The Sikh calendar, known as the Nanakshahi calendar, is used to determine the dates of important Sikh festivals and events. Here are some of the key dates and their significance:
5th: Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (23 Poh) – Celebrates the birth of the tenth Sikh Guru, who founded the Khalsa.
31st: Birth of Guru Har Rai Ji (19 Magh) – Marks the birth of the seventh Sikh Guru.
January
21st: Saka Nankana Sahib (10 Phagun) – Commemorates the massacre of Sikhs at Nankana Sahib in 1921.
February
14th: Nanakshahi New Year (1 Chet) – The Sikh New Year begins.
15th: Hola Mohalla (2 Chet) – A festival of martial arts and mock battles, initiated by Guru Gobind Singh.
March
9th: Birth of Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji – Celebrates the birth of the second son of Guru Gobind Singh.
13th: Vaisakhi – Marks the creation of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh.
16th: Joti Jot Guru Angad Dev Ji – Commemorates the death of the second Sikh Guru.
16th: Gur Gadi Guru Amar Das Ji – Marks the day Guru Amar Das became the third Sikh Guru.
16th: Joti Jot Guru Har Krishan Ji – Commemorates the death of the eighth Sikh Guru.
16th: Gur Gadi Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji – Marks the day Guru Tegh Bahadur became the ninth Sikh Guru.
18th: Birth of Guru Angad Dev Ji – Celebrates the birth of the second Sikh Guru.
18th: Birth of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji – Celebrates the birth of the ninth Sikh Guru.
April
2nd: Birth of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (19 Vaisakh) – Celebrates the birth of the fifth Sikh Guru.
23rd: Birth of Guru Amar Das Ji (9 Jeth) – Celebrates the birth of the third Sikh Guru.
May
11th: Gur Gadi Guru Hargobind Ji (28 Jeth) – Marks the day Guru Hargobind became the sixth Sikh Guru.
16th: Shaheedi Guru Arjan Dev Ji (2 Harh) – Commemorates the martyrdom of the fifth Sikh Guru.
June
2nd: Foundation of Sri Akal Takhat (18 Harh) – Marks the establishment of the Akal Takht by Guru Hargobind.
5th: Birth of Guru Hargobind Ji (21 Harh) – Celebrates the birth of the sixth Sikh Guru.
23rd: Birth of Guru Har Krishan Ji (8 Saawan) – Celebrates the birth of the eighth Sikh Guru.
July
30th: Completion of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (15 Bhadon) – Marks the completion of the Sikh holy scripture by Guru Arjan Dev.
August
1st: First Parkash Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (17 Bhadon) – Celebrates the first installation of the Guru Granth Sahib in the Golden Temple.
12th: Battle of Saragarhi (28 Bhadon) – Commemorates the bravery of 21 Sikh soldiers who fought to the death in 1897.
September
9th: Birth of Guru Ram Das Ji (25 Assu) – Celebrates the birth of the fourth Sikh Guru.
20th: Joti Jot Guru Har Rai Ji (6 Katik) – Commemorates the death of the seventh Sikh Guru.
20th: Gur Gadi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (6 Katik) – Marks the day the Guru Granth Sahib was declared the eternal Guru.
20th: Gur Gadi Guru Har Krishan Ji (6 Katik) – Marks the day Guru Har Krishan became the eighth Sikh Guru.
21st: Joti Jot Guru Gobind Singh Ji (7 Katik) – Commemorates the death of the tenth Sikh Guru.
October
1st: Bandi Chorr Divas (Diwali) – Celebrates the release of Guru Hargobind and 52 princes from imprisonment.
15th: Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1 Maghar) – Celebrates the birth of the founder of Sikhism.
24th: Shaheedi Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (11 Maghar) – Commemorates the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Guru.
24th: Shaheedi Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das Ji (11 Maghar) – Commemorates the martyrdom of two prominent Sikh martyrs.
24th: Gur Gadi Guru Gobind Singh Ji (11 Maghar) – Marks the day Guru Gobind Singh became the tenth Sikh Guru.
28th: Birthday Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji (15 Maghar) – Celebrates the birth of the younger son of Guru Gobind Singh.
November
12th: Birthday Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji (29 Maghar) – Celebrates the birth of the younger son of Guru Gobind Singh.
21st: Shaheedi Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, and other Shaheeds of Chamkaur Sahib (8 Poh) – Commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s elder sons and other Sikhs at the Battle of Chamkaur.
26th: Shaheedi Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, Sahibzada Fateh Singh, and Mata Gujri Ji (13 Poh) – Commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons and his mother.
December