Sikh Holidays and Gurpurabs: A Student Calendar

You are building your semester calendar. Exams, project deadlines, that one 8 a.m. you will definitely regret. If you are a Sikh student, or a friend, RA, or professor who wants to be thoughtful, it helps to know when the major Sikh observances fall.

Here is a plain guide to Gurpurabs and other key Sikh holidays, and how Sikh Student Associations plan around them.

Major Gurpurabs

The BBC lists these as the most important Gurpurabs:

How Gurpurabs are celebrated

• Akhand Path: a complete, continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, taking about 48 hours and finishing on the day of the Gurpurab
• Decorated gurdwaras with flowers, flags, and lights
• Kirtan, poems in praise of the Gurus, and talks
• Processions led by five Sikhs representing the Panj Piare
• Karah Parshad (a sweet blessed food) and langar for everyone

Planning your semester as a Sikh student

• Check dates in August and January and add them to your calendar.
• Email professors early if an observance conflicts with an exam. Many schools have religious accommodation policies. Ask your dean of students office how yours works.
• Plan with your SSA. Fall usually includes Bandi Chhor Divas and Guru Nanak's Gurpurab. Spring usually includes Vaisakhi.
• Find a gurdwara near campus if you are far from home.

Ideas for SSAs

• Group trip to a local gurdwara for the program and langar
• Seva project on or around the Gurpurab
• Shared semester calendar of Sikh observances posted for members and campus staff

How to ask a professor for an accommodation

A short, polite email works best. Something like:

"Hi Professor ___, I am a Sikh student and [date] is [observance], which I observe with my family and community. Would it be possible to [take the quiz on a different day / submit the assignment early]? Thank you for considering it."

Send it early in the term, keep it brief, and follow your school's official process if it has one.

For RAs, professors, and friends

• Ask Sikh students which observances matter to them. Not everyone marks every day the same way.
• Avoid scheduling required events on major observances when you can.
• A simple "Happy Gurpurab" goes a long way.

Celebrate with USM

• See upcoming events, including divaan and kirtan programs from SSAs across the network
• Find your SSA
• Start an SSA if your campus does not have one
• Join the USM newsletter in the site footer for event reminders