The Vaisakhi or Baisakhi festival is celebrated with tremendous joy and enthusiasm throughout Punjab and Haryana. Farmers take great pride in this ceremony since it marks the start of the Rabi crop harvest season. Sikhs, Hindus, and Buddhists all celebrate Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, which is a harvest festival. Every year on April 13, the Baisakhi Festival, sometimes referred to as Vaisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi, is observed as the Sikh New Year.
For the Sikhs, it’s a celebration of the spring crop. The celebration of Baisakhi Festival honours the creation of the Khalsa Panth of soldiers in 1699, led by Guru Gobind Singh. Vaisakhi also commemorates the founding of the Sikh order, which came about as a result of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s persecution and death for defying instructions to convert to Islam.
Date of the Baisakhi festival
Every year on April 13 or 14, the 21st century observes Vaisakhi. On April 11, AD, however, it collapsed in 1801 AD. This is a result of the gradual yearly changes in the dates of Vaisakhi and other Sankranti. The 29th of April would be the Baisakhi Festival in the year 2999. The celebration falls on the same day as other New Year celebrations held in Puthandu, Pohela Boishakh, Bohag Bihu, and Vishu in other parts of the Indian Subcontinent.
History of the Baisakhi festival
The tenth Guru, Gobind Singh Ji, established the Khalsa Panth on this day (in 1699), which is why Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, with tremendous devotion. It’s also referred to as the Sikh New Year’s festival. The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, organised the Baisakhi festivities in 1699, which led to the creation of the Khalsa, which means “to be pure, clear, and free from.
” Most people refer to Guru Gobind Singh Ji as the “Final Living Guru of Sikhism.” The formation of the Khalsa coincided with the establishment of an army to combat both the Mughal Emperors and their forces, as well as the shortcomings of society.
Significance of the Baisakhi festival
Not just Sikhs and Punjabis, but people from every field of life now celebrate Baisakhi Festival. “Khalsa Sirjana Diwas,” or “the birth of khalsa,” is the name given to it. Baisakhi is celebrated differently by Punjabis and Sikhs, many of whom observe it on their own. These are separate from the village harvest festivities. The celebration of Baisakhi is no longer limited to those living in rural regions. It is also a festival for those living in cities and towns.
Sikhs honour Guru Gobind Singh, their tenth guru, on this day. He established and strengthened the Khalsa order on this same day. Since it’s a nice day, there are many locations in India where individuals may get baptised on this particular day. Every family has its traditions, which differ from one another. There is food distributed along the route. After that, the trial concludes and there’s more food, such as langar and kadah.
Celebration of the Baisakhi Festival
During the harvest season, people in Punjabi villages truly enjoy themselves. Many people gather for Baisakhi dinners in Anandpur Sahib, the Khalsa’s birthplace. In urban areas, gurdwara visits by families are a regular occurrence. To take holy baths and partake in the meals, only Sikhs bring their family and friends to the Gurudwaras. There are also people of different religions who travel to perform the same thing.
This is the day of illumination of the gurudwaras, along with a 48-hour akhand path and bhog. Typically, kirtan, kadah, prasad, and langar are used to commemorate the day. On this day, women choose to visit the gurdwara dressed in white suits with orange dupattas.
Sikhs go to celebrate the holiday, taking a dip in a lake or river before visiting their local Gurdwaras. On this day, there are also community fairs, Nagar Kirtan procession activities, and get-togethers for celebration feasts and socialising. For Hindus, it’s an opportunity to visit temples, go for swims in holy rivers like the Ganges, Jhelum, or Kaveri, catch up with friends, and partake in customary meals and beverages.
On the eve of the Baisakhi Festival, Sikhs visit Nagar Kirtans to honour the Khalsa. Numerous more events take place throughout the festival. Singing and reading religious hymns, they honour the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book of the Sikhs. You may also watch dance performances like Bhangra and Gidda on this day. To commemorate the occasion, people dress to impress and distribute candies.
Celebration Outside India
Western Punjab celebrates Vaisakhi, a major Sikh holiday in Pakistan, with events focused on historical locations. Two Nagar Kirtan parades are part of the Vaisakhi celebrations in Surrey, Abbotsford, and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Surrey’s annual single-day celebration draws 400,000 visitors, while Vancouver’s draws up to 300,000. Due to the limited Sikh population, neither Punjab nor Sindh provinces in Pakistan observe the event as an official holiday. The event helps underprivileged communities with its charity endeavours.
Many provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Atlantic Canada, celebrate Vaisakhi. While other cities hold parades and cultural activities, the Toronto Vaisakhi Parade is a noteworthy occasion in Ontario.
The United States, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom all celebrate Vaisakhi, with significant populations in the West Midlands and London. On Vaisakhi Day, government employees from the Sikh Malaysian Indian minority in Malaysia get a day off. In contrast, parades and acts of selfless devotion are customary in the United States.
Conclusion
In summary, we can say that Sikhs rejoice and show devotion to Baisakhi. They get dressed early, take a bath, and head to the gurdwara to join in the designated special prayer meeting for the day. Everyone in attendance receives kada prasad following a special ardaas, kirtan, and talks. Later, once the langar is served by volunteers called kar sevaks, people sit in rows to enjoy it. Big Vaisakhi celebrations are held in Amritsar’s Golden Temple.
In addition to the activities mentioned above, fairs are organised on this day to support nearby companies. Men brandish swords, children and teenagers show off their martial arts prowess in front of drummers and musicians—all of which heighten the intensity of the occasion.