Baisakhi Festival

Baisakhi Festival

When is Baisakhi Festival Celebrated?

Baisakhi Festival 2022 Date

Thursday, 14 April, 2022

According to the Nanakshahi or Sikh calendar, Baisakhi falls on the first day of Vaisakh month (April-May). Every year it falls on April 13 and April 14, but once every 36 years the date of it corresponds. Some people believe that it is a significant day that indicates the Sikh new year.

What is Baisakhi Festival?

Baisakhi is a harvest festival in the Indian state of Punjab. It has different significances for different parts of India also. It spreads enthusiasm in the state of Punjab, even the place in the world where there is a Sikh community. People welcome it by performing Bhangra and Gidda dance.

This plangent festival marks the beginning of the Sikh new year. Farmers on this day thank their God for giving them good crops. They also offer prayers for an abundant harvest in the next year. Specifically, it marks the time for the yield of Rabi crops.

You might be also like to check other Sikh Festivals.

Why is Baisakhi Festival Celebrated?

Why is Baisakhi Celebrated

Guru Amar Das, who was the third Gurus of the ten of Sikhism had a significant contribution to this festival. The Guru chose Baisakhi as one of the three festivals. The story of it started with the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur, who was the ninth Sikh Guru.

Aurungzeb, the Mughal ruler, beheaded him publicly because he wanted to establish Islam in India. Guru Tegh Bahadur impeded that and stood up for the rights of Hindus and Sikhs.

Guru Gobind Singh, the son of Guru teg Bahadur, became the next Guru of Sikhs after his death. Guru Gobind Singh chose  Baisakhi as the occasion of transforming the Sikh into a family of soldier saints in 1699 also known as the Khalsa Panth.

In front of many people at Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa. On every occasion of the Baisakhi festival, Guru Gobind Singh Came out of a tent by carrying a sword in his hand. Then he threw a challenge to Sikhs and told them to come with him who has enough courage to give his life.

The Guru Returned to his tent alone with his sword covered in blood. Until five men did not disappear into the tent, he repeated the same process. People saw five men return by wearing tires with the Guru. These five men were known as the Panj Piare, or’ Beloved Five’. Then The Guru baptized them into the Khalsa.

How is Baisakhi Festival Celebrated?

How is Baisakhi celebrated

Baisakhi is a festival of joy and happiness, mainly which is observed by the Sikhs. By doing different activities, people celebrate it. Here are some activities of celebrating this festival for you.

  • First, Welcoming The Festival
    Before coming to the date of this festival, people start cleaning and decorating gurdwaras. Many of them swarm to it for offering prayers. There they seek the blessings of the almighty for the wealthy of the next years. Sikhs plan everything in a very healthy manner to celebrate Baisakhi.

  • Second, The Morning Prayer
    On the morning of this festival, the Sikh people wear new clothes after taking a bath. After that, they gather at the gurdwara to attend an exceptional prayer. When the prayer is over one kind of sweet, namely ‘Kada Prasad’ is allotted among the people.

  • Third, Langar Food:
    There is an organization of langar(vegetarian food) for the devotees in the gurdwara. In the afternoon, around lunchtime, they get this food. It is distributed among all classes people equally, whether they are rich or poor.
  • Fourth, The Procession of Guru Granth Sahib
    The other name of this procession is Nagar Kirtan in Punjab. The most important part of this religious procession is holy hymns which are recited by the devotees. Panj Piyare(the five beloved ones who form the central part of the Khalsa) always led the procession.
    Those at the festival time use to wear saffron dresses.
    The holy admirer, Guru Granth Sahib, and other members of the parade follow them. Volunteers( the sewadars) beforehand clean the road through which the procession is to pass. The march lastly comes to a stand at a particular Guruduwara where devotees offer Ardas(prayers).
  • Fifth, the Dance Performance:
    It is an integral part of the Baisakhi festival. This festival seems incomplete without the eminent dance performances. Sikhs perform two striking kinds of forms of dance in this celebration, primarily known as bhangra and Gidda.
    Bhangra is one kind of dance performance on which people start jumping randomly. Both men and women perform this. But gidda is a women’s dance performance, and it is a traditional folk dance that reflects the joyful spirit and celebratory disposition of women.
  • Sixth, Dress Up:
    There are variations in men’s and women’s dresses during these prominent festivals. Traditionally men of the Sikh community prefer bright colour dresses. They have a great outfit with kurta, pajama or lungi and a tier on their head. Women use to wear two kinds of clothes to get ready for the festival. Salwar-kamij and lehenga-choli are two prominent outfits for women that they can wear.
  • Seventh, Foods of Baisakhi Festival:
    Sikh community is famous for eating fabulous traditional food. On the festival day, they prepare various unique dishes such as Sarson ka saag, Makki di roti, paneer tikkas, vegetable, the potato curry, chicken biriyani, poori, etc.

How Farmers Celebrate Baisakhi?

Baisakhi is the festival of harvest for the largest community of Punjab and Haryana. Farmers consider this time as a new year. It is a time when farmers get a vast amount of Rabi crops. By thanking God for giving them a bountiful harvest, they start this festival. By enjoying food, dancing and singing people celebrate it.

With the accompaniment of ballads and dhol music farmers commemorate the harvesting, winnowing and everyday farming scene. In some villages of Punjab, a Baisakhi fair is organized. Besides them, there are some other traditional activities, and wrestling bouts is one of them.

Baisakhi Festival is one of the famous festivals of India which spreads fun and enjoyment throughout the country. This ancient festival marks the Sikh’s new year. By dancing, singing, cooking delicious foods, people celebrate the Spring harvest season.

Check Indian Festivals Calendar to know upcoming festivals of India at All Indian Festivals.

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