Chandigarh February 20: The Nanakshahi calendar for Samvat 557 (2025-26) was released on Thursday in the presence of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) general secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan at the Akal Takht Secretariat.
Giani Raghbir Singh has appealed to the Sikh community to celebrate and observe all religious occasions as per the calendar released by the SGPC from the Akal Takht so that unity and uniformity are maintained within the community.
This is actually the modified version of the ‘mool’ (original) Nanakshahi calendar of 2003.
It was amended in 2010 and approved by Akal Takht. Since then, there have been different dates of Gurpurbs and some religious occasions have fallen twice a year. While the SGPC follows the amended version of the calendar and observes occasions accordingly, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and several Sikh organisations of the US and Delhi follow the original calendar. Giani Raghbir Singh has ordered the SGPC’s Dharam Parchar Committee (DPC) and ‘parcharaks’ to ensure the availability of the Akal Takht approved SGPC calendar at every gurdwara in both urban and rural areas. The three-page calendar released today mentions the designated dates of major occasions, including the 350th ‘Gurta Gaddi’ of Sikhs’ 10th master Guru Gobind Singh, 350th ‘shaheedi divas’ of ninth Sikh master Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib and other Gurpurbs along with the relevant pictorial reference of the religious sites.
Mannan said that besides this, the SGPC would commemorate the centenary year of the shaheedi of Guru’s disciples Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dyala jee, the three devout Sikhs who laid down their lives but did not turn away from Guru’s path, at Anandpur Sahib. “The calendar has pictures of the sites of upcoming centenaries at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, Gurdwara Kesgarh sahib and Gurudwara Seesganj Sahib to signify the Gurus’ presence, contribution and sacrifices for the sake of the Panth at these sites.”
The SGPC would shortly chalk out the programmes pertaining to the Gurpurbs, he said. Those present on the occasion included Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, deputy secretary Harbhajan Singh Vakta, DPC secretary Balwinder Singh Kalwan, DPC member Ajaib Singh Abhiyasi, SGPC members Rajinder Singh Mehta, Ram Singh and others.
Summary: The Akal Takht has officially released the Nanakshahi calendar, marking significant Sikh religious dates and events for the year.