Sikh Calender
Starting in 1999
all religious holidays will be observed according to the newly modified
Nanakshahi Calendar. The years of the Nanakshahi calendar start with the
birth of Guru Nanak Dev in 1469, 1998 is considered Nanakshahi 530. The
modification is that now the calendar is based on the length of the tropical
solar year, instead of the lunar cycle, meaning that dates will not fluctuate
from year to year as they did previously. The Sikh New Year begins with
Chet 1 which in the Common Era calendar is March 14, in 1999 and it will
be the year 531 Nanakshahi.
Sikh
Month |
Common
Era Date for Beginning of Month |
Chet |
March 14 |
Vaisakh |
April 14 |
Jeth |
May 15 |
Harh |
June 15 |
Sawan |
July 16 |
Bhadon |
August 16 |
Asu |
September 15 |
Katik |
October 15 |
Maghar |
November 14 |
Poh |
December 14 |
Magh |
January 13 |
Phagan |
February 12 |
Gurpurbs
| Guru | Parkash (Birthday) |
Gur
Ghaddhi (Guruship) |
Jyoti
Jot (Death) |
| Guru Nanak Dev | Katik Pooranmashi* | from Parkash | Asu 8 September 22 |
| Guru Angad Dev | Vaisakh 5 April 18 |
Asu 4 September 18 |
Vaisakh 3 April 16 |
| Guru Amar Das | Jeth 9 May 23 |
Vaisakh 3 April 16 |
Asu 2 September 16 |
| Guru Ram Das | Asu 25 October 9 |
Asu 2 September 16 |
Asu 2 September 16 |
| Guru Arjan Dev | Vaisakh 19 May 2 |
Asu 2 September 16 |
Harh 2 June 16 |
| Guru Hargobind | Harh 21 July 5 |
Jeth 28 June 11 |
Chet 6 March 19 |
| Guru Har Rai | Magh 19 January 31 |
Chet 1 March 14 |
Katik 6 October 20 |
| Guru Harkrishan | Sawan 8 July 23 |
Katik 6 October 20 |
Vaisakh 3 April 16 |
| Guru Tegh Bahadur | Vaisakh 5 April 18 |
Vaisakh 3 April 16 |
Maghar 11 November 24 |
| Guru Gobind Singh | Poh 23 January 5 |
Maghar 11 November 24 |
Katik 7 October 21 |
| Guru Granth Sahib | Bhadon 17 September 1 Installation in Golden Temple by Guru Arjan Dev |
Katik 6 October 20 |
| * Guru Nanaks birthday has been traditionally celebrated on Katik Poornamashi. Althought the correct birth date has been established as Vaisakh 1 (April 14), it will continue to be celebrated on Katik Poornamashi until such time as it is changed to Vaisakh 1. Katik Pooranmashi in 1999 is on November 23 and in 2000 is on November 11. |
Other Religious Observances
| Event | Date |
| Creation of the Khalsa Vaisakhi |
Vaisakh 1 April 14 |
| Martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singhs Elder Sons |
Poh 8 December 21 |
| Martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singhs Younger Sons |
Poh 13 December 26 |
