Guru Nanak Jayanti Speech and Essay for Students (2026)

This page has a ready-to-use Guru Nanak Jayanti speech for students in two lengths, a short essay on Guru Nanak Jayanti, 10 easy lines and an explanation of why Gurpurab is celebrated. Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November, Kartik Purnima, so most schools hold their assembly on Monday 23 November or earlier.

Everything below is written in simple English for school assemblies and class writing. The facts follow the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji as it is usually told in Sikh tradition. Students can read the speeches as they are or add one line of their own about their gurdwara or family.

Guru Nanak Jayanti speech and essay at a glance

Why Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated

Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. It is also called Gurpurab or Prakash Purab, which means the festival of light, because Sikhs believe Guru Nanak brought the light of truth and equality into the world. The day is a chance to remember his teachings: there is one God (Ik Onkar), all people are equal, and we should remember God, earn honestly and share with others. It is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day of the month of Kartik, which falls in November.

Short Guru Nanak Jayanti speech for students (1 minute)

Good morning to our respected principal, teachers and my dear friends.

Today I will speak about Guru Nanak Jayanti. It is the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru of the Sikhs. He was born in 1469 in a village called Talwandi, which is now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught us that God is one and that all people are equal. He told us to remember God, to work honestly and to share what we have with others. He started the langar, a free kitchen where everyone sits together and eats the same food.

On Guru Nanak Jayanti, gurdwaras are lit with lamps, people sing hymns and everyone is welcome to eat langar. Let us follow his teachings by being truthful, kind and helpful every day.

Thank you. Happy Gurpurab!

Long Guru Nanak Jayanti speech (3 minutes)

Good morning to our respected principal, teachers and dear friends. Today we are celebrating Guru Nanak Jayanti, also called Gurpurab or Prakash Purab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. This year is his 557th Prakash Purab.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469 in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, a village near Lahore that is now called Nankana Sahib, in Pakistan. His father was Mehta Kalu and his mother was Mata Tripta. From childhood he was thoughtful and kind, and he often asked questions about God and about the way people treated each other.

There is a well-known story from his youth. His father gave him twenty rupees to make a good business deal. On the way, Nanak met a group of hungry holy men, and he spent all the money on food for them. When he came home, he said that feeding the hungry was the truest deal of all. This story, called Sacha Sauda, shows his kindness and his idea of sharing.

When he grew up, Guru Nanak travelled for many years on long journeys called udasis, together with his friend Bhai Mardana, who played the rabab while the Guru sang. He spoke to people of many faiths and taught a simple message: “There is one God, and all people are equal.” He spoke against unfair differences of caste and wealth and said that women deserve equal respect.

He gave us three golden rules: Naam Japna, to remember God; Kirat Karni, to earn an honest living; and Vand Chhakna, to share with others. His hymns are part of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. In his last years he lived at Kartarpur, where he worked as a farmer and taught people until he passed away in 1539.

On Guru Nanak Jayanti, Sikhs hold an Akhand Path, a continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib for about 48 hours. Early-morning processions called Prabhat Pheris go through the streets singing hymns, and a Nagar Kirtan is led through the town. Gurdwaras are lit with lamps, and langar is served to everyone, whatever their religion.

Friends, the best way to celebrate this day is to live by Guru Nanak’s teachings: to be honest in our work, to share with those in need and to treat every person as equal. Thank you, and a very happy Gurpurab to all of you.

Essay on Guru Nanak Jayanti (about 300 words)

Students can use this essay on Guru Nanak Jayanti as a model. Add a paragraph about how your family or school celebrates to make it your own.

Introduction. Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the most important festivals of the Sikhs. It celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. It is also called Gurpurab or Prakash Purab, and it is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the month of Kartik, in October or November.

Life of Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469 in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. As a child he was kind and thoughtful. As a young man he travelled far and wide with his companion Bhai Mardana, sharing a message of love and equality. He spent his last years at Kartarpur, working as a farmer, and passed away in 1539.

His teachings. Guru Nanak taught that there is one God and that all human beings are equal, whatever their caste, religion or wealth. He gave three simple rules: remember God, earn an honest living and share with others. He started the tradition of langar, a free community kitchen where everyone sits together and eats the same food.

How it is celebrated. The celebrations begin two days earlier with an Akhand Path, a non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib. A day before the festival, a Nagar Kirtan procession moves through the streets with hymns and music. On the day, people visit the gurdwara, listen to kirtan, help in the langar and light their homes with lamps.

Conclusion. Guru Nanak Jayanti reminds us that honesty, sharing and equality are as important today as they were more than five hundred years ago. The festival teaches all of us, not only Sikhs, to live with kindness and truth.

10 lines on Guru Nanak Jayanti

1. Guru Nanak Jayanti is the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
2. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first Guru of the Sikhs.
3. He was born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib, now in Pakistan.
4. The festival is also called Gurpurab or Prakash Purab.
5. It is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day in November.
6. Guru Nanak taught that God is one and all people are equal.
7. He asked us to remember God, work honestly and share with others.
8. Gurdwaras are decorated with lights on Gurpurab.
9. People sing hymns and everyone eats together in the langar.
10. Guru Nanak Jayanti teaches us to be kind, honest and helpful.

Tips for giving your Guru Nanak Jayanti speech

• Greet first and end with a wish: “Happy Gurpurab” or “Guru Nanak Jayanti diyan lakh lakh vadhaiyan”.
• Practise the names aloud: Nankana Sahib, Bhai Mardana, Kartarpur and Guru Granth Sahib.
• Tell one story, such as Sacha Sauda, because stories are easier to remember than lists of dates.
• Speak slowly and respectfully. It is a holy day, so keep jokes out of the speech.
• Finish with a promise you will keep, such as helping at the langar or sharing with a friend.

Pictures to show during the Guru Nanak Jayanti speech

Younger students often feel more confident holding a picture. Color one of our free Guru Nanak Jayanti coloring pages and show it while you speak: the lit gurdwara for the opening line, langar when you talk about sharing, or kirtan when you mention the hymns.

These pictures also suit a class display next to the essay or the 10 lines above.

Practise your Guru Nanak Jayanti speech aloud two or three times at home, and it will feel easy on the day.

Related guides and printables

• Guru Nanak Jayanti quiz with 29 questions and answers
• Guru Nanak Jayanti wishes in English, Punjabi and Hindi
• Guru Nanak Jayanti drawing and coloring pages
• Children’s Day speech for the same month
• Handwriting paper for writing the 10 lines
• India holidays 2027 calendar

Sources

• Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026 date: Government of India (DoPT) holiday list 2026 (Guru Nanak’s Birthday, Tuesday 24 November); Drik Panchang (557th Prakash Purab, Kartik Purnima)
• Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC): the Sikh Gurus, the Guru Granth Sahib and Gurpurab traditions
• Guru Nanak (Wikipedia) and Langar (Wikipedia), with their cited sources
• Janamsakhi traditions, as retold in standard Sikh history texts, for the Sacha Sauda story

Frequently asked questions

8 quick answers

When is Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2026?

Tuesday 24 November 2026, Kartik Purnima. It is the 557th Prakash Purab and a gazetted holiday on the Government of India list.

Why is Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrated?

To celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru, and to remember his teachings of one God, equality, honest work and sharing.

How do you start a Guru Nanak Jayanti speech?

Greet the audience (“Good morning to our respected principal, teachers and dear friends”), then say in one line what the day is: the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru.

What are the three main teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji?

Naam Japna (remember God), Kirat Karni (earn an honest living) and Vand Chhakna (share with others).

Where was Guru Nanak Dev Ji born?

In Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, near Lahore, in 1469. The town is now called Nankana Sahib and is in Pakistan.

Why is Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrated in November?

Most Sikhs follow the long tradition of celebrating it on Kartik Purnima, which usually falls in November, although some historians place his birth in April, following one of the early Janamsakhis.

How long should a Guru Nanak Jayanti speech be?

For a school assembly, a Guru Nanak Jayanti speech of 1 minute (about 130 words) suits younger students and 3 minutes (about 400 words) suits older ones. Both versions are on this page, along with the essay and 10 lines.

Can I use the 10 lines on Guru Nanak Jayanti as a speech?

Yes. Read the 10 lines on Guru Nanak Jayanti slowly, add a greeting at the start and “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh” at the end, and you have a 1-minute speech for small children.

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Last updated: October 2026