The Nanakshahi Calendar is a tropical solar calendar used by some Sikhs, named after the founder of
Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It has several key features that distinguish it from other calendars commonly
used in Sikhism:
Based on the Solar Year: Unlike the Bikrami calendar, which is a lunar calendar with adjustments to
align with the seasons, the Nanakshahi calendar directly follows the earth's revolution around the
sun. This makes it more accurate in aligning important dates with the actual seasons year after
year.
Fixed Dates for Sikh Festivals: All important Sikh festivals, such as Guru Nanak's birthday
(Gurpurab) and Vaisakhi, fall on the same dates every year in the Nanakshahi calendar. This
eliminates the need for complex calculations and inconsistencies found in other calendars.
Start Date: The Nanakshahi calendar begins with the month Chet, with 1 Chet coinciding with 14
March. The reference point for the calendar is the birth of Guru Nanak Dev in 1469 CE.
Months and Days: There are twelve months in the Nanakshahi calendar, named after the "Barah Maha"
composition found in the Guru Granth Sahib. Five months have 31 days, six have 30 days, and the last
month has either 30 or 31 days in a leap year.
Adoption and Controversy: The Nanakshahi calendar was officially adopted by the Shiromani Gurdwara
Parbandhak Committee in 1999, but its usage remains controversial among some Sikhs.
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