Guru Hargobind was the sixth Guru of the Sikh religion. The date of the Hargobind Jayanti is decided as per the Punjabi calendar and it changes every year, if we are looking as per the English calendar. Every year it is celebrated on July 5.
History Related to Guru Hargobind
Guru Hargobind was born in the year 1606 in a village nearby Amritsar known as ‘Guru Ki Wadali’. But according to the Punjabi calendar, he was born on Harh Vadi 7th (21 Harh) and as per the Samvat, he was born in 1652 according to Nanakshi calendar. From the very childhood days he was very good in the fighting skills and at the age of 11 years only, he succeeded Guru Arjan Singh. He was carrying a huge responsibility on his shoulders and that too at the age 11 years only.
He spends most of his time riding on horses, hunting, wrestling with fellow mates and also practicing martial arts. As per legends, he used to carry two swords and the names of these two swords were ‘Piri and Hiri’, and they were considered as equivalent to power and meditation. In mean time, he was taking knowledge of the religion of which he was the part and also he used to teach other people about what his gurus told him and what best can be done to keep people attached with the gods. He also used to train young children to fight as they will be part of the Sikh army in the future.
One of the most important roles that are considered of him in the Sikh religion was to make good soldiers with unity among themselves. He used to teach them about god, but also about the fighting tactics. He also urged his people to remain united by solving problems among themselves. He always told people to remain united and thus keep the unity among them intact because when people are intact and united, no external power can do anything to them.
In the year 1644, his soul departed on to the heavens and in those days he was spending his times in Kiratpur Sahib.
How People Celebrate Guru Hargobind Jayanti
Guru Hargobind Jayanti is celebrated with great reverence and devotion by the Sikh people. Guru Hargobind Jayanti is celebrated as ‘Gurgaddi Diwas’. Usually people go in front of the Guru Granth Sahib and touch their forehead on ground in front of this holy book. Sikh usually takes bath early in the morning and goes to the Gurudwaras for offering their prayers. After the whole ceremony of prayers is over, Prasad is distributed among the people. And taking this Prasad is considered very auspicious. People clean the vicinity of the Gurudwaras with the water and help other in carrying these works out. Anybody can contribute towards the food that is being prepared in Gurudwaras and it is considered very auspicious.
No matter how much you give, but it is just your faith that is more important in it. People usually give flour, sugar, pulses or even money. On this day, mass feat in Gurudwaras called as the ‘Langar’ is organized in Gurudwaras and all people are welcomed there to help out. On this very day, people take bath in the pond near the Golden temple and they consider it as nectar water. In many places, sharbhat (Sweet and flavored water) is distributed among the people and considered auspicious. The Gurudwaras are decorated with flowers and other decorating material. Songs, religious preaching are chanted during this day and it is a very soothing environment to be in.