Guru Nanak Jayanti and Dev Deepawali 2026 (November 24): Date, Holiday and Traditions

Who was Guru Nanak?

Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. He grew up in a Hindu family, worked as an accountant, and in his late twenties began a life of travel and teaching that took him across the subcontinent and, according to tradition, as far as Mecca and Baghdad.

His message was radical for its time. He taught that there is one God (Ik Onkar), present in all people, who can be reached through devotion and honest living rather than ritual. He rejected caste and treated women and men as equal. His hymns, written in the language of ordinary people, form the opening of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture.

He summed up his teaching in three simple practices:

• Naam japna: remembering God.
• Kirat karni: earning an honest living.
• Vand chhakna: sharing with others.

He spent his last years at Kartarpur, on the banks of the Ravi, where he farmed and ran a community kitchen open to all.

How is Gurpurab celebrated?

Akhand Path (from about November 22). A continuous, 48-hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, from beginning to end, by a relay of readers. It ends on the morning of the Gurpurab.

Prabhat Pheris. In the weeks before the day, early-morning processions move through neighbourhoods singing hymns.

Nagar Kirtan (around November 23). A procession led by the Panj Pyare, five men representing the first five initiated Sikhs, with the Guru Granth Sahib carried on a decorated float. Gatka teams demonstrate martial arts and bands play shabads.

The day itself. Gurdwaras hold Asa di Var, the morning hymns, followed by kirtan, katha (talks on the Guru's life) and prayers. Many gurdwaras are lit up at night, and celebrations continue past midnight, around the time Guru Nanak is traditionally believed to have been born.

Langar. Free community meals are served to everyone, regardless of religion, caste or status, all sitting together on the floor. Volunteering in the kitchen, called seva, is one of the most meaningful ways to take part.

Visiting a gurdwara on Gurpurab

Everyone is welcome. A few customs to follow:

• Cover your head with a scarf or cloth; many gurdwaras provide one.
• Remove your shoes and wash your hands and feet.
• Do not bring tobacco or alcohol, or carry them inside.
• Sit on the floor in the prayer hall and in the langar.
• Accept karah prasad, the sweet offering, with cupped hands.

Dev Deepawali in Varanasi

On the same full moon, Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali, believed to be the day the gods descend to the Ganga to celebrate Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura. As dusk falls, the city's riverfront, from Ravidas Ghat to Raj Ghat, is lined with lakhs of diyas, and a grand Ganga aarti is held at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Tips for visitors:

• Book early. Hotels and boats sell out weeks in advance.
• Watch from a boat for the best view of the lit ghats, but agree on the price and timing beforehand.
• Arrive by afternoon. Roads near the ghats close to traffic, and crowds are huge.
• Keep valuables secure and keep children close.

Kartik Purnima is also a day for holy dips in rivers across north India. In Odisha it is celebrated as Boita Bandana, when people float small boats in memory of ancient sea traders, and Rajasthan's Pushkar fair reaches its peak around the full moon.

Common questions

Why does the date change every year? Gurpurab is traditionally celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the lunar month of Kartik, which moves between late October and late November in the solar calendar.

Is it a bank holiday? Banks follow state-wise lists; in most states, Guru Nanak Jayanti is a bank holiday. Check the RBI's holiday list for your state.

What is the right greeting? "Gurpurab di lakh lakh vadhaiyan" is a common Punjabi greeting, wishing someone joy on the Gurpurab.

Related reading

• Indian Festivals Calendar 2026-27, Month by Month
• Diwali 2026: The Five Days, Dates and Lakshmi Puja Muhurat
• Wedding Muhurat Dates 2026-27
• Chhath Puja 2026: Dates, Nahay Khay, Kharna and Arghya