Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib (5th Guru) (Sikh)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
2026-12-26
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
