The birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh faith, falls on Kartik Purnima. The day is celebrated across the world with much fervour
as Guru Nanak Jayanti or Parkash Utsav.
For Hindus, it’s the day when god incarnated himself as “Matsya Avatar” (fish formation) with the aim to save Vavaswata, the seventh Manu.
Guru Nanak was born on 14 April, 1469 AD, at Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib, about 40 km from Lahore. The anniversaries of Sikh guru’s are known as Gurpurabs (festivals) and are celebrated with devotion and jubilation.
Gurpurabs mark the culmination of “Prabhat Pheris” – early morning procession which start from the gurdwaras (Sikh temples) at dawn. Devotees go around localities singing hymns in praise of the lord. Celebrations last for three days which include, the Akhand Path (a forty-eight-hour non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib).
Since the day happens to be Kartik Purnima, it is also known as “Tripuri Purnima.”
Scores of Sikhs and Hindus take a holy dip in the Brahma Sarovar at Kurukshetra on this day.More
