Sikhi, the path of the Guru, describes enlightenment as the game of uniting with the Divine. In explaining this process, the Gurus frequently use the metaphor of a young bride-to-be marrying her husband.

In this metaphor, everyone, regardless of gender, is considered as the bride, hoping to achieve union with her husband, and with that union to experience the bliss of unity. In these writings, the Guru takes on the voice of a woman in their poetry, describing how the fortunate bride attracts the Divine, in the form of the husband.

“The fortunate bride decorates herself, placing a garland of good virtues around her neck.” — Ang 426, Raag Aasaa, written by Guru Amar Das Ji

The jewellery of good qualities, humility, sweet speech, truthfulness, compassion, friendliness, admiration, and loving devotion attracts and binds the husband to the bride.

With these qualities a union is created, and the bliss of that unity is analogous to enlightenment, a letting go of one’s past identity and merging into one’s Beloved. The history of Sikh women is filled with stories of how these qualities were practised by foundational visionaries, women who were involved in fashioning the institutions of the community from the very beginning.

The calendar attempts to visually convey these stories which have long been ignored.