SIKH CALENDAR 2023 - 2024
On the Sangrand (first day of the month) of Cheth, Sikhs around the world will be celebrating the start of the Sikh new year. In conjunction, Nihung Santhia is pleased to announce the release of the 2023-24 Sikh Calendar. This will cover dates from Cheth (Mid-March) 2023 to Phalgun 2024. This year marks the 200th Shaheedi Diwas of Akali Baba Phula Singh Ji. This calendar is dedicated to Akali Ji and contains Puratan paintings and photographs related to their history. The captions on each page cover various instances and facets of Akali Ji's life.
What is different about the Sikh Calendar?
The Gregorian Calendar which is most widely used globally runs from January - December, however, the Sikh Calendar runs from Cheth (mid-march) to the end of Phalgun (mid-march the next year). This system was accepted by Guru Sahib, which is evident in the Banis of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Barahmaha Raag Tukhari), Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Barahmaha Raag Maanjh) and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Barahmaha from Krishna Avtar). Following the Bikrami Calendar used by Guru Sahib and referenced in Gurbani, the year 2080 will start in the month of Cheth, 2023.
There is much discussion on which calendar should be used, and many Sikhs are unaware that the new year starts on 1st Cheth. Gurdwaras around the globe celebrate the Gregorian New Year Eve (31st December), however, only a handful of Gurdwaras have programs celebrating the advent of the Sikh New Year. To address this and raise awareness of the way the Sikh Calendar works, we will be releasing our fifth annual calendar. The Calendar is based on the Puratan Bikrami Calendar, with the traditional Sampardaee accepted dates, filtered over with the modern Gregorian calendar for easy referencing. The Calendar gives the traditional Khalsa dates for all Gurpurabs along with Shaheedi Divas, Sangrand, Pooranmashi, Massia and other Sikh Festivals. Calendars are available in both A5 desktop and A3 portrait styles. All calendars are printed on high quality silk paper, with soft touch finish on front and back covers.
The PDF version will be available for download soon
