, November 2, 2028 |
Saturday, March 11, 2028 |
Tuesday, October 17, 2028 |
Wednesday, June 7, 2028 |
Saturday, October 28, 2028 |
Thursday, February 10, 2028 |
2029 |
Tuesday, November 20, 2029 |
Thursday, March 1, 2029 |
Monday, November 5, 2029 |
Tuesday, June 26, 2029 |
Friday, November 16, 2029 |
Tuesday, January 30, 2029 |
2030 |
Sunday, November 10, 2030 |
Wednesday, March 20, 2030 |
Saturday, October 26, 2030 |
Saturday, June 15, 2030 |
Tuesday, November 5, 2030 |
Monday, February 18, 2030 |
2031 |
Friday, November 28, 2031 |
Monday, March 10, 2031 |
Friday, November 14, 2031 |
Thursday, June 5, 2031 |
Monday, November 24, 2031 |
Friday, February 7, 2031 |
2032 |
Wednesday, November 17, 2032 |
Saturday, March 27, 2032 |
Tuesday, November 2, 2032 |
Wednesday, June 23, 2032 |
Saturday, November 13, 2032 |
Thursday, February 26, 2032 |
2033 |
Sunday, November 6, 2033 |
Thursday, March 17, 2033 |
Saturday, October 22, 2033 |
Sunday, June 12, 2033 |
Thursday, November 3, 2033 |
Monday, February 14, 2033 |
2034 |
Saturday, November 25, 2034 |
Monday, March 6, 2034 |
Friday, November 10, 2034 |
Friday, June 2, 2034 |
Wednesday, November 22, 2034 |
Friday, February 3, 2034 |
2035 |
Thursday, November 15, 2035 |
Saturday, March 24, 2035 |
Tuesday, October 30, 2035 |
Wednesday, June 20, 2035 |
Sunday, November 11, 2035 |
Thursday, February 22, 2035 |
2036 |
Monday, November 3, 2036 |
Thursday, March 13, 2036 |
Sunday, October 19, 2036 |
Sunday, June 8, 2036 |
Thursday, October 30, 2036 |
Monday, February 11, 2036 |
2037 |
Sunday, November 22, 2037 |
Monday, March 2, 2037 |
Saturday, November 7, 2037 |
Saturday, June 27, 2037 |
Wednesday, November 18, 2037 |
Saturday, January 31, 2037 |
2038 |
Thursday, November 11, 2038 |
Sunday, March 21, 2038 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2038 |
Thursday, June 17, 2038 |
Sunday, November 7, 2038 |
Friday, February 19, 2038 |
2039 |
Wednesday, November 30, 2039 |
Friday, March 11, 2039 |
Tuesday, November 15, 2039 |
Monday, June 6, 2039 |
Saturday, November 26, 2039 |
Wednesday, February 9, 2039 |
2040 |
Sunday, November 18, 2040 |
Thursday, March 29, 2040 |
Sunday, November 4, 2040 |
Sunday, June 24, 2040 |
Wednesday, November 14, 2040 |
Monday, February 27, 2040 |
Other Important Days
Chet
1 Chet / 14 March – Nanakshahi New Year Day
2 Chet / 15 March – S. Baghel Singh’s conquest of Delhi
12 Chet / 25 March – Shaheedi Bhai Subeg Singh, Bhai Shahbaz Singh
27 Chet / 9 April – Birthday Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji
Vaisakh
1 Vaisakh / 14 April (Vaisakhi) – Birth Anniversary of Khalsa
Jeth
3 Jeth / 17 May – Chhota Ghallughara
21 Jeth / 4 June – 1984 Ghallughara (Attack on Sri Akal Takht Sahib)
23 Jeth / 6 June – Shaheedi Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Ji
Harh
11 Harh / 25 June – Shaheedi Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur
15 Harh / 29 June – Barsi Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji
25 Harh / 9 July – Shaheedi Bhai Mani Singh Ji
Sawan
1 Sawan / 16 July – Shaheedi Bhai Taru Singh Ji
24 Sawan / 8 August – Morcha Guru Ka Bagh
Bhadon
15 Bhadon / 30 August 2004 – Mela Baba Bakala
Assu
17 Assu / 1 October – Foundation Day Singh Sabha
21 Assu / 5 October – Mela Beerh Baba Buddha Ji
Katik
8 Katik / 22 October 2004 – Khalsa Darbar
14 Katik / 28 October – Foundation Day Chief Khalsa Diwan
14 Katik / 28 October – Saka Panja Sahib
18 Katik / 1 November – Punjabi Suba Day
30 Katik / 13 November – Shaheedi Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed
Maghar
1 Maghar / 14 November – Foundation Day SGPC
11 Maghar / 24 November – Shaheedi Bhai Mati Das Ji, and Bhai Sati Das Ji
15 Maghar / 28 November – Birthday Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji
19 Maghar / 2 December – Shaheedi Baba Gurbakhsh Singh Ji
29 Maghar / 12 December – Birthday Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji
30 Maghar / 13 December – Foundation Day Shromani Akali Dal
Poh
8 Poh / 21 December – Shaheedi Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh , and other Shaheeds of Chamkaur Sahib —- 300th Anniversary
8 Poh / 21 December – Shaheedi Baba Jeevan Singh Ji
13 Poh / 26 December – Shaheedi Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, Sahibzada Fateh Singh, and Mata Gujri Ji’s passing away —- 300th Anniversary
Magh
1 Magh / 13 January – Mela Maghi Muktsar
1 Magh / 13 January – Foundation Day Sri Harimandar Sahib
7 Magh / 19 January – Morcha for Keys
25 Magh / 6 February – Mela Kottha Sahib
27 Magh / 8 February – Great Holocast
30 Magh / 11 February – Birthday Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji
Phagun
10 Phagun / 21 February – Saka Nankana Sahib
10 Phagun / 21 February – Jaito Morcha