Guru Nanak Jayanti, also called Gurpurab or Prakash Purab, falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, just under three weeks from now. Here is the date, the timings, how the day is marked, and how to visit a gurdwara comfortably.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026: date and timings
The festival is held on Kartik Purnima, the full moon day of the month of Kartik. For 2026, Drik Panchang lists it on Tuesday, 24 November. The panchang site Dekho Panchang agrees on 24 November and says the day follows the sunrise rule, meaning the date that has the Purnima tithi at sunrise is used.
| Detail | 2026 information |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, 24 November 2026 |
| Purnima tithi begins (New Delhi) | 11:42 PM, 23 November |
| Purnima tithi ends (New Delhi) | 8:23 PM, 24 November |
| Which anniversary | 557th birth anniversary, per Drik Panchang |
These tithi times are for New Delhi. Other cities will see slightly different times, so check a local panchang if you need exact timings.
A few cautions. First, the date is calculated from the lunar calendar, so check the programme with your local gurdwara. Second, you may see other dates online. Some pages show 5 November, which is the 2025 date, and one page shows 25 November. These do not match the sources above. Third, HinduTone notes that in some western North American cities, such as Vancouver and Seattle, Kartik Purnima falls on Monday, 23 November. For readers in India, 24 November is the date.
HinduTone also says Kartik Purnima is the same day as Dev Deepawali, which is marked in Varanasi as a separate Hindu observance. We have not covered it here beyond that mention.
How Gurpurab is celebrated
The celebrations build up over several days. The usual elements are:
- Akhand Path: an unbroken reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, which takes about 48 hours. It starts two days before the festival and ends on the morning of Gurpurab.
- Prabhat Pheri: early-morning processions where devotees sing hymns. On the day itself, Dekho Panchang describes one around 4 AM, followed by recitation of Japji Sahib.
- Nagar Kirtan: a procession carrying the Guru Granth Sahib through the streets, led by the Panj Pyare (the five beloved ones), with kirtan groups and gatka displays.
- Langar: a free community meal served to everyone, whatever their religion or caste.
- Evening programmes: kirtan and prayers, after which the congregation receives karah prasad, the sweet offering.
Officeholidays.com adds that, in the traditional account, the evening prayers continue until about 1:20 AM, the time Guru Nanak is said to have been born. It also reports that many Sikhs travel to Gurdwara Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, which marks his birthplace.
Guru Nanak’s teachings in brief
Guru Nanak lived from 1469 to 1539 and was the first Guru of the Sikhs. His teachings are often summed up in a few simple ideas:
- Ik Onkar: there is one Creator.
- Naam japna: remembering and meditating on the divine Name.
- Kirat karni: earning a living by honest work.
- Vand chakna: sharing what you have with others.
- Seva: selfless service.
- Equality: all people are equal, and caste distinctions have no place.
Langar, where everyone sits in one row and eats the same food, is the everyday form of these ideas. The stories of his life come from devotional accounts called Janamsakhis, which HinduTone describes as devotional biography rather than a precise historical record.
Is it a holiday?
Officeholidays.com lists 24 November 2026 as a regional holiday in Punjab, says it is a gazetted holiday in many states, and says Indian stock, bond and currency markets close that day. Sakshi Post’s 2026 holiday list also places Guru Nanak Jayanti among the compulsory holidays for Central government offices, though it does not give the date. HinduTone describes it as a gazetted holiday in India.
For banks, ETV Bharat’s November 2026 bank holiday list shows 24 November (Guru Nanak Jayanti / Kartika Purnima) as a closure in several regions, including Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Holidays still differ by state, so check your state’s official notification and your bank’s holiday list before planning around it.
What it means for you: what to do
Anyone is welcome at a gurdwara, and langar is open to all. These steps will help you feel at ease.
- Cover your head. Bring a scarf, cloth or bandana. Many gurdwaras keep spares at the entrance for visitors who forget.
- Remove your shoes. Leave them at the shoe stands, and wash your hands and feet before entering the prayer hall. Dress modestly.
- Sit on the floor. Sit quietly, cross-legged, facing the Guru Granth Sahib. Avoid turning your back to it or pointing your feet towards it. If you are not comfortable bowing, you can simply walk to your seat.
- Receive prasad with both hands. Cup your hands together to take the sweet offering.
- Join the langar. It is a free meal, usually served after the service. Sit with everyone else, and take only what you can finish.
- Keep the premises clean. Alcohol, tobacco and drugs are not allowed. Ask before you take photographs, and avoid flash in the prayer hall.
For travel, expect large crowds in Amritsar and other Punjab towns around the Nagar Kirtan and on the evening of the festival. This is our own practical advice rather than something the sources state. Go early in the day, keep to shorter visits, check road closures for processions, and book transport and stays well ahead if you are travelling far. Since Gurpurab is a holiday in many states, some shops and offices may be shut, so plan your errands earlier.
The bottom line
Mark Tuesday, 24 November 2026, for Guru Nanak Jayanti, the 557th birth anniversary according to Drik Panchang. Confirm the exact programme with your local gurdwara, check your state’s holiday notice, and carry a head covering if you plan to visit.
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