Gurpurab calendar
Births, Guruship days, martyrdoms and festivals through the year. Communities do not all use one calendar, so check with your local gurdwara. Each note says which version a date follows.
January
- 5Birth of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes it at 5 January every year. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 2 Magh, 15 January 2027, and its date shifts from year to year. That SGPC date is the lunar Poh sudi 7. Pal Singh Purewal, who designed the calendar, took 23 Poh as the original solar date. The two reckonings can part widely: in 2016 some gurdwaras marked the day on 5 January and others on 16 January. The SGPC amended the calendar in 2010 and returned dates such as this one to the Bikrami system. The then Akal Takht Jathedar said in 2018 that most Sikh groups observe the amended dates. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and other gurdwara managements hold to the 2003 version.[Src][Src][Src][Web][Web][Web]
- 31
March
- 14Guruship of Sri Guru Har Rai Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes it at 14 March every year. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 4 Chet, 17 March 2026, and its date shifts from year to year. A 2015 report said the amended calendar still marked this day on 14 March, the first of Chet, while that year's new edition listed 18 March.[Src][Src][Web]
- 19
April
- 14Vaisakhi and the creation of the Khalsa
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes 1 Vaisakh at 14 April. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 also gives 1 Vaisakh, 14 April 2026. Vaisakhi follows the solar month, not the moon. In the Bikrami reckoning it now falls on 13 or 14 April. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji inaugurated the Khalsa on 1 Vaisakh 1756 Bikrami, which then corresponded to 30 March 1699.[Src][Src][EoS]
- 16
- 16
- 16
- 16
- 18
- 18
May
- 2
- 23
June
- 11
- 16Martyrdom of Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes it at 16 June every year. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 4 Harh, 18 June 2026, and its date shifts from year to year. In 2023 the two calendars stood apart on this day: the SGPC marked it on 23 May, and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which keeps the 2003 version, on 16 June. The SGPC sent no pilgrim group to Pakistan that year because of the difference.[Src][Src][Web]
July
- 5
- 23
September
- 1First Parkash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes it at 1 September every year. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 27 Bhadon, 12 September 2026, and its date shifts from year to year. The day marks the installation of the scripture in the Harmandir Sahib on Bhadon sudi 1, 1661 Bikrami, 16 August 1604.[Src][Src][EoS]
- 16Passing of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes it at 16 September every year. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 10 Assu, 26 September 2026, and its date shifts from year to year. A 2015 report said the amended calendar had kept this day on 16 September until that year's edition moved it.[Src][Src][Web]
- 16
- 16
- 16
- 18
- 22
October
- 9Birth of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes it at 9 October every year. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 11 Kattak, 27 October 2026, and its date shifts from year to year. A 2015 report said the amended calendar had kept this day on 9 October until that year's edition moved it.[Src][Src][Web]
- 20
- 20
- 20
- 21
November
- 24
- 24Martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes it at 24 November every year. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 29 Maghar, 14 December 2026, and its date shifts from year to year. Pal Singh Purewal, who designed the calendar, took 11 Maghar 1732 Bikrami as the original solar date.[Src][Src][Src]
December
- 21Martyrdom of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes 8 Poh at 21 December. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 also uses 8 Poh, which falls on 23 December 2026, because its months begin on different days. This anniversary keeps a solar date in both. He attained martyrdom in the battle of Chamkaur on 7 December 1705.[Src][Src][EoS][EoS]
- 21Martyrdom of Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes 8 Poh at 21 December. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 also uses 8 Poh, which falls on 23 December 2026, because its months begin on different days. This anniversary keeps a solar date in both. He attained martyrdom in the battle of Chamkaur on 7 December 1705, leading the last sally of the day.[Src][Src][EoS][EoS]
- 26Passing of Mata Gujri Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes 13 Poh at 26 December. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 also uses 13 Poh, which falls on 28 December 2026, because its months begin on different days. This anniversary keeps a solar date in both. She passed away in the Cold Tower at Sirhind on 12 December 1705, the day her two young grandsons were martyred. The 2003 list and the SGPC's calendar both name her among those marked on this day of martyrdom.[Src][Src][EoS][EoS]
- 26Martyrdom of Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes 13 Poh at 26 December. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 also uses 13 Poh, which falls on 28 December 2026, because its months begin on different days. This anniversary keeps a solar date in both. He was martyred at Sirhind on 12 December 1705, with his elder brother.[Src][Src][EoS][EoS]
- 26Martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which fixes 13 Poh at 26 December. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 also uses 13 Poh, which falls on 28 December 2026, because its months begin on different days. This anniversary keeps a solar date in both. He was martyred at Sirhind on 12 December 1705, with his younger brother.[Src][Src][EoS][EoS]
Dates that move each year
These follow the lunar calendar, so the date changes from year to year.
- Bandi Chhor DivasDiwali, the new moon of Kattak
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which left this day on the old lunar reckoning, so it changes every year. That version's tables give 25 October for 2003 and 14 November for 2020. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 23 Kattak, 8 November 2026. The Mool Nanakshahi calendar, adopted by a conference of gurdwaras in Chicago in 2017, fixes the day at 1 Phagun, 12 February. Sikhs mark Sri Guru Hargobind Ji's return to Amritsar from captivity at Gwalior, when the town was lit up in welcome.[Src][Src][Web][EoS]
- Birth of Sri Guru Nanak Dev JiFull moon of Kattak
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which left this day on the old lunar reckoning, so it changes every year. That version's tables give 8 November for 2003 and 30 November for 2020. The SGPC's calendar for 2026-27 gives 9 Maghar, 24 November 2026. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism says most scholars place the birth in Vaisakh, not Kattak. The Mool Nanakshahi calendar, adopted by a conference of gurdwaras in Chicago in 2017, fixes the day at 1 Vaisakh, 14 April.[Src][Src][EoS][Web]
- Hola MohallaChet vadi 1, the day after the full moon of Phagun
This date follows the 2003 Nanakshahi version, which left this day on the old lunar reckoning, so it changes every year. Pal Singh Purewal, who designed the calendar, wrote that this exception was made under pressure from the Sants. That version's tables give 19 March for 2003 and 10 March for 2020. The SGPC's calendar for 2025-26 gives 15 March 2025 and 4 March 2026. The Mool Nanakshahi calendar, adopted by a conference of gurdwaras in Chicago in 2017, fixes the day at 1 Chet, 14 March. The first such march took place at Anandpur under Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, on 22 February 1701, which was Chet vadi 1, 1757 Bikrami.[Src][Src][Src][Web][EoS][EoS]
Cite this page
"Gurpurab calendar". Sikh History: lives of the Gurus. https://sikh-history.co.uk/calendar/