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Unlock This CourseYou have met the festivals of Baisakhi and the Birth of the Khalsa and Bandi Chhor Divas. This lesson looks at the wider picture: the other festivals in the Sikh year, how Sikhs celebrate them, and why Sikhs do not all agree on how important festivals are.
Sikh festivals fall into two main groups.
Key terms:
Some gurpurbs are happy birthdays. The birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder, falls in October or November. The birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, falls in December or January. Other gurpurbs remember a death. The martyrdoms of Guru Arjan (1606) and Guru Tegh Bahadur (1675) are remembered calmly and seriously, as examples of faith and courage.
A mela is about the Sikh community coming together. Baisakhi and Bandi Chhor Divas each have their own lessons, so here you only need to know that they are melas. At Hola Mohalla, Sikhs hold processions, sing, recite poetry and show skills such as horse riding and martial arts. This reminds them of the Sikh tradition of the saint-soldier.
Sikhs do not all use the same calendar, so some dates can differ from year to year and between groups.
Most gurpurbs and melas share the same features. Each one helps Sikhs remember their history and come together as a community.
A team of readers takes turns to read the whole Guru Granth Sahib, day and night, without a break. It takes about 48 hours. It is timed to finish on the morning of the festival, so the festival begins with the Guru's own words. It can be held in the gurdwara or arranged by a family at home.
The gurdwara is cleaned and decorated with lights, flowers and flags. This shows respect for the Guru Granth Sahib and joy at the occasion. On a gurpurb remembering a death, the mood is calmer, with less show.
Everyone who comes to the gurdwara receives the same portion of karah prashad, whatever their age, wealth or background. Sikhs see it as a sign of equality and of God's blessing.
Other common features are:
Question: why do Sikhs share karah prashad?
Point: it is given to everyone in the same amount (1).
Development: this shows the Sikh belief in equality, because no one is treated as more important than anyone else (1).
Second point: it is a sign of God's blessing (1), received as a gift of the Guru (1).
All Sikhs value their Gurus, but they do not all agree on how important festivals are or how they should be celebrated.
(a) Outline two ways in which Sikhs celebrate gurpurbs. [4 marks, Paper 2, AO1]
One way is to hold an Akhand Path, the unbroken reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib (1), which is timed to finish on the morning of the festival (1). A second way is to share karah prashad and langar with everyone (1), which shows equality because all are given the same (1).
(b) Explain why gurpurbs are important for Sikhs. [6 marks, Paper 2, AO1 and AO2]
Gurpurbs are important because they help Sikhs remember the lives of the Gurus. Remembering the birth of Guru Nanak or the martyrdom of Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur reminds Sikhs of their courage and faith, and encourages them to follow the same example. Gurpurbs also teach children about Sikh history through talks, kirtan and processions. They bring the sangat together, because people share langar and karah prashad as equals, which shows the Sikh belief in equality. Finally, starting with an Akhand Path means the festival begins with the words of the Guru Granth Sahib, so the focus is on God and the Guru, not only on the celebration.
(c) 'Festivals are not important for Sikhs today.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view, and your own opinion. [10 marks, Paper 2, AO1 and AO2]
For the statement: the Gurus warned that outward ritual without devotion is empty; some Sikhs say daily prayer, honest work and sewa matter more than festivals; fireworks, decorations and crowds can distract from the message. Against: festivals teach children the history of the Gurus; they bring the sangat together through langar and karah prashad; the Akhand Path keeps the Guru Granth Sahib at the centre; in countries where Sikhs are a minority they help to keep identity strong. Different views: Sikhs in Punjab and other countries celebrate differently. Possible conclusion: festivals are important when they lead to devotion and service, so the statement is mostly false: festivals only lose value if they become empty ritual.
In a 10-mark "Discuss" question, make sure you include a teaching (such as the Gurus' warning about empty ritual), a different Sikh point of view, and your own reasoned opinion.