On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the global Sikh community on the occasion of the start of the Sikh New Year, also known as the Nanakshahi Sammat. He tweeted, “As Nanakshahi Sammat 555 commences, greetings to the Sikh community around the world.” He wished for a year filled with happiness, good health, and prosperity.
The Sikh New Year, which follows the lunar calendar, is celebrated as per the Nanakshahi calendar and falls on April 14. The calendar was created by a committee appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in 1998 to resolve the differences in the dates of Sikh festivals.
The Nanakshahi calendar is named after Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The calendar is based on the solar year and consists of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds. It begins with the first day of Chet, the first month of the calendar, which falls between March 14 and April 13 in the Gregorian calendar.
The Nanakshahi calendar includes the dates of all Sikh festivals, including the birthdays of all ten Sikh Gurus, martyrdom days, and the dates of important events in Sikh history. The calendar is used by Sikhs worldwide to mark the dates of these festivals and events.
The celebration of the Sikh New Year is an important event for the Sikh community worldwide. The day is marked by visiting gurdwaras, offering prayers, and seeking blessings for the coming year. Sikhs also participate in the langar, a community meal, and donate to charity on this day.
The Sikh community has a long history of contributing to society and is known for its principles of equality, justice, and selfless service. Prime Minister Modi has praised the Sikh community for their contributions to the nation and the world. In 2019, he inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor, a visa-free border crossing between India and Pakistan that allows Sikh pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak.
In his greeting to the Sikh community, Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the importance of the Sikh New Year and expressed his hope for a year filled with happiness, good health, and prosperity. His message serves as a reminder of the importance of celebrating diversity and promoting unity in a world that often seems divided.
