Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is a celebration of the spring harvest. It is primarily a festival celebrated in the Northern parts of India. It also marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh. Traditionally the day is celebrated either on the 13th or the 14th of April. However, it was celebrated on 11th April in 1801 AD.
Vaisakhi is a festival celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus. It is the date for the Indian Solar New Year. On this day, Raja Shastri, also known as Raja Shaktikaran Dogra, started the Shastri calendar. In Sikhism, this day marks many events that took place, including pious and unholy ones.
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For many Hindus, this festival is meant for bathing in sacred rivers, visiting temples, meeting friends, and participating in the festivities. There is a practice of mandatory charity to be done of hand fans, water pitchers, and seasonal fruits. One of the largest Vaisakhi fairs is held in Haridwar, where many people bathe in the holy river Ganga. It is also believed that the river Ganga descended from heaven to Earth on this day. The Hindus of Haridwar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu, Himachal, and Haryana celebrate Vaisakhi by taking the holy bathe in the river and consuming the seasonal fruits, Sattu, jaggery and more. Numerous fairs happen during this time, and people enjoy Vaisakhi to the utmost level.
Vaisakhi falls on the same day as the Solar New Year, which is why this day has many other names and rituals according to the regions it is celebrated in. It is called Bohag Bihu in Assam, Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal and Bangladesh, Pana Sankranti in Odisha, Jur Sital in Bihar and some parts of Nepal, Bwisagu in regions of Assam, Bisu in Karnataka, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and some parts of Sri Lanka, and Vishu in Kerala.
In Sikhism, this day marks the birth of the Khalsa, along with being the harvest festival. It is celebrated by holding kirtans, visiting Gurudwaras, nagar kirtan processions, community fairs, raising the Nishan Sahib flag, and sharing special festive foods in gatherings.
On 13th April, history holds the major massacre of Jallianwala Bagh. A lot of people were gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh on the occasion of Vaisakhi, but little did they know about the rule imposed in Amritsar about the public gathering. Afraid of a rebellious protest, Bengal Army officer Reginald Dyre ordered open fire, where 379 people were killed, including harmless men, women, kids, and elderlies who, when they tried to get out of the exit gate, were pointed and killed. The brutal killings left not only an impression on history but a mark on people’s lives.
Ranjit Singh, popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab, was made the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire on 12 April 1801.
Vaisakhi, for Sikhs, is the most colorful festival of the year. They call it Baisakhi, and it is celebrated with pomp and show. The importance of Baisakhi in Sikhism marks the historical moment when Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed because he refused to convert his religion to Islam when forced by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, created Khalsa on Vaisakhi of 1699. Baisakhi is celebrated almost in the same manner as Gurpurab or Guru’s birth anniversary by decorating Gurudwaras and doing kirtan, which Sikhs attend while they engage in more religious practices. After the prayers, Karha Prashad is served to everyone, followed by the serving of langar, also known as community lunch. Then the Nagar Kirtan, a street procession led by Panj Pyare, reciting prayers, Paalki Sahib, kids and adults do Gatka (martial arts using swords, sticks, and daggers), music, and more. People from every age group participate in it.
Rabi crops are winter crops that are sown during winter, including majorly wheat, barley, mustard, and peas. It is a harvest festival where rabi crops are ripped and ready to be harvested. It is observed as a thanksgiving by farmers where they thank God for the abundant harvest and pray for prosperity in the future. The folk dance, Bhangra, on Vaisakhi is the icing on the cake that is traditionally the harvest dance.
Paonta Sahib Gurudwara in Himachal Pradesh is most visited by Sikhs during Baisakhi. Paonta Sahib was the residence of Guru Gobind Singh Ji for a couple of years. The tenth Guru was a poet and loved to write. Paonta Sahib Gurudwara is situated near the banks of Yamuna. The history of the place is that the part where Yamuna flows near the Gurudwara does not make a single sound because one day, when Guru Gobind Singh Ji was sitting near the river and writing, he was constantly being distracted by the noise of the flowing water. Hence, he asked the river why she was making so much noise, and the river went quiet to date; no matter how fast the water flowed, there was no sound near the Gurudwara at the site. The people's historical significance and religious beliefs make Paonta Sahib Gurudwara another tourist place for many.
Vaisakhi is celebrated outside of India too. The Sikh communities in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Malaysia celebrate Vaisakhi by going to local Gurudwaras, listening to Shabad kirtan, and being a part of Nagar Kirtan. And the Hindu celebrations of Vaisakhi occur in Pakistan, Nepal, and the United States.
Overall, the day is celebrated with lots of fireworks, shopping for new clothing, and gifts for family and friends.