November 24 marks the birth celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith. It is also referred to as the `Prakash Utsav’ or the festival of light. The festivities of the Sikhs revolve around the anniverseries of the ten Sikh gurus, known as `Gurupurabs’, which are the celebrations or commemorations based on the lives of the the gurus, the most important being the Guru Nanak Jayanthi.

All Gurdwaras in Bangalore will wear a decorative look with lightings and flowers with most Sikhs heading there.
 The Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Ulsoor, has organised an elaborate celebation for a population of over 18000 Sikhs.

The festivities spanning throughout the day will begin early in the morning with the path `Nitnem’ and kirtan Asa-di-var followed by the samapthi Sri Akhand path. The other programmes include kirtans by school children of the Sri Guru Harksishan Public School, a lecture on Guru Nanak’s life sketch and his message to humanity. The celebrations will conclude with langar and a display of fireworks.

The CPM Gurudwara, Jallahalli West Gurudwara and Yelehanka Air Force Gurudwara have organised for the Gurupurab celebrations on the November 24, 25 and on the December 2 respectively.

Guru Nanak Dev was born to Mehta Kalu and Tripta Devi in 1469 in Talwandi in the undivided Indian sub-continent troubled by conflicts between the Hindus and the muslim communities.

Through his message of peace, unity of humanity, love and devotion he tried to work out a synthesis of the two religions. Guru Nanak’s teachings diverge from Vaishnavism in there rejection of idol worship,to the doctrine of divine incarnations and emphasis on inward devotion. He believed and preached that God is omnipresent in all creation and visible to the spiritually awakened, emphasisng on the irrelevance of observations such as rites and asceticism.

Gurupurab marks the culmination of `prabhat pheris’, the early morning processions.The celebration also includes the three day `Akhand Path’,continuous reading of the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib and `langar’ or the community lunch. Men,women and children also participate in `Karseva’, cooking and distribution of food in the `Guru Ka Langar’, with the traditional `Karah Prasad’.