About the Sikh Year of Nanakshahi 556

DESCRIPTION:

The Nanakshahi calendar was officially adopted in 1998, marking a significant shift in how Sikhs observe their religious festivals. Named after Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, this solar calendar replaced the lunar-based Bikrami calendar, which previously determined the dates for Sikh holidays.

The creation of the Nanakshahi calendar began with Pal Singh Purewal, a Canadian Sikh who sought to simplify the Sikh festival calendar by establishing fixed dates for the observances. His efforts culminated in the adopting of this calendar by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex body managing Sikh Gurdwaras and religious affairs.

The structure of the Nanakshahi calendar closely aligns with the solar-based Gregorian system. It commences on March 14th, a date traditionally believed to be the birthday of Guru Nanak. The calendar consists of 12 months, each spanning 30 to 31 days, bringing the total to 365 or 366 days per year.

The months in the Nanakshahi calendar carry terms found in Puranic and medieval Indian texts. Under this system, major Sikh festivals like Guru Nanak Gurpurab and Vaisakhi receive fixed dates, eliminating the inconsistencies and annual adjustments required by the lunar calendar. Celebrations, including Maghi and Hola Mohalla, are also set, facilitating the consistent observation of these significant dates.

The introduction of the Nanakshahi calendar was more than a mere administrative change; it symbolized a distinct religious identity for Sikhism. 

Each month in the Nanakshahi calendar starts in the middle of a Gregorian month and is named after the traditional Indian lunar months. 

The Sikh Nanakshahi months are as follows: 

1. Chet - (March - April)
2. Vaisakh - (April - May)
3. Jeth - (May - June)
4. Harh - (June - July)
5. Sawan - (July - August)
6. Bhadon - (August - September)
7. Assu - (September - October)
8. Kattak - (October - November)
9. Maghar - (November - December)
10. Poh - (December - January)
11. Magh - (January - February)
12. Phagun - (February - March)