The harvest festival, also known as Baisakhi or Vaisakhi, is enthusiastically observed by Hindus across the majority of India as the start of the new year. It denotes the conclusion of India's harvest season, which is a prosperous period for farmers. This festival, also known as Vaisakhi, is one of great excitement and happiness.
Given the sizeable Sikh community in these two states and how enthusiastically they celebrate this festival, Baisakhi is particularly important to Punjab and Haryana.
Baisakhi/Vaisakhi Day, Date, and Time
Date: 14th April 2023
Time: 3:12 PM preceding Mesha Sankranti
History Of Vaisakhi/Baisakhi/Vishu
The Hindu calendar month of Vaishakh is where the word "Baisakhi" originates. In the Hindu calendar, the second month after Chaitra concludes with Falgun or Fagun. It is harvest time in the northern region of India, and farmers are getting ready to seed for the following season.
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One of the three holidays that the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das, decided the Sikhs should observe is Baisakhi. The Mughals publicly beheaded Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, in 1699. This happened due to his resolve to stand up to the Mughal invaders and defend the religious and cultural traditions of Hindus and Sikhs, whom the Mughal king Aurangzeb wished to convert to Islam. On the day of Baisakhi in 1699, his son Guru Gobind Rai roused the Sikhs and inspired them with his words and deeds, earning the title of Singh or lion for both himself and them and becoming Guru Gobind Singh.
The Guru system was abandoned, the five Ks of Sikhism were embraced, and Sikhs were exhorted to recognize the Granth Sahib as the supreme authority. The festival of Baisakhi thus has a position of great significance to Sikhism and is one of the largest Sikh festivals. It is celebrated as the coronation of the final Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, as well as the founding of the Khalsa Panth of Sikhism.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, which took place in Baisakhi in 1919 when British colonists cornered and killed a peaceful gathering of Indians, served as a crucial trigger for the Indian freedom struggle. This day is sadly also a reminder of this horrific tragedy in human history.
Celebrating Baisakhi
The Sikhs observe Baisakhi by taking a dip in the sacred river and visiting the Gurudwaras, where they participate in daily prayers. Everyone becomes merry during Baisakhi; many like getting up and dancing all night. At the Talwandi Sabo, where Guru Gobind Singh revised the revered Granth Sahib, the Gurudwara at Anandpur Sahib, the location of Khalsa's birth, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar, special celebrations are held. Farmers pray for success in the upcoming year and thank God for the abundant crop. Joyful farmers shout "Jatta Aayi Baisakhi" across the fields as they joyfully dance in celebration, a thrilling way to welcome the holiday.
The Karah Prasad is offered to the guru following the prayers or Ardas and then given out to the populace. Following this, there is a special guru-ka-langur or community lunch at the Gurudwaras, after which the Nagar Kirtan procession is held through the streets. All sing devotional songs in honor of this holy observance. Partygoers take the celebration to heart with an enthusiastic and vivacious display of song and dance while wearing the brightest clothing.
Dress
Vaisakhi marks spring's beginning when men, women, and children buy new clothes to mark the event. They choose the most vibrant and dynamic of the bunch to express the cheerful mood that permeates the throng. Men in traditional Punjabi clothing typically wear a turban with a fan-like ornament, a waistcoat, a scarf, and a lungi knotted around their waist. At the same time, women typically dress in salwar kameez and accessorize with the most festive and flashy jewelry. This outfit's multicolored brilliance captures the vivacious and upbeat character of the Punjabi way of life.
Food
At the Baisakhi festivities, numerous food booths are set up to keep the masses fed and energized while they celebrate all night. At the fair, you can always find distinctly Punjabi dishes, such as Chhole Bature, Achari mutton, Chicken saagwala, Sarson ka saag, kadhi chawal, dried fruit kheer, and the well-known lassi. These culinary marvels perfectly exemplify Punjabis' enormous passion for flavor and food.
Dance
During Baisakhi, the ancient dances of Bhangra and Gidda are performed to the rhythm of the drums in open fields, generating a festive mood. In some locations, fairs are conducted where people display their joy and engage in acrobatics. Men, women, and kids dress in vibrant clothing and jewelry as they eagerly participate in the celebrations.
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Processions
The Nagar Kirtan commonly referred to as the Baisakhi Procession, is a significant component of the festivities in Punjab. The Panj Piaras, commonly known as the five senior religious Sikhs and a significant element of the Khals traditions, carry out the most sacred text Granth Sahib with honor. With music, singing, hymns, and scripture chanting, Baisakhi processions march through the city's streets and alleyways. The Baisakhi processions attract a lot of worshippers.
Children and young people show off their martial arts prowess during the Baisakhi processions, and the occasion is made more colorful by the drummers, bands, and men wielding swords. Overall, it's reasonable to conclude that the festival of Baisakhi ushers in a new chapter in people's lives each year.
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Baisakhi: The Harvest Festival
The agricultural sector is the main focus of the Baisakhi festival. The holiday is widely and enthusiastically observed throughout the nation, particularly in Punjab. Farm owners dance and sing songs to thank nature once the crops in the northern states of India are all green and sway in the breeze and the Rabi crop is fully prepared. The Baisakhi celebration will be celebrated this year on April 14.
Farmers rejoice in preparing crops like wheat, legumes, oilseed, and sugar cane as they celebrate the festival of Baisakhi. They watch the crop swinging around in excitement. Punjab's most well-known traditional dance, the "bhangra," is performed around this period as a celebration.
Baisakhi is a significant occasion for farmers since it honors the Rabi season's crop. At this time of year, wheat crops could be seen swaying and expanding throughout Punjab. When farmers view the crop, they are overjoyed and joyful. The harvested crop is divided into two parts: one is sacrificed to God, and the other is given to humanity as Prashad.
How Is Baisakhi Celebrated?
According to the Sikh calendar, Baisakhi is celebrated on the first day of the Vaisakh month (April–May). Because of this, Baisakhi is also known as Vaisakhi. Punjabi New Year falls on the same day as Baisakhi.
The date of Baisakhi correlates to April 13 every year and April 14 once every 36 years on the English calendar. Due to the festival's observance under the Indian solar calendar, this variation exists. Baisakhi falls on April 13 this year.
Celebrate Baisakhi at Home
Don't miss your opportunity to observe this festival on your own. You may celebrate Baisakhi at home if you make a few adjustments to the customs.
Decorate Your Home
Why shouldn't your home reflect the fresh hues and colors that spring gives to the world? Bright orange, yellow, and red hues celebrate Baisakhi, with orange and yellow having special meanings for the Sikh community. Set up a yellow rug, hang yellow drapes, and cover the pillows in red and orange. Create a lovely rangoli artwork to adorn your front door. Use various colored powders, chalk, rice, petals, sand, or even flour to make complex designs for rangoli, which welcomes luck into your home. Beautiful flower garlands should be draped or hung throughout the house, especially in the entryway. Considering this, you can improve your home in these modest ways to add life and freshness.
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Exchange Gifts
Sikhs typically spend much time with their loved ones during the day and frequently present gifts to each other since Baisakhi is anchored on community and relationships. A package of sweets, especially laddoos, which are miniature delicacies made with flour, dried fruit, and nuts, is frequently included with these gifts.
Feasting at Home: Favorite Baisakhi Dishes
Host a lavish feast to honor the bounty of Baisakhi. During this festival, North Indian Punjabi foods like chole bhature, makke ki roti with sarso ka saag, peele chawal, sweet lassi (or buttermilk), jaggery halwa, and kadhi pakora with rice are traditionally prepared. To go along with the vegetarian diet, you may create non-vegetarian favorites like tandoori chicken, butter chicken, or other Punjabi chicken and mutton dishes. Desserts include dodha barfi, phirni, coconut ladoos, dried fruit kheer, and more.
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