Guru Purab literally means 'festival of the guru'. The Sikhs celebrate 10 Guru Purabs in a year. At each of these festivals, one of the ten gurus of the Khalsa Pantha is honoured.

All Guru Purabs are considered auspicious and important but special significance is accorded to the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, in the month of Kartik (November-December). The Sikhs believe that Guru Nanak brought enlightenment to the world. As such this festival is also known as  - the festival of light.

Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith was born in 1469 in a village called Talvandi near Lahore, in present-day Pakistan. His birth anniversary, or Guru Nanak's jayanti, which falls in the months of October-November, is celebrated by Sikhs as Guru Purab. Guru Purabs witness the culminations of Prabhat Pheris, the early morning religious procession that goes around the localities singing hymns.

Taking the holy book Guru Granth Sahib out in a procession is also an integral part of the celebrations. Langars (community feasts) are organised where people of all castes sit together to eat and sing hymns from Guru Granth Sahib. The celebration in Amritsar are especially impressive.

At night, people light candles and oil lamps around their houses. Some even burst crackers in celebration of the occasion.