Guru Nanak Jayanti 2017: How devotees are celebrating Guru Nanak Dev ji’s birth anniversary across India

Guru Nanak Dev, the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus, is believed to be the founder of Sikhism. His birth is celebrated worldwide as Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti or Gurpurab. Devotees around the world offer prayers and celebrate this festival. Most of the festivities surrounding the Sikh religion revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus. Here is a glimpse of how devotees are celebrating the festival around the world.

Devotees carrying palanquin in Nagar Kirtan procession at the Golden temple on the eve of the 548th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Amritsar. (Source: PTI)

Gurpurab, popularly known as Guru Nanak’s Prakash Utsav, connotes to the Sikh guru’s birth anniversary, who was born on April 15, 1469 in Talwandi, a village in the Sheikhupura district, near Lahore, Pakistan.

Sikh devotees carrying palanquin in Nagar Kirtan procession at the Golden Temple on the eve of the 548th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, in Amritsar, Punjab. (Source: PTI)

The festival begins with ‘Akhand Path’ prior to Gurpurab. The gurdwaras recite 48-hour long non-stop verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs. (Source: PTI)

Followers organise religious processions carrying the Sikh flag, known as the Nishan Sahib and the Palki (Palanquin) of Guru Granth Sahib to spread the guru’s message. This procession is headed by the Panj Pyaras (Five Beloved Ones). (Source: PTI)

Children dressed as Panj Payara's (five beloved ones) during the religious procession near the Golden temple on the eve of the 548th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. (Source: PTI)

People sing devotional hymns (Asa-di-Var) and organise Prabhat Pheris at dawn in gurdwaras. After the morning hymns, gurdwaras organise ‘Katha’ session and the rituals end with ‘Kritan’, singing songs in praise of the guru.

A devotee at Golden Temple, Amritsar on the eve of Gurpurab. (Source: PTI)

A view of the illuminated Golden Temple on the eve of 548th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev in Amritsar. (Source: PTI)

Performs the martial art known as 'Gatka' during a religious procession near the Golden temple on the eve of the 548th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. (Source: PTI)

Sikh devotees display martial arts skill during a religious procession and celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Jammu. (Source: PTI)

A woman takes a selfie with Sikh children during a religious procession to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Patna. (Source: PTI)

Members of a Sikh Jatha wave while leaving for Pakistan to celebrate 548th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji, at Golden Temple in Amritsar on Thursday. (Source: PTI)

A Members of a Sikh Jatha waves as he arrives in Pakistan by train, to attend the birth anniversary of his spiritual leader Baba Guru Nanak, in Wagah, Pakistan. (Source: AP)

Pakistani officials shower rose petals on Indian Sikh pilgrims arriving in Pakistan to attend the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, in Wagah, Pakistan. (Source: AP)

Devotees perform "Gatkha", a traditional form of martial arts, during a religious procession ahead of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith, in Chandigarh. (Source: Reuters)

Sikh community people participate in a Nagar Kirtan (procession) to celebrate Guru Nanak Ji's birth anniversary in Nagpur, Maharashtra on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)

A Sikh devotee displays martial arts skill during a religious procession ahead of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Jammu. (Source: PTI)

Children participate in a religious procession on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in Jammu. (Source: AP)

Sikh warriors display traditional martial art skills during a religious procession on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in Jammu. (Source: AP)

Devotees sweep roads during a Shobha Yatra (religious procession) to mark the Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak Devji in Varanasi. (Source: PTI)