Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday falls on the 22nd of December and celebrates the tenth Sikh guru. Gobind Singh was a warrior, poet, philosopher, and most importantly, a spiritual master. He is credited with enshrining the Guru Granth Sahib as the primary scripture of Sikhism and for introducing the five articles of faith, also known as the Five K’s, that Khalsa Sikhs are to wear at all times. He was born on December 22, 1666, and died on October 7, 1708, at the age of 41.

A Brief Biography Of Guru Gobind Singh

Gobind Singh was born on December 22, 1666, in Patna, and his birth name was Gobind Rai. At the age of 3, in 1670, his family took him with them as they returned to Punjab. Two years later, in 1672, they moved once again, this time to Chakk Nanaki in the Shivalik Range of the Himalayan foothills. It was here that he began his initial education.

In 1675, his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was petitioned by Kashmiri Pandits who felt they were being persecuted by the Mughal governor of Kashmir, Iftikar Khan. Tegh Bahadur decided to seek a peaceful resolution by visiting the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He made the attempt but was arrested and then publicly beheaded in Delhi for refusing to convert to Islam, and also for the ongoing conflicts between Sikhism and the Islamic Empire, on November 11, 1675.

After his father’s martyrdom, Gobind Singh became the tenth Sikh Guru on March 29, 1676. After he became the tenth Sikh, his education continued. He was taught not only reading and writing but also archery and horsemanship. In 1684, he wrote the Chandi di Var in the Punjabi language. This composition described the war between the gods and demons.

Guru Gobind Singh initiated the highest order that can be reached by Sikhs, the Khalsa order. He also became famous as a philosopher, warrior, and poet. On October 7, 1708, Guru Gobind Singh was fatally stabbed by an assassin at Nanded.

How Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday Is Celebrated

The birthday celebration typically lasts for a period of three days. Two days before his birthday, a team of both men and women begin to read from the central religious scripture of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, from start to finish without interruption. This is known as the Akhand Path.

The next day, the Panj Pyares lead a procession and are followed by gatka teams, musicians, and dancers. When the day of the birthday arrives, morning hymns known as Asa di Var are sung, and this is followed by readings from the Guru Granth Sahib. Throughout the day, there are also festivities that include food, singing, and prayers. And this is all topped off with the evening prayers known as the Rehras, performed around sunset.