Baisakhi

The festival of Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, symbolizes the arrival of spring and the formation of the Khalsa, and it is also a festival related to agriculture. Every year, Baisakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy in Punjab and Haryana on April 13 or 14. On this day, the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn, making it also the occasion of 'Mesha Sankranti.' Across India, this auspicious date is observed in various ways. In Kerala, this festival is known as 'Vishu.'

On this day, people buy new clothes, engage in fireworks, and decorate with ‘Vishukani’ (displays), which is why the festival is also known as “Vishukani.” According to the Malayalam calendar, this auspicious date falls in the month of Medam. In Assam, it is celebrated as Bihu; in Bengal, it is observed as the New Year; in Bangladesh, it is known as Pohela Boishakh; in Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Puthandu; in Bihar and Nepal, it is called ‘Sattu Sankranti’; and it is also recognized as the ‘Solar New Year’ in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This festival is connected to agriculture as well, marking the harvest of crops like wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils, peas, and mustard that are ripe during this time. In many places in India, the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm to mark the joy of the harvest.

Reasons for Celebrating the Vaisakhi Festival

The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, established the Khalsa Panth for the protection of dharma and the welfare of society. Guru Gobind Singh called upon the members of the Sikh community to step forward and be willing to sacrifice themselves for the Guru and the deity. Five individuals from the Sikh community volunteered for this, and they were called the 'Panj Pyare.' The month of Vaisakhi is also significant because it marks the birth of Gautam Buddha and his attainment of enlightenment on this day. Therefore, Buddhists also celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm, and this is why Vaisakhi is observed in different forms across various regions of India.

How is the Vaisakhi festival celebrated?

On Vaisakhi, Gurudwaras are beautifully decorated. The Sikh community listens to Gurbani and worships the Guru. They perform a special prayer at home and prepare dishes like kheer and sherbet. Outside their homes, they gather a pile of wood and set it on fire in the evening. Around the burning wood, people form a circle and celebrate by playing drums, performing Bhangra and Gidda dances, and rejoicing. Gidda is a group dance that symbolizes unity and harmony among the people of Punjab. Everyone exchanges greetings and wishes for the Vaisakhi festival. The Buddhist community also decorates their homes with flowers and lights lamps in the evening, similar to Diwali, while singing songs and performing prayers.

The significance of celebrating Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi is considered a festival of prosperity and abundance. On Vaisakhi, the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries, and offering prayers to the Sun God on this day is believed to bring blessings of happiness and prosperity. Giving donations on Vaisakhi is of special significance. Providing food to orphans and the poor, and helping those in need on this day, is said to remove all obstacles to one's progress and eliminate poverty from the home, thanks to the blessings of the Deity Sun.