Poh (پوہ / ਪੋਹ) is the 10th month of the Desi Punjabi calendar (Nanakshahi and Bikrami systems), running from 14 December to 12 January every year. It is the coldest month of the year in Punjab — dense fog blankets the plains, temperatures drop to near zero at night, and families huddle around wood fires eating groundnuts, sugarcane juice (ganne ka ras) and jaggery (gur).
But Poh is far more than just cold weather. For the Sikh community worldwide, Poh is a month of profound historical memory and spiritual depth. It was during Poh that some of the most heroic and heartbreaking events in Sikh history unfolded — the Battle of Chamkaur, the martyrdom of the four Sahibzadas (sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji), and the birth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself.
The name Poh derives from the Sanskrit word Pausha — the 10th month of the Hindu calendar, which corresponds to the Sun’s transit through Sagittarius and Capricorn. In Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji), the month of Poh is described as a time when the soul shivers in spiritual cold, longing for the warmth of divine connection.
پنجابی کہاوت
“Poh di thand, Guru di yaad — ik hi waqt do ehsaas.”
Translation: “Poh’s cold and the Guru’s memory — two feelings at the same time.”
Poh Month 2026 — Complete Date Table (14 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027)
Below is the complete Poh 2026 date table showing all 30 days with English dates, days of the week, and major events highlighted:
| Desi Date | دیسی تاریخ | English Date | Day | دن | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Poh 558 | 1 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 14 December 2026 | Monday | سوموار | Poh Sangrand ❄️ |
| 2 Poh 558 | 2 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 15 December 2026 | Tuesday | منگل | |
| 3 Poh 558 | 3 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 16 December 2026 | Wednesday | بدھ | |
| 4 Poh 558 | 4 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 17 December 2026 | Thursday | جمعرات | |
| 5 Poh 558 | 5 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 18 December 2026 | Friday | جمعہ | |
| 6 Poh 558 | 6 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 19 December 2026 | Saturday | ہفتہ | |
| 7 Poh 558 | 7 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 20 December 2026 | Sunday | اتوار | |
| 8 Poh 558 | 8 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 21 December 2026 | Monday | سوموار | |
| 9 Poh 558 | 9 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 22 December 2026 | Tuesday | منگل | |
| 10 Poh 558 | 10 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 23 December 2026 | Wednesday | بدھ | Shaheedi Baba Ajit Singh & Jujhar Singh ☬ |
| 11 Poh 558 | 11 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 24 December 2026 | Thursday | جمعرات | |
| 12 Poh 558 | 12 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 25 December 2026 | Friday | جمعہ | |
| 13 Poh 558 | 13 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 26 December 2026 | Saturday | ہفتہ | Shaheedi Sahibzada Zorawar Singh & Fateh Singh ☬ |
| 14 Poh 558 | 14 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 27 December 2026 | Sunday | اتوار | |
| 15 Poh 558 | 15 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 28 December 2026 | Monday | سوموار | Puranmashi 🌕 (approx) |
| 16 Poh 558 | 16 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 29 December 2026 | Tuesday | منگل | |
| 17 Poh 558 | 17 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 30 December 2026 | Wednesday | بدھ | |
| 18 Poh 558 | 18 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 31 December 2026 | Thursday | جمعرات | New Year 2027 🎊 |
| 19 Poh 558 | 19 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 01 January 2027 | Friday | جمعہ | New Year Day — 1 January 2027 |
| 20 Poh 558 | 20 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 02 January 2027 | Saturday | ہفتہ | |
| 21 Poh 558 | 21 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 03 January 2027 | Sunday | اتوار | |
| 22 Poh 558 | 22 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 04 January 2027 | Monday | سوموار | |
| 23 Poh 558 | 23 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 05 January 2027 | Tuesday | منگل | Parkash Guru Gobind Singh Ji ☬ |
| 24 Poh 558 | 24 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 06 January 2027 | Wednesday | بدھ | |
| 25 Poh 558 | 25 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 07 January 2027 | Thursday | جمعرات | |
| 26 Poh 558 | 26 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 08 January 2027 | Friday | جمعہ | |
| 27 Poh 558 | 27 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 09 January 2027 | Saturday | ہفتہ | |
| 28 Poh 558 | 28 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 10 January 2027 | Sunday | اتوار | |
| 29 Poh 558 | 29 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 11 January 2027 | Monday | سوموار | Masya 🌑 (approx) |
| 30 Poh 558 | 30 پوہ ۵۵۸ | 12 January 2027 | Tuesday | منگل |
Poh Month 2026 — Important Days at a Glance
| Event | Desi Date | English Date | Day | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ❄️ Poh Sangrand | 1 Poh 558 | 14 December 2026 | Monday | Start of Poh · Hukamnama in all Gurdwaras |
| ☬ Shaheedi — Ajit Singh & Jujhar Singh | 10 Poh 558 | 23 December 2026 | Wednesday | Battle of Chamkaur · Martyrdom of 2 elder sons |
| ☬ Shaheedi — Zorawar Singh & Fateh Singh | 13 Poh 558 | 26 December 2026 | Saturday | Bricked alive at Sirhind · aged 9 & 7 years |
| 🌕 Puranmashi | ~15 Poh 558 | ~28 December 2026 | Monday | Full moon — Pausha Purnima |
| 🎊 New Year 2027 | 19 Poh 558 | 1 January 2027 | Friday | Gregorian New Year falls in Poh month |
| ☬ Parkash — Guru Gobind Singh Ji | 23 Poh 558 | 5 January 2027 | Tuesday | Birth of 10th Sikh Guru · 1666 CE · Patna Sahib |
| 🌑 Masya | ~29 Poh 558 | ~11 January 2027 | Monday | New moon · Ancestor remembrance |
| 🔥 Poh Ends / Magh Begins | 30 Poh 558 | 12 January 2027 | Tuesday | Last day of Poh · Lohri next night |
The Battle of Chamkaur — 10 Poh (23 December)
The Battle of Chamkaur was fought on 10 Poh (22 December 1704) — one of the most heroic and unequal battles in military history. After evacuating Anandpur Sahib under a Mughal promise of safe passage (which was quickly broken), Guru Gobind Singh Ji and a band of approximately 40 Sikhs took refuge in a small mud-brick fortress (garhi) in the village of Chamkaur.
They were surrounded by a massive Mughal army reportedly numbering in the tens of thousands. Rather than surrender, the Guru and his Sikhs decided to fight — sending small groups of 5 warriors at a time outside the fortress to face the enemy. In these waves of combat, the two elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji — Sahibzada Ajit Singh (age 18) and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh (age 14) — both went out to fight and attained martyrdom, their bodies cut down in the field.
☬ The Guru’s Response
When told that his sons had fallen, Guru Gobind Singh Ji reportedly said: “What does it matter? The Khalsa will have thousands of sons.” He continued commanding the battle with unbroken composure, writing the famous Zafarnama (Letter of Victory) to Emperor Aurangzeb in which he declared moral victory despite military defeat.
By night, the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones) ordered Guru Gobind Singh Ji to escape so that the Khalsa could continue — an extraordinary moment where the disciples commanded their Guru for his own safety. The Guru escaped, leaving Bhai Daya Singh and others to continue the fight.
Shaheedi of the Younger Sahibzadas — 13 Poh (26 December)
Three days after Chamkaur, on 13 Poh (26 December 1705), occurred what is remembered as the most heart-wrenching event in Sikh history — the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s two younger sons at Sirhind:
☬ Sahibzada Zorawar Singh
Age at martyrdom: 9 years old
The elder of the two younger Sahibzadas. When ordered to convert to Islam or face death, he stood firm. He and his younger brother were bricked alive into a wall on the orders of the Nawab of Sirhind, Wazir Khan. Their grandmother Mata Gujri Ji passed away the same night upon hearing the news, having been held captive in a cold tower (Thanda Burj).
☬ Sahibzada Fateh Singh
Age at martyrdom: 7 years old
The youngest of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s sons. Despite being only 7 years old, Fateh Singh showed extraordinary courage when told he would die. He reportedly said: “We are the sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji — we do not fear death.” His calm fearlessness in the face of execution has made him an eternal symbol of faith and bravery in Sikh tradition.
🕌 Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib: The site of the Sahibzadas’ martyrdom in Sirhind (Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab India) is one of the most sacred Sikh pilgrimage sites. An annual Jor Mela (gathering) is held here in December during Poh month, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees. In Pakistan, Gurdwara Sahibzada Fateh Singh Sahib commemorates this history with special Ardaas and Kirtan throughout Poh month.
The memory of the four Sahibzadas — all four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, all martyred — forms the core of Poh month’s spiritual observance. The Guru himself described their deaths not as tragedy but as the highest honor: “Chaar muye toh kya hua, jivan kai hai laakh.” (What if four died? Thousands still live.)
Parkash Utsav — Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday — 23 Poh (5 January 2027)
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th and last human Sikh Guru, was born on 23 Poh (22 December 1666) at Patna Sahib, Bihar. His birthday (Parkash Utsav) is celebrated on 5 January 2027 in the Nanakshahi calendar. This is one of the most important Gurpurabs of the year.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s life and legacy are incomparable in South Asian history:
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded the Khalsa | 1699 CE, Vaisakhi day at Anandpur Sahib — created the Brotherhood of the Pure with Amrit (nectar) initiation |
| Five Kakars (5 Ks) | Gave Sikhs the articles of faith: Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kachera, Kirpan |
| Guru Granth Sahib Ji as Eternal Guru | Before his passing in 1708, declared the scripture as the living, eternal Guru — ending the line of human Gurus |
| Zafarnama | Wrote a letter of moral victory to Emperor Aurangzeb after Chamkaur — one of the most powerful texts in Punjabi literature |
| Gave his father | His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (9th Guru), was martyred in Delhi to protect the religious freedom of Kashmiri Hindus |
| Sacrificed four sons | All four sons — Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh — attained martyrdom in Poh 1704/1705 |
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday celebration (Parkash Utsav) is observed with Akhand Path (continuous reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji), Kirtan, Nagar Kirtan processions and Langar. In Pakistan, major celebrations are held at Nankana Sahib, Hassan Abdal (Panja Sahib) and Lahore’s Gurdwaras.
Poh in Gurbani — Barah Maha (Twelve Months)
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains the beautiful composition Barah Maha (Twelve Months) by Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Rag Majh, page 133) — a poetic spiritual journey through all 12 months of the Desi year. The verses about Poh speak of the devotee’s soul experiencing spiritual coldness and longing:
“Poh tukhaar paraatai mann tan roosai mua…”
Translation: “In Poh, frost freezes, body and soul shiver — my mind withdraws in pain…”
— Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Barah Maha, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 133
This verse captures the spiritual metaphor of Poh — the physical cold of winter mirrors the soul’s experience of being distant from the divine. The month’s message in Gurbani is to seek the warmth of Naam (divine name) even in the coldest season of life. The Sikh community observes Poh with this spirit — using the month’s historical heaviness to deepen their connection with Waheguru.
Poh Month Weather in Pakistan
🌡️
Lahore / Punjab
Min: 3–5°C · Max: 15°C
Dense fog · Cold nights
☁️
Islamabad / Rawalpindi
Min: 2–4°C · Max: 13°C
Rain possible · Cold wind
🏔️
Northern Areas
Below 0°C · Heavy snow
Passes may close
🌅
Karachi / Sindh
Min: 13°C · Max: 25°C
Pleasant and sunny
Poh is notorious in Punjab Pakistan for its dense fog (dhand) which can reduce visibility to near zero on the Grand Trunk Road and motorways. The fog season typically runs from mid-December through January, causing frequent flight delays at Lahore and Islamabad airports and road accidents. Farmers use this period for rest and winter crop management.
Poh Month Farming Guide — زراعتی رہنما
| Crop | Status in Poh | Key Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Wheat (گندم) | Tillering — growing stage | Apply second irrigation; protect from frost; apply nitrogen (urea) |
| 🌿 Mustard (سرسوں) | Flowering — golden fields | Light irrigation; spray for aphids (tela) |
| 🎋 Sugarcane (گنا) | Harvest and crushing | Harvest mature cane; mill immediately; plant new ratoon |
| 🥔 Potato (آلو) | Tubers forming | Hilling; frost protection by mulching; light irrigation |
| 🧅 Onion (پیاز) | Growing stage | Weed control; light irrigation; nitrogen dressing |
| 🫛 Peas (مٹر) | Podding stage | Harvest early varieties; spray for powdery mildew |
Poh Month in Different Calendar Systems
| Calendar | Month Name | Number | 2026–27 Dates | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nanakshahi (Desi) | Poh پوہ | 10th | 14 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027 | Solar Fixed |
| Bikrami Samvat | Poh پوہ | 10th | ~14 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027 | Luni-Solar |
| Hindu Lunar | Pausha पौष | 10th | ~Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 | Lunar Variable |
| Bengali | Poush পৌষ | 9th | ~15 Dec – 13 Jan | Solar |
| Islamic Hijri | Jumada ul Thani / Rajab | 6th–7th | ~Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 | Lunar Variable |
| Gregorian | December / January | 12th / 1st | 14 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027 | Solar Fixed |
Poh in Punjabi Culture and Poetry
Poh holds a unique place in Punjabi folk culture. The extreme cold of this month — dense fog, frost-covered fields, bone-chilling winds — has inspired centuries of poetry, proverbs and songs. Punjabi folk poets used the imagery of Poh’s cold to describe the ache of separation (virha), the longing for love, and the spiritual journey of the soul.
Famous Punjabi poet Bulleh Shah and others used winter imagery extensively — the cold fire (thand da alao), the fog that hides the path, and the warmth of divine love that melts all frost. In Punjabi villages, Poh is also the month when elders gather around fires and share stories of the Sahibzadas with children — an oral tradition of remembrance that has preserved Sikh history for generations.
Traditional Punjabi foods of Poh include: sarson ka saag (mustard greens), makki di roti (corn bread), ganne ka ras (sugarcane juice), gur (jaggery), mungphali (peanuts), mooli (radish), and warm doodh patti chai (milk tea). These winter foods are deeply associated with the month of Poh in Punjab’s culinary heritage.
History and Etymology of Poh Month
The name Poh derives from the Sanskrit word Pausha (पौष) — a reference to the nourishing (paushtik) properties associated with this month in ancient Indian tradition, or alternatively from the root meaning “to nourish / to sustain.” The Pausha month in the Hindu calendar aligns closely with the Nanakshahi Poh.
References to Pausha/Poh appear in ancient Sanskrit texts including the Atharva Veda and various Puranas. The month has been observed as a time of solstice-related rituals for thousands of years — the Winter Solstice (around 21 December) falls within Poh, marking the shortest day of the year and the beginning of the Sun’s northward journey. Ancient communities across South Asia celebrated this solar turning point with bonfires, offerings and communal feasting.
Sikh Heritage Sites in Pakistan During Poh
During the month of Poh, Sikh pilgrims from across Pakistan and the world visit the country’s sacred Gurdwaras to observe the Shaheedi Divas of the Sahibzadas and Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday:
🏛️ Nankana Sahib
Birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji — major center for all Gurpurab observances
🏛️ Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hassan Abdal
Sacred handprint of Guru Nanak Dev Ji — major pilgrimage for all events
🏛️ Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore
Martyrdom site of Guru Arjan Dev Ji — Kirtan and Ardaas in Poh
🏛️ Kartarpur Sahib
Final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji — accessible via Kartarpur Corridor
Other Desi Months — Navigation
9th month · Nov–DecMagh ماگھ11th month · Jan–Feb→
Frequently Asked Questions — Poh Month
When does Poh month start in 2026?
Poh month 2026 starts on 14 December 2026 (1 Poh 558 NS) and ends on 12 January 2027 (30 Poh 558 NS). It is 30 days long.
Why is Poh the most important month in Sikh history?
Poh contains the most significant cluster of Sikh historical events: the Battle of Chamkaur (10 Poh), the martyrdom of the two younger Sahibzadas at Sirhind (13 Poh), and the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (23 Poh). All four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji were martyred during Poh month in 1704–1705.
Who were the Sahibzadas?
The Sahibzadas were the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji: Ajit Singh (age 18), Jujhar Singh (age 14), Zorawar Singh (age 9), and Fateh Singh (age 7). All four gave their lives during Poh month rather than surrender or convert from their faith.
When is Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday in 2026?
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Parkash Utsav (birthday) in the Nanakshahi calendar falls on 5 January 2027 (23 Poh 558 NS).
What is the weather like in Poh in Pakistan?
Poh is the coldest month in Pakistan. Punjab experiences temperatures of 3–15°C with dense fog. Northern areas (KPK, AJK, GB) see below-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall. The Punjab plains fog season peaks in Poh, affecting road and air travel.
What crops are grown in Poh in Punjab Pakistan?
During Poh, wheat is in the tillering/growing stage (critical irrigation month), mustard is flowering, sugarcane is being harvested and crushed, and potato is in tuber formation. It is the peak of sugarcane harvest season.
What is the spiritual meaning of Poh in Gurbani?
In Gurbani’s Barah Maha composition, Poh represents spiritual coldness — the soul’s experience of being distant from the divine. The message is to seek the warmth of Naam (the divine Name) to overcome spiritual cold, mirroring the way physical cold drives one toward fire.
Also see: Maghar Month (9th) | Magh Month (11th) | Desi Date Today | Sikh Calendar 2026 | Islamic Date Today