Baisakhi Festival 2024 Celebration Story and Importance

Baisakhi Festival is the special day of the Sikhs.

Why is Vaisakhi celebrated?

Baisakhi Festival is celebrated to mark the formation of the Khalsa panth under the patronage of Guru Gobind Singh, the last Guru of the Sikhs in the year 1699. Guru Gobind Singhji brought an end to the Guru system in Sikhs and the Guru Granth Sahib was their master or Guru thereon.

When Guru Tegh Bahadur denied a forced conversion into Islam, put in place by Aurangzeb, he was punished by Aurangzeb and later executed. This brought forward the coronation of the tenth Guru of Sikhism. This major event led to the formation of Khalsa Panth. The coronation and the creation of the Khalsa Panth outlay the Baisakhi Festival. Sahib Singh Bedi, Guru Nanak Dev’s descendant conducted the coronation.

Daya Ram Khatri, Dharm Das, Mokhan Chand, Sahib Chand and Himmat Rai were the five chosen men and they wore saffron colored robes and sat together. The five men were called Panch Pyare. They are given the Khande di Pahul (double edged sword Amrit and Singhs are knighted as the five beloved ones.

It was also this very day, when the tragic tale of Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened.

Importance of Vaisakhi is the reason behind the celebration of this major festival.

When is Vaisakhi celebrated?

Baisakhi Festival is celebrated every year either on the 13th or the 14th April.

What else falls on this day?

It coincides with the New Year Festival celebrated all around the Indian subcontinent known by different names- Poila Baisakh, Bohang Bihu, Vishu, and Puthandu amongst many. It is also the traditional Solar year harvest festival and is celebrated primarily in Northern India.

Why was this festival named as Vaisakhi?

Vishakha Nakshatra is present on the Full Moon day and due to the presence of this Nakshatra, this festival was known as Baisakhi and the month is also named as Vaisakh.

How to celebrate Vaisakhi

On the occasion of the Baisakhi festival, a bath in the holy rivers is considered sacred such as the Ganges, Jhelum and Kaveri. People visit temples and Gurudwaras that open up for a grand langar fed to all. Usually Gurdwaras are decked up on this day. Kirtans are held to commemorate this day. Community fairs and Nagar Kirtans are arranged on this day. People bond over singing and dancing, food and gifts.

This day is the New Year of the Punjabis.

The Sikh community come together to perform Nagar Kirtans (Singing of holy hymns). It is actually led by the Panj Pyaare (five Khalsas) and processions are brought out on the street on this day. The people sing, make music, sing hymns and all carry a copy of the revered Guru Granth Sahib.

In Punjab, this is the time when the Rabi crops mature. On this day during the Baisakhi Festival, people pay tribute to their God and also pray for prosperity and abundance.

Apart from Sikhs, Hindus and Christians are often seen participating in this festival.

There are elaborate fairs and dances organized all across Punjab, some parts of Himachal Pradesh and also the Jammu city comes alive on this day.

Men dance the Bhangra dance on this day and women generally do Gidda to celebrate the event. People enjoy food, and eat the kada Prasad (a kind of sweet prepared specially during this day).

Many Sikhs baptize on this day. They adopt Sikhism on this particular day.

The Sikh religions five men comprise of the five symbols- purity and courage. The five Ks are for them and includes Kesh (uncut hair), the Kangha (comb), the Katchera (underwear), Kara (steel ring) and the Kirpan (sword). On this day, all of it comes forward.

This is how people celebrate Baisakhi Festival and this is what they do during this period of time. Baisakhi festival is a grand occasion in many states of India and people often take a one day leave from offices to celebrate the festival at home with their friends and families.

The festival of Baisakhi preaches peace and brotherhood, respect for the five Ks and also spreads a message of religious tolerance amongst the people of a secular nation as big and wide as India.