Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2019 or Prakash Parv of Guru Govind Singh will be celebrated by Sikhs around the world on January 13 this year. The observance will coincide with the Punjabi harvest festival of Lohri this year. While the birth date of Guru Gobind Singht, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, falls on January 5, 1666, the birth anniversary or Jayanti is celebrated on January 13 every year. 2019 marks the 352nd birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru

Gobind Singh was born in Patna district of Bihar in the Sodhi Khatri family; his family later returned to Punjab in 1670 and in March 1672 they shifted the foothills of Himalayas. The spiritual leader was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. At the age of nine, he was formally installed as the leader of the Sikhs when his father Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam. Lohri Date in 2019 and Significance: History, Importance & Rituals of the Punjabi Harvest Festival Celebrated Before Makar Sankranti.

Significance and celebrations related to Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2019

Guru Gobind Singh is known for having established the Sikh warrior community of Khalsa in 1699. He also wrote important Sikh texts, enshrined Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru of Sikhism and introduced the five Ks- the five articles of faith which are worn by the Sikh warriors.

Gatka (Photo Credits: Getty Images)

Sikhs mark Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti with processions, 'Prabhat Pheris' and various other events. Prabhat Pheris can be translated to 'small processions' which are taken out in the neighbourhood early in the morning. Believers gather together, sing bhajans and take out the parade.

'Prabhat Pheris (Photo Credits: Getty Images)

Different vibrant Sikh traditions are put on display during the procession including martial arts. Gatka, a traditional martial art form which is associated with Sikh gurus that popular among the community members is also performed. Sikhs use Kirpan, a small knife for self-defence which Guru Gobind Singh made compulsory for everyone during the Mughal era.

Devotees offer prayers at Golden Temple (Photo Credits: IANS Photo)

At Gurudwaras, prayer meetings are held. Sikh community puts up stalls and offer food and drinks to others, of which sweet rose milk is quite popular. At the Golden Temple in Amritsar, special prayer meetings are held. Langar, the prasad or the food offering to anyone to visits the Gurudwara is quite popular. Among the delicious food served there, Kadha Prasad, a sweet dish (halwa) is much savoured among devotees.  Sikhs consider Kadha Prasad as a sacred food and are accepted with both hands while sitting with head bowed. It is a sign of humility and respect. Marking the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a commemorative coin on Guru Gobind Singh on January 13, 2019.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 12, 2019 06:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).