Happy Guru Nanak Jayanti 2018: Celeb Wishes, Significance And Celebrations

Many of us celebrate this day but do you know why? Are you sure you know the right Purnima tithi? Read on for a better understanding of the festival and get to know what the celebs had to say including PM Modi.

Born on April 15, 1469, at a Bedi Kshatriya family in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi village, now in Pakistan, Guru Nanak is one of the ten celebrated Sikh gurus who helped in shaping Sikhism. His birth anniversary is celebrated worldwide as Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti or Gurpurab. This year will mark the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The date of the festival changes -- varies from year to year, according to the Indian lunar calendar.

The Purnima tithi begins at 12:53 pm on 22nd November 2018 and ends at 11:09 am on 23 November this year.

Significance And Celebrations Of Gurpurab

This day is a reminder for the devotees to follow his teachings and overcome the five vices - lust, greed, attachment, anger and pride. What made him stand out was the fact that his teachings stood in contrast with the religious practices of his time and became part of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. Two days before the festival, Akhand Path - a 48-hour non-stop reading of the holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib is held at Gurdwaras. A procession of devotees, called Nagarkirtan, is organised a day before. The procession is led with a palanquin of Guru Granth Sahib and followed by devotees singing hymns and prayers.

Did you know that the Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations begin as early as 3 am, on the day of the festival? The time period between 3 am and 6 am is called Amrit Vela, which is considered apt for the recitation of hymns and meditation. It is then followed by Katha and Kirtan, which is a recital of scriptures and hymns in the praise of the Guru.

Guru Nanak Jayanti Langar

The celebrations are held with much fervour and joy at Golden Temple, Amritsar. Here, and at gurdwaras around the country, a special community lunch, called Guru ka Langar is organised. Guru ka Langar is always a vegetarian and nourishing meal. On this holy day, Kada Prasad is also prepared. It is a traditional sweet made using wheat flour, ghee and sugar. The prasad is prepared in large quantities to make sure it can be distributed to as many people as possible.

Read More:Here Is The Ahoi Ashtami Katha And Its Significance

Celebrity Wishes

On this auspicious occasion, some early birds wished the nation on their social media handles. While #PMModi paid tribute to #GuruNanakDev on the occasion of his birth anniversary and said that the first Sikh Guru taught the path of truth, righteousness and compassion, former CM of Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah too took to Twitter and wished 'Gurupurab greetings to all of you'.

Actor Randeep Hooda and chef Ranveer Brar Ranveer Brar went on to say 'Nanak naam chadhdikala, tere bhanne sarbat da bhala' and 'Sab nu Gurpurab aur Kartika Purnima di lakh lakh vadhaaiyaan.'

Other celebs that wished their fans and followers on the occasion include Celeb photographer Dabboo Ratnani, actor Boman Irani, singers Harshdeep Kaur and Adnan Sami.

‏On behalf of HerZindagi, the team wishes all a Happy Guru Parab!

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