Nanakshahi Calendar 2023

ਨਾਨਕਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਸੰਮਤ 554 – 555 (Nanakshahi Year 554 – 555)

Nanakshahi Calendar is one of the newest calendars in the world. It has been created to refer to the historical dates belonging to Sikh History more accurately in comparison to Bikrami Samvat. Below is the Nanakshahi Calendar of CE 2023, which is Samvat 554 – 555. In each month, Poornima (Poornmashi), Amavas (Masya), and Sankranti (Sangrad) or spotted in different colors.

2023 is set to be a special year in the Sikh calendar, with a series of holy dates to commemorate. Parkash Sri Guru Har Rai Ji will be celebrated on 3 February (21 Magh 554), a date to honor the leader of Sikhism. Following this, on 5 February (23 Magh 554), two important events are taking place: Puranmashi and Janam Bhagat Ravidas Ji, a day to honor the Shiromani Saint. Also on 5 February (23 Magh 554), Mela Guru Ka Kotha, an annual fair in Amritsar, will be held. Shaheedi Saka Sri Nankana Sahib will be observed on 21 February (9 Faggan 554) – a day to remember the martyrs of Sikhism. On 13 February (1 Faggan 554), the Sangrand festival will take place, followed by the Masya festival on 20 February (8 Faggan 554).

Sikhs have several important days and festivals, known as Gurpurabs, which commemorate the birth or martyrdom of the Sikh Gurus and other important events in Sikh history. Some of the most significant Gurpurabs and festivals for Sikhs include:

1. Gurpurab of Guru Nanak: This is the most important Gurpurab, celebrating the birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. It is celebrated on Kartik Purnima according to the Bikrami calendar (around November according to the Gregorian calendar).
2. Gurpurab of Guru Gobind Singh: This Gurpurab marks the birthday of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. It is celebrated on Poh Sankranti according to the Bikrami calendar (around January according to the Gregorian calendar)
3. Vaisakhi: This festival marks the founding of the Khalsa, the collective body of initiated Sikhs, by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It is celebrated on April 14th (Baisakhi) according to the Gregorian calendar.
4. Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur: This Gurpurab marks the day of the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. It is celebrated on the day of Kartik Purnima according to the Bikrami calendar (around November according to the Gregorian calendar)
5. Hola Mohalla: This festival is celebrated the day after the festival of Holi and is a way for Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills and participate in mock battles, poetry recitations, and religious debates.
6. Bandi Chhor Divas: This festival marks the release of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind from a Mughal prison in 1619. It is celebrated on the day of Diwali according to the Bikrami calendar.

These are some of the most significant festivals for Sikhs but there are many other Gurpurabs and festivals that are celebrated to commemorate the lives and teachings of the Sikh Gurus and other historical figures.

In Sikhism, days like Sankranti, Amavasya, Purnima, Panchami, or Dashmi are not considered to be particularly significant in terms of religious significance. Sikhism does not follow the Hindu lunar calendar or the practice of fasting on these days.

That being said, some of these days like Purnima and Sankranti are used to determine the dates of some of the Gurpurabs (Sikh Festivals) like the Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. But their significance is not based on the lunar calendar but on the historical events.

In Sikhism, the focus is on daily prayers and the remembrance of God rather than on specific days or calendar-based rituals. The Guru’s teachings encourage Sikhs to lead a moral and ethical life and to strive to achieve spiritual enlightenment, rather than to focus on the significance of particular days.