One of the most sacred and exotic festivals celebrated by the Sikhs, with great fervour is Guru Parab. Signifying the birth of one of the founders of Sikhism; Guru Nanak, the Guru Parab festival is attended by thousands of Sikhs from India and other countries, making it one of the most spiritual festivals in India.
The festival is celebrated for two days and nights under the full moon of the day of Kartika. Guru Nanak; born in 1469, who is now considered to be a saint in Sikhism, was a great reformer and a philosopher who instilled teachings of humanity and other ethics into the Sikh culture. One of his greatest achievements is spreading the belief that a man should be judged by his character and conduct and not his caste, in a time when the caste system was dominant in Indian society. This act made him one of the first gurus to promote equality in Indian society. Guru Nanak is also praised for his tireless efforts to foster harmony between the Hindu and Islam communities.
For two days before the date of birth of Guru Nanak, parades and processions are held through the streets. The people who gather along the streets also partake in the celebrations by lighting the streets with lanterns and lamps and offer homemade sweets and food to those in the parades. Another fascinating occurrence which takes place three days before the festival is a continuous reading of the Granth Saheb, the holy book of the Sikhs.
On the birth day of Guru Nanak, a grand fair and festival is held at the grounds of Nankana Sahib, where free meals and holy food are distributed to the crowds. Colourful and vibrant pandals are set up in various places, making it a truly spiritual and amazing festival. The Golden Temple at Amritsar also holds celebrations, which are said to bring out the spirituality and power of the Sikh faith.
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