Guru Nanak's Birthday
Nankana, Pakistan, originally belonged to the northern region of Punjab. It is the birth place of Nanak Dev, the first guru of the Sikhs. A gurpurab is an annual commemoration of a guru's birth.
Ancient records indicate Nanak Dev to have been born in the year 1469.A.D or 1526 of the Vikram Samvat (also spelled Bikram Sambat) calendar. It is a Hindu solar calendar based on lunar cycles, and astrological influences, which originated about 57 B.C. It is 56 years, 8 months, and 17 days ahead the Western Gregorian calendar. The Eastern new year begins in Vaisakh on approximately April 13th, of the Western calendar.
Narratives which date Nanak’s birth in Katik (mid November) appear be fanciful tales bent on discrediting earlier accounts. Historians have been unable to decipher whether Nanak's birth occurred on the lunar or solar Katik.
Fluctuations in lunar based solar calendars, coupled with conflicting historical accounts, resulted to changes being made. Historically, pooran mashi or full moon birthday festivities, were observed on Vaisakh (mid April - mid May) until the Samvat year 1872 (1815 A.D.). Contemporary ceremonies coincide with the full moon in Katik (mid October - mid November).
Attempts to adjust the calendar to a fixed rather than a variable date, continue to cause controversy. The result is the New Year of the 1998-99 version of the Nanakshahi calendar commences with the first day of Chet with the date of Nanak’s birth affixed to March 14, 530 Nanakshahi. Subsequent changes place Nanak’s birth date fixed on April 15th, the first day of Vaisakh with 1999 A.D.corresponding to 531 Nanakshahi. Most celebrations still occur on the full moon closest to October 20th.
