Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024: Celebrating the Birth Anniversary of the Tenth Sikh Guru

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, also known as Prakash Parv, is being celebrated on January 17, 2024. This auspicious day marks the 357th birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Born on December 2, 1666, in Patna, Bihar, Guru Gobind Singh was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhism, and Mata Gujri.

In 1956, Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb for his refusal to convert to Islam. At the tender age of 9, Guru Gobind Singh was proclaimed as the tenth Guru of Sikhs on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi in 1676. Today, his birthplace in Patna is renowned as Takhat Shri Harimander Ji Patna Sahib.

Guru Gobind Singh was not only a spiritual leader but also a man of great intellect. He codified Sikh law, composed martial poetry and music, and authored the Sikh work called the ‘Dasam Granth’ or “Tenth Volume.” He also compiled the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.

The most significant achievement of Guru Gobind Singh was the creation of the Khalsa in 1699. He introduced the five Ks, namely Kesh (uncut hair), Kara (steel bracelet), Kanga (wooden comb), Kachera (shorts), and Kirpan (sword), as symbols of the Sikh community.

Prior to his passing in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh declared himself as the last of the personal Gurus and designated the Guru Granth Sahib, also known as the Adi Granth, as the permanent Sikh Guru.