On Guru Nanak Jayanti, Sikhs celebrate the coming into the world the first Guru of Sikhism. This year, the festival is celebrated on 28 November.
Guru Nanak’s teachings centre on justice and equality for all, which is mirrored in his friendships with Muslim and Hindu contemporaries. Sikhs follow his teachings by selflessly serving those in need, and Guru Nanak Jayanti is traditionally celebrated with the singing of hymns, a complete reading of the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, and, in some places, with processions.
Apart from Sikhs, the Nanakpanthi Hindus and other followers of Guru Nanak’s philosophy also celebrate this festival.
Cardinal Tauran, the Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, has released a Vatican message to the world’s Sikh communities titled Christians and Sikhs: Working Together for Reconciliation and Peace. It speaks about the relationship between sound moral values and peace in the world focusing on integrity in our personal relationships as a vital building block.
You can read the message alongside Archbishop McDonald’s commendation below.
Letter: Archbishop McDonald – Guru Nanak Jayanti 2012Vatican Message: Guru Nanak Jayanti 2012
cbcew.org.uk/other-religions
Section on the Bishops’ Conference site highlighting our work in interreligious dialogue
cbcew.org.uk/other-religions-prayer
Our interreligious dialogue section has a prayer section where you can find bidding prayers for use during the major festivals of non-Christian religions
