Along with this, Sikhism also continued with some of the major festivals that Hindus celebrated - for instance, Holi, and to a lesser extent perhaps, Durga puja and Diwali. The festivals unique to the Sikhs have little to do with worship of the divine. Instead, the events commemorate the milestones in the lives of the 10 gurus of the Sikhs and their teachings. The guru, or teacher, is the most important person in Sikhism, and is the means to gain union with God.

The Sikh gurudwaras may have idols or sculptures, but they are only in the form of adornment. No worship is offered to any deities. All worship is directed to the holy book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Guru Granth, or the book of the guru, was originally compiled by the first guru, Guru Nanak, and later edited by Guru Arjan, the fifth guru, and brought to its final form by the last of the gurus, Guru Gobind Singh.

The Guru Granth takes the place of a deity, and is revered as a god. People circumambulate it and bow down before it. At the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holy book is constantly fanned. Even on holy days, when there are public processions, it is the book that is taken out on a palanquin.

With bhakti being central to the religion, Sikhism employs a lot of music and song in its attempt to gain union with God. Its festivals are marked by the singing of gurbani, or holy songs, and readings from the holy book.

With bhakti being central to the religion, Sikhism employs a lot of music and song in its attempt to gain union with God. Its festivals are marked by the singing of gurbani, or holy songs, and readings from the holy book.

Sikhs observe the birthdays of all their 10 gurus. The birthdays of the first and the last gurus, Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh, are celebtrated with all the pomp of festivals.

The other day that Sikhs hold in reverence is Baisakh, or the day when Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa.

The Sikhs are a robust and hearty people, and this reflects in the way celebrate their festivals.

The great strength of the Sikhs lies in their sense of brotherhood and community. It plays a part in their daily life, and particularly during their festivals, when temple-worship, reading the holy book and communal mingling take precedence over public celebrations.

But when it comes to showing their feelings, we get, on one side, their intensely moving religious songs, the gurbanis, and on the other, their hearty dances and rhythmic and infectious popular music.


Sikh (Punjabi) Festivals 2008

Sikh (Punjabi) Festivals Calendar 2008
JAN		05	Saturday	Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh
		13	Sunday	Lohri / Maghi
MAR		13	Tuesday	Nanakshahi Era Commences
		22	Saturday	Hola Mohalla
APR		14	Monday	Baisakhi (Birth Anniversary of Khalsa)
MAY		02	Friday	Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev
JUNE		16	Monday	Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev
SEP		01	Monday	First Parkash Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
OCT		28	Tuesday	Diwali
NOV		24	Monday	Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar)