Guru Nanak Jayanti, also called Gurpurab, falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, the Kartik Purnima full moon marking Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary. Amritsar’s Golden Temple is lit and decorated for the occasion, with continuous kirtan, a langar serving free vegetarian meals to all visitors, and large crowds through the day and evening. Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) serves the city. Book your flight and stay well ahead, since this is one of Amritsar’s busiest weekends of the year.
Updated September 2026 · HappyFares
Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the most significant dates on the Sikh calendar, and Amritsar’s Golden Temple is where much of India converges to mark it. Here is the date for 2026, what to expect if you visit, and how to plan getting there by air.
When is Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026?
Guru Nanak Jayanti, known as Gurpurab or Prakash Utsav, is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik, since Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on this tithi. For 2026, current panchang calculations place this date on Tuesday, 24 November. Celebrations traditionally begin two days earlier with an Akhand Path, a continuous 48-hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, followed by a Nagar Kirtan procession the day before, with the main Gurpurab observance on the 24th itself.
What happens at the Golden Temple that day?
Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, is decorated and illuminated for the occasion, and the complex sees a marked rise in visitors, both for darshan and to take part in kirtan through the day. The langar, the temple’s free community kitchen, serves a much larger number of meals than usual on Gurpurab, with volunteers from the wider community joining in the service alongside temple staff.
Visitor etiquette at the Golden Temple
A few customs apply to every visitor, regardless of faith. Covering your head is required before entering the complex, and the temple provides cloth head coverings at the entrance if you have not brought your own. Shoes are removed and feet are washed before entering. Modest clothing is expected, and visitors are asked to avoid sleeveless tops, shorts or other revealing clothing. Inside the langar hall, everyone sits together on the floor to eat, regardless of status, as an expression of equality, and the food served is entirely vegetarian.
Alcohol, tobacco and other intoxicants are not permitted anywhere on the temple premises, and it helps to keep phones on silent and avoid eating while walking through the parikrama, the marble walkway around the sacred pool.
Getting to Amritsar by air
Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) serves Amritsar, with a healthy spread of domestic connections from major Indian cities as well as a number of international routes. The airport is a manageable drive from the Golden Temple, though allow extra time on Gurpurab itself, when roads leading into the old city tend to see heavier traffic than usual.
When to book your trip
Gurpurab is one of the busiest periods of the year for both flights into Amritsar and hotel rooms near the Golden Temple. If you are planning to be there for the 24 November 2026 observance, booking your flight and accommodation well in advance gives you more choice and typically a better price than waiting until closer to the date.
Making the most of an Amritsar trip
Most visitors combine their Golden Temple visit with a short list of other Amritsar landmarks. Jallianwala Bagh, the memorial garden a short walk from the temple complex, is a common stop for its historical significance. The Wagah Border retreat ceremony, held every evening between the India and Pakistan border posts a short drive from the city, is another well known draw for visitors and typically needs its own block of time in the afternoon or early evening. If you are in Amritsar specifically for Gurpurab, plan your day around the temple’s main events first, since the crowds and the schedule there are heaviest, and treat other sightseeing as a flexible add-on around it.
Common Questions
What is the exact date of Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2026?
Tuesday, 24 November 2026, based on the Kartik Purnima tithi as calculated by current panchang sources.
Do I need to cover my head to enter the Golden Temple?
Yes, every visitor is required to cover their head before entering the complex. If you do not have a scarf or cloth of your own, one is provided at the entrance.
Is the langar open to everyone, or only Sikh visitors?
The langar is open to all visitors regardless of faith or background. Meals are free, entirely vegetarian, and served to everyone who joins the seating rows on the floor.
How busy does Amritsar get on Gurpurab?
Very busy. It is one of the city’s highest-footfall periods of the year, with heavier traffic near the Golden Temple and higher demand for flights and hotel rooms in the days around the date.
What should I avoid wearing or bringing to the Golden Temple?
Avoid sleeveless tops, shorts or other revealing clothing, and leave alcohol, tobacco and other intoxicants behind, since none of these are permitted on the temple premises.
How far is the airport from the Golden Temple?
Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport is a fairly short drive from the Golden Temple in normal traffic, though it is worth allowing extra time on Gurpurab given the higher volume of visitors converging on the old city.
Planning to be in Amritsar for Gurpurab? Search and compare flights on HappyFares, with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings and price alerts if you would rather wait for a better fare.
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and can be confirmed closer to the date by your local panchang. Verify current specifics with the airport, your airline, or local authorities before you travel.
