Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026
Tuesday, 24 November 2026 (in 16 days)
Rule: Kartika Purnima (full moon); date set each year by DoPT
Kartika, Shukla Purnima
- Purnima Tithi Begins - 11:45 PM on Nov 23
- Purnima Tithi Ends - 08:26 PM on Nov 24
Tithi times are the same everywhere in India (IST); sunrise-based dates are for New Delhi.
Other years: 2025: Wednesday, 5 November · 2027: Sunday, 14 November
Holiday status
- Central Government offices
- Gazetted holiday: Central Government offices closed (DoPT list) (listed as "Guru Nanak's Birthday"), Saka date Agrahayana 03.
- Banks (RBI)
-
Tue, 24 Nov: Aizawl, Belapur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Raipur, Ranchi, Shimla, Srinagar
Bank holidays by city - Also known as
- Gurpurab, Prakash Utsav; the same day is Kartika Purnima and Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.
Puja muhurat by city, Tuesday, 24 November 2026
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Pradosh Kaal | Nishita Kaal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 06:52 AM | 05:26 PM | 05:26 PM to 08:08 PM | 11:43 PM to 12:36 AM |
| Mumbai | 06:52 AM | 06:01 PM | 06:01 PM to 08:35 PM | 12:01 AM to 12:52 AM |
| Kolkata | 05:56 AM | 04:53 PM | 04:53 PM to 07:29 PM | 10:59 PM to 11:51 PM |
| Chennai | 06:13 AM | 05:41 PM | 05:41 PM to 08:11 PM | 11:32 PM to 12:22 AM |
| Bengaluru | 06:24 AM | 05:51 PM | 05:51 PM to 08:22 PM | 11:43 PM to 12:33 AM |
| Hyderabad | 06:27 AM | 05:41 PM | 05:41 PM to 08:14 PM | 11:39 PM to 12:30 AM |
| Ahmedabad | 07:00 AM | 05:55 PM | 05:55 PM to 08:32 PM | 12:02 AM to 12:54 AM |
| Pune | 06:47 AM | 05:58 PM | 05:58 PM to 08:32 PM | 11:57 PM to 12:48 AM |
| Jaipur | 06:54 AM | 05:35 PM | 05:35 PM to 08:15 PM | 11:48 PM to 12:42 AM |
| Lucknow | 06:34 AM | 05:15 PM | 05:15 PM to 07:55 PM | 11:28 PM to 12:21 AM |
| Patna | 06:15 AM | 05:00 PM | 05:00 PM to 07:39 PM | 11:11 PM to 12:04 AM |
| Bhopal | 06:41 AM | 05:35 PM | 05:35 PM to 08:13 PM | 11:42 PM to 12:35 AM |
| Guwahati | 05:49 AM | 04:33 PM | 04:33 PM to 07:12 PM | 10:45 PM to 11:38 PM |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 06:19 AM | 06:01 PM | 06:01 PM to 08:29 PM | 11:46 PM to 12:35 AM |
Pradosh Kaal: the first fifth of the night after sunset. Nishita Kaal: the eighth of the fifteen night muhurtas, around midnight. Check that the tithi is still running at the time you choose.
Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. It is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism, observed with deep spiritual devotion across India and around the world.
Good to know
Guru Nanak Jayanti is a gazetted public holiday across India. Government offices, banks, post offices, schools, and major financial markets remain closed for the day.
History
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469 at Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi, present-day Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. From an early age, he challenged rigid social hierarchies and ritualistic practices, advocating for universal brotherhood, gender equality, and devotion to one supreme God. His extensive journeys, known as Udasis, took him across South Asia and the Middle East to spread messages of truth, humility, and selfless service.
The observance of Gurpurab has evolved over centuries into a major religious event. Guru Nanak's teachings and compositions form a foundational part of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scripture of Sikhism, which remains the central focus of all anniversary celebrations.
How it is observed
Festivities begin two days in advance with the Akhand Path, an uninterrupted 48-hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Gurdwaras. A day before the main festival, devotions take to the streets in a procession called Nagarkirtan, led by the Panj Pyare carrying the Sikh flag and the holy scripture on a flower-bedecked palanquin. On Gurpurab itself, devotees gather early in the morning for hymns, spiritual discourses, and prayers. A central element of the day is the Langar, a community meal prepared and served by volunteers to every visitor without distinction of caste, religion, or background.
Facts
- Guru Nanak Dev Ji introduced the concept of Langar to break down social barriers and promote radical social equality.
- The festival falls on Kartik Purnima, the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik.
- His three primary teachings are Naam Japna (meditating on God's name), Kirat Karo (earning an honest living), and Vand Chhako (sharing resources with the needy).
Questions about Guru Nanak Jayanti
Is Guru Nanak Jayanti a public holiday in India?
Yes, Guru Nanak Jayanti is a nationwide gazetted public holiday in India.
What does 'Gurpurab' mean?
'Gurpurab' translates to 'festival of the Guru', used to denote the birth or martyrdom anniversaries of the Sikh Gurus.
What is Nagarkirtan?
Nagarkirtan is a religious street procession held ahead of Gurpurab where devotees chant hymns, perform Gatka (traditional Sikh martial arts), and offer free food.
Source: DoPT O.M. dated 03.07.2025 (2026) and 16.07.2026 (2027)