Nanakshahi Calendar

NANAKSHAHI CALENDAR

(SIKH NEW YEAR / DESI NEW YEAR)

Introduction :
There is no such term called Desi New Year or Sikh New Year but when you read it & you want to know about it. We in Sikhism follow the year differently, according to the Nanakshahi Calendar, Chet is the first month of the year falls on the 14th March of Gregorian Calendar & that is when we Punjabis, specially people who follow Sikhism consider our new year.

Background:
Nanakshahi calendar is named after the founder of the Sikhism Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji & Sikhs consider Guru Ji’s birth year (1469 CE) as year 1 i.e. 1 Chet 1 (14 March 1469). It was developed by a Canadian Sikh Pal Singh Purewal, a computer engineer & his thoughts for developing it were that it is vital for the integrity of the Sikh Religion to have a seperate calendar so that we can track our festivals & Sikh days like Gurpurabs. Month names are taken from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, based on Gurbani & Sri Akal Takht Sahib approved it in 2003. People buy Jantri, as they handy & can be carried anywhere.

In Picture, Nanakshahi Calender released by SGPC dedicated to Guru Nanak Sahib Ji’s 550th Birthday.

Android has a Nanakshahi Jantri app too:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appybuilder.gsrathore9611.nanakshahi&hl=en_IE&gl=IN

iOS also has an app called Mool Nanakshahi Calendar App:
https://apps.apple.com/in/app/mool-nanakshahi-calendar-app/id1276158116

Note: I haven’t used the android app, please consider the rating over my consideration but I use the iOS app, it’s little bit slow. It also has shabads from Gurbani & few other options.

The first day of every month is called Sangrandh. The name is taken from the Sanskrit word Sankranti. Some People consider this day as a very special day. They wake up early, take bath & go to Gurudwara Sahib. And they also think whatever happens to you on this day good or bad, you will face it in the whole month. Samant is called the year like 14 March 2021 will be 1 Chet, Samant 553.

Problems/Controversies:

There is always a debate why dates of some of the Guru’s birthday changes every year. Such as Guru Nanak Sahib Ji’s birthday, which we celebrate full moon of Katak but after Diwali. Sometimes it is celebrated in October & sometimes it is celebrated in November. Similarly, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday has different dates in January and in 2017 something weird happened that we celebrated Guru Ji’s birthday in January & than in December & 2018 there wasn’t any birth date. Similarly, we will see that again in 2022, where we will see one on 09 January 2022 & second on 29 December 2022 & we won’t see any birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 2023. There will be one straight in 2024 on 17th January. I know it is sad & weird but we can’t do anything about it. I think is happens because Nanakshahi calendar uses tropical year which has 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes & 46 seconds but the Bikrami Calendar has 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes & 10 seconds. Purewal ji said that if the difference and shifting will continue to happen, then in next 13000 we will celebrate Vaisakhi in October as it was on 27th March in 1469, 29th March 1699, 09th April 1753, 12th April 1899, 14th April 1999 & Vaisakhi will be on the 15th April in year 2100.

Explanation/Thoughts about Nanakshahi Calendar by Dr. Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke
Part – 1 https://youtu.be/2T1y9ur3FbA
Part – 2 https://youtu.be/BCOFC8Fd-0A

Many people tried but failed that if we can decide one date 23 Poh (05 January) As Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birth date as was originally in the Nanakshahi Calendar & celebrate on the same date every year but the authorities have a no go in this because of political reasons o guess as back on 2003 when it was approved by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, RSS’s leader criticised the Nanakshahi Calendar & interfered saying that it can effect the Hindu Sikh relationship & harmony of the nation. SGPC was also pressurised by some Dera Saadhs to do some alterations in the calendar & add days like maseya, poorammasi, etcetera.

Debate by Sikh Scholars, former SGPC members on TV:
https://youtu.be/CpFSxeLzPIk
or
Read https://www.sikh24.com/2014/12/15/rss-deras-behind-nanakshahi-calendar-controversy-jathedar-nandgarh/

I hope our future generations keep up to the dates according to our Punjabi Calendar but I consider that the dates should be permanent as it arises confusion. Our religion is not even 550 years old, yet we don’t have the exact records & many dates are not permanent.

I hope supreme headquarter of Sikhism Sri Akal Takht Sahib’s authority SGPC might consider the old dates of Nanakshahi Calendar & decide permanent dates & ask people if they agree about these changes. Although they haven’t asked the people while approving it, never when they altered it & never when they stopped following it !

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa ||
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh ||

WAHEGURU ANNG SANNG RAHE ||

Blog Written by Sanddy Mundra

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