Gurpurab 2026: Guru Nanak's 557th Prakash Purab falls on Tuesday, November 24

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also called Gurpurab or Prakash Purab, will be observed on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, marking the 557th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru, according to calendar publishers including Drik Panchang. The festival follows Kartik Shukla Purnima, the full moon of the month of Kartik. For New Delhi, the Purnima tithi (lunar day) begins at 11:42 pm on Monday, 23 November, and ends at 8:23 pm on 24 November. Because the full moon tithi is present at sunrise on 24 November, that is the day the anniversary is marked.

Sikh and Hindu festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move each year against the Gregorian calendar. A lunar day, or tithi, does not begin at midnight; it can start and end at any time of the day or night. That is why calendar makers apply a standard rule: the tithi present at sunrise decides which day a festival falls on. In 2026 the full moon begins just before midnight on 23 November, so on the morning of 23 November it is still the previous lunar day. By sunrise on 24 November, the Purnima has begun and continues until the evening, making 24 November the clear choice.

Exact tithi timings depend on location, because sunrise and the moon's position differ across the country. The figures above are for New Delhi. People in other cities, and in other countries with Sikh communities, may see slightly different start and end times, though the festival date in India remains 24 November.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji, born in 1469, founded the Sikh tradition and taught devotion to one God, honest work, sharing with others and the equality of all people. His birth anniversary is one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar. The celebrations are rooted in faith and community life rather than in astronomy alone: the calendar sets the date, but the meaning of the day comes from the Guru's teachings and the traditions around them.

Typical observances include an Akhand Path, an unbroken reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, which usually begins two days before the festival and ends on the day itself; a Nagar Kirtan, a procession led by the Panj Pyare, the day before; and early-morning Prabhat Pheris through neighbourhoods. On the day, gurdwaras hold kirtan and serve langar, the free community meal open to all. Calendar makers advise checking with local gurdwaras for the exact schedule of these events.

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026 at a glance Item | Detail Date | Tuesday, 24 November 2026 Anniversary | 557th Prakash Purab Tithi | Kartik Shukla Purnima Purnima begins | 11:42 pm IST, 23 November (New Delhi) Purnima ends | 8:23 pm IST, 24 November (New Delhi)

Short-term: Gurdwaras and Sikh communities will begin preparations, including the Akhand Path from about 22 November and processions around 23 November, and offices and schools in many states will plan for the holiday.

Long-term: Clear, early information on the date helps families, employers and travellers plan, especially for those visiting major gurdwaras around the festival.

Who is affected: Sikh communities in India and abroad, devotees of Guru Nanak of other faiths, gurdwara committees, schools and employers in states that observe the holiday, and travellers.

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