2010 Sikh (Nanakshahi) calendar dates

Sikhs Online — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:58:43 +0000

Sikhs across the world have their own universal calendar. The name of this calendar is: Nanakshahi Calendar, and it takes its name from Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism.

Sikhs see the adoption of the new calendar as a big step forward for Sikh identity, and one that will help dispel any suggestions that Sikhism is a branch of some other religion. See ‘Jathedars’ absence sparks anger on calendar change’ under our Heritage & Culture section.

Calendar creator

The Nanakshahi Calendar was developed by a Canadian Sikh, Pal Singh Purewal, a retired computer engineer. He started work on the new calendar in the 1960s.

Purewal believes that having a unique calendar is vital for the integrity of the Sikh religion.
“All communities and faiths have their own calendar as a mark of their distinct cultural identity. Just as the Islamic world has the Hijri calendar and Hindus have Vikrami calendar, the Sikhs will have a Nanakshahi calendar along with the common era (CE) calendar which is in use throughout the world”. Pal Singh Purewal

2010 dates for your diary

Tuesday, 5th January

Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) was the tenth and last of the Sikh Gurus. He instituted the Five Ks and established the Order of the Khalsa.

Sunday, 31st January

Birthday of Guru Har Rai (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Har Rai (1630-1661) was the seventh of the Sikh Gurus.

Monday, 1st March

Hola Mohalla (Lunar Calendar)
Hola Mohalla is three day festival of military exercises and mock battles, together with religious discussions and devotional music, at Anandpur Sahib on the day after Holi.

Tuesday, 13th April

Vaisakhi
The Sikh New Year Festival, which also commemmorates the founding of the Khalsa by the tenth Guru (Guru Gobind Singh) in 1699. Also spelled Baisakhi.

Wednesday, 14th April

Birthday of Guru Nanak (Nanakshahi calendar)
The founder of the Sikh religion was born on 14 April 1469. This festival is also currently celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar, but this may change.

Hola Mohalla (Nanakshahi Calendar)
Hola Mohalla is currently celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar, but this may change.

Sunday, 18th April

Birthday of Guru Angad Dev (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Angad Dev (1504-1552) was the second of the Sikh Gurus. Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675) was the ninth of the Sikh Gurus.

Sunday, 2nd May

Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606) was the fifth of the Sikh Gurus

Sunday, 23rd May

Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Amar Das (1479-1574) was the third of the Sikh Gurus.

Wednesday, 16th June

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikh martyr. He also compiled all of the past Gurus’ writings into one book, which is now the Sikh holy scripture: the Guru Granth Sahib.

Monday, 5th July

Birthday of Guru Hargobind (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) was the sixth of the Sikh Gurus.

Friday 23rd, July

Birthday of Guru Har Krishen (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Har Krishan (1656-1664) was the eighth of the Sikh Gurus.

Saturday 9th October

Birthday of Guru Ram Das (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Ram Das (1534-1581) was the fourth of the Sikh Gurus.

Friday 5th, November

Diwali
For Sikhs, Diwali is particularly important because it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619.

Sunday 21st, November

Birthday of Guru Nanak (Lunar Calendar)
This festival may be celebrated by some on the date fixed by the Nanakshahi calendar: April 14

Wednesday 24th, November

Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar)
Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru and is honoured as a champion of religious freedom. He was executed in 1675 for refusing to convert to Islam.

Sikhs Online » Sikh Calendar 2010