Sikh Festivals and the Nanakshahi Calendar

In the article the introduction of the Nanakshahi calendar in 1998 (amended in 2003) is considered as an attempt of unification of the Sikh community, and formation of single-form Sikh identity. The evolution of a Sikh community is a long process and the result of the combination of different trends. The community of Sikhs started as the sect in Hinduism in time of Guru Nanak (1469 - 1539) but developed as a new religion under the leadership of his successors, known as the Gurus. Dates of main historical events of the Sikhs together with agricultural and New Year celebrations (Baisakhi, Diwali, Holi) became main festivals of the Sikh year. Gurpurbs or memorial days of the Sikh Gurus are also important part of the Sikh religious year. The matter is complicated by the activity of the Sikhs in diaspora. Recently Sikh religious authorities have introduced Sikh Nanakshahi calendar to create religious boundaries between the Sikhs and the Hindus. Indo-Canadian Sikh Pal Singh Purewal suggested mathematically correct Nanakshahi calendar based on tropical rather than sideral year. He suggested that this calendar is more correct than the North Indian calendar and the one different from that of the Hindus. His opponents claim that it is identical to Christian calendar. In 2003 this calendar was put in force. However, some Sikh festivals are still celebrated in old manner according to the old Vikram (Bikrami) North Indian calendar. Sikh communities in India and in the diaspora are divided now over the Nanakshahi calendar and days of gurpurbs.