Birth of Guru Arjan Sahib (5th Guru) (Sikh)
2025-04-30, 2026-05-02
The fifth Master, Guru Arjan, built the Golden Temple of Amritsar to emphasize that the Sikh way was open to all, regardless of caste; the gurdwara was constructed with doors facing all four directions. He compiled the hymns of Sikh Gurus and created the Adi Granth – the foundation of the Guru Granth Sahib – and installed it. He was also the first Sikh Guru to be martyred.
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Traditional Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!

1746 Chhota Ghallughara (Sikh)
2025-05-17, 2026-05-17
The Chhota Ghallughara was the first massacre of Sikhs targeted to wipe out the entire population. Around 7,000 Sikhs were killed, 3,000 were captured and later beheaded, and the persecution lasted several decades. Gurdwaras were destroyed and scriptures were burnt. Anyone caught saying the word “Guru” was sentenced to death.
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Students and/Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Memorial of 1984 Ghallughara (Sikh)
2025-06-04, 2026-06-04
The Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, ordered a military assault of one of the most significant and historic sites, the Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple). Prior to the attacks, the Indian military deployed 100,000 troops across Punjab. This Indian military operation attacked innocent civilians who had gathered at the Harminder Sahib complex to commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev in the early days of June. All communications and phone lines were disabled, roads were blocked, and journalists were not allowed to be present in Punjab. Hundreds of bullet holes were counted on the various buildings in the complex and eyewitness accounts witnessed the deaths of nearly 8,000 while the official government record is less than 500. During this attack, many historic records and manuscripts were destroyed, the library was burned down, and the complex was looted. This military operation is more widely known as Operation Bluestar. Within the next decade, more than 70,000 Sikhs were detained with terrorism charges and hardly one percent of those were eventually convicted of a crime.
More Information:
8 Invasions of Siri Harmandir Sahib
June 1984 Ghallughara Lies List Light
Students and/Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day.

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib (5th Guru) (Sikh)
2025-06-10, 2026-06-18
In June 1606, the Mughal emperor, Jahangir, ordered that Guru Arjan be arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death because he refused to stop sharing the ideals of Oneness as started by Guru Nanak. The first Sikh martyr, Guru Arjan, is also remembered for his contributions to and compilation of the Sikh Scriptures.
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Birth of Guru Harkrishan (8th Guru) (Sikh)
2025-07-23, 2026-07-23
Guru Harkrishan is the eighth and youngest of the Sikh Gurus. In 1663, Guru Harkrishan was in Delhi when the cholera and smallpox epidemic broke out. He served and tended to the sick with complete love and devotion at the young age of seven. Soon after, he became sick himself and passed away at the age of eight.
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Traditional Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!

Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib (Eternal Guru) (Sikh)
2025-09-01, 2026-09-01
This day celebrates Gobind Singh Ji’s passing on guruship to Scripture, henceforth known as the Guru Granth Sahib.
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Traditional Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!

GurGaddi of Guru Angad Sahib (2nd Guru) (Sikh)
2025-09-12, 2026-09-18
Guru Angad Dev Ji was originally a humble Sikh named Lehna. Upon meeting the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, his life transformed and he never left the Guru’s side serving the community for many years to follow. When the time came, Guru Nanak approached Lehna and said you have now become a part of me, Ang, and henceforth you shall carry on the Guru’s work as Angad. Guru Angad was responsible for establishing the script of the Guru, Gurmukhi, which is commonly known today as the Punjabi script.
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Holiday Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!
Students and/Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Gurgaddi Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh)
2025-10-20, 2026-10-20
Commemorating the transfer of Guruship from human form to the Word, Shabad. The installation of Guru Granth Sahib, the ultimate compilation containing the Guru’s wisdom, is celebrated with great joy. The last and eternal Guru for the Sikhs is Guru Granth Sahib. It is respected not like a book, but like a true King. All Sikhs bow before the Guru signifying their humility and asking for the blessings of the Divine Creator to grant them with Divine wisdom through the Guru.
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Holiday Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!

1984 Anti-Sikh Pogrom (Sikh)
2025-10-31 - 2025-11-04, 2026-10-31 - 2026-11-04
Over the course of three days, 8,000 – 17,000 Sikhs were killed and about 50,000 were displaced after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her two Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Upon public knowledge of her death, Indian citizens (primarily Hindu nationalists) determinedly murdered, raped, burned, and tortured innocent Sikhs in more than 100 cities in 18 states across India. Government officials in Delhi handed out weapons and even fuel and ordered residents to attack and kill Sikhs. Even police and army personnel stepped aside letting mobs run wild beating and burning Sikhs alive in the streets. The Indian government has yet to recognize these events as state sanctioned killing and genocide. After decades of advocacy and pursuit of justice, one then member of the Indian government, Sajjan Kumar, was sentenced for his role in these crimes against humanity. These recent assaults on the community have shocked and greatly impacted the collective conscience.
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Publications
India: No Justice for 1984 Anti-Sikh Bloodshed

Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Birth of Guru Nanak (1st Guru & Founder) (Sikh)
2025-11-05, 2026-11-24
“Guru Nanak came to this world in 1469 in the then-Punjab region and was the founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak was a divinely appointed Master. His teachings are not for a particular age. His thoughts and sayings are timeless.In the person of Guru Nanak, we meet with an unparalleled completeness of religious life.Guru Nanak was a philosopher and prophet in one. His soul soared to celestial heights and brought from there armloads of Amrit, the divine food for our souls.Guru was a perfect Yogi and ideal householder. For the whole of his life, he worked for the good of others. He was a gifted, far‐sighted reformer, who advocated on behalf of the socially depressed, attacking the economic and political problems of his day. Through his Langar, no distinction of caste, race, or creed was ever observed. Such is the ideal organization which Guru Nanak designed for human society. He ever dwelt in God, and God ever dwelt in him. Guru Nanak was for the whole world. He conveyed his message of Love, Service, and Worship to all people of all places. And everywhere, he succeeded in lighting the holy flame in the hearts of the people.”
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Holiday Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!
Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day.

Martrydom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Guru) (Sikh)
2025-11-24, 2026-11-24
This day commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621-1675), the ninth of the Ten Sikh Gurus. He is remembered not only for his defense of the Sikh faith, but also of Hinduism and of religious liberty, the most fundamental human rights.
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Martyrdom of the Elder Sahibzadas (Princes) at the Battle of Chamkaur (Sikh)
2025-12-21, 2026-12-21
The traditional title of this day is Shaheedi-Vaddey Sahibzaadey. The word “Sahibzaada” means “son” in Punjabi, and these two final events of the year refer to the martyrdom of all four of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons. All four of his sons gave up their lives fighting tyranny and oppression like their father, Guru Gobind Singh, and grandfather, Guru Tegh Bahadur, before them. The elder two sons, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh, died fighting in the Battle of Chamkaur at the age of 18 and 14 years old in 1705. The martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s all four sons is an integral part of the Sikh history and it is commemorated with great energy at the end of the year.
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Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Martyrdom of the Younger Sahibzadas (Princes) and Mata Gujri Ji (Sikh)
2025-12-26
The traditional title of this day is Shaheedi-Chhotey Sahibzaadey. “The younger of the four Sahibzaadey, Baba Zorwar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, were martyred together at the young age of 6 and 9 years old by the Mughals in Sirhind in 1705. They were captured with their grandmother, Mata Gujri, and were immediately imprisoned in the freezing temperatures of December. They rejected all bribes by the Mughals and instead chose to remain steadfast in their faith even if it led to being entombed alive. They did not waiver and choose the easy option of living a lavish life upon conversion. Their lives serve as a reminder that age has no bearing in living a principled life.”
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Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Parkash - Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Guru) (Sikh)
2026-01-05
Sikhs celebrate the birth of Guru Gobind Singh with great enthusiasm! The 10th and final Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh is regarded as the spiritual Father. He was a wise sage, a brilliant poet, a keen philosopher, a talented musician, a multi-faceted warrior, and a fearless general. Following the martyrdom of his father, the 9th Master, Guru Gobind Singh forged the distinct ‘Khalsa’ identity of the Sikhs to always stand out as beacons of hope and stand up for equality. He charged the Khalsa to restore justice, fight exploitation, and be stewards of humanity. He also declared the Scriptures, the Adi Granth, to be the Sikh’s Guru from that time on.
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Holiday greetings: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!
Students and/Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day.

1762 Vadda Ghalughara (Sikh)
2026-02-05
The second Sikh genocide was the mass killing of Sikhs by the Afghani Durrani Forces in February of 1762 during his sixth invasion of India in the present day state of Punjab in India. An estimated 25,000 – 30,000 Sikhs including women and children were killed, which was nearly half of the Sikh population at the time. Sikhs were persecuted for decades prior to this massacre.
More Information:
Vadda Ghallughara – Sikh Holocaust
Sikh Nation’s Sovereign: Jassa Singh Ahluvalia – Harinder Singh
Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara and pay respects to Sikh Martyrs.

Saka Nankana Sahib (Sikh)
2026-02-20
The Nankana massacre (or Saka Nankana) took place in Nankana Sahib gurdwara on 20 February 1921, at that time of British India, in modern-day Pakistan. More than 260 Sikhs were killed, including children as young as seven, by the Mahant and his mercenaries. The event forms an important part of Sikh history. In political significance, it comes next only to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919. The saga constitutes the core of the Gurdwara Reform Movement started by the Sikhs in the early twentieth century.
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Hola Mahalla (Sikh)
2026-03-04 - 2026-03-06
Hola Mohalla takes place on the first day of the lunar month of Chet, which generally falls in March. This tradition was established by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1701 for Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in controlled battles. Hola Mohalla became an annual event and continues to be celebrated with martial exhibitions, music and poetry competitions, and horseback riding.
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Holiday Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!
Devout Sikhs may be absent this day to celebrate with family and the community at their local Gurdwara.

Vaisakhi – Khalsa Day (Sikh)
2026-04-14
On Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, established the initiated community of Sikhs, the Khalsa, through the Amrit ceremony and became initiated himself too. Vaisakhi holds great significance in the history of the community. Sikhs acquire their formal, distinct identity from this day onward. The identity includes the unique physical appearance and the names of Singh and Kaur. This new community of equals were to dedicate their lives to the service of others and pursuit of justice for all faiths. Vaisakhi has a deep spirit of equality, unity, identity, and commitment for the Sikhs. Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi by organizing religious services, martial arts exhibitions, parades, etc.
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Holiday Greeting: “Vaisakhi di Lakh Lakh Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Infinite Congratulations for Vaisakhi
Students and Co-Workers may be absent this day to celebrate at home with their family and with the entire community at their local Gurdwara
