Vaisakhi
Encyclopedia
Vaisakhi is an ancient harvest festival celebrated across North Indian states, especially Punjab by all Punjabis
regardless of religion. In Sikhism
the Khalsa
was founded on same day as the Vaisakhi festival, so Sikhs celebrate twice as much.
In Sikhism
, it is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar, commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib
in 1699, by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh
.
This day is also observed as the beginning of the Hindu
solar new year celebrated by people across Nepal
, the Assam Valley
, Kerala
, Orissa
, West Bengal
and other regions of India
. The particular significance attached to the occasion shows regional variation outside of Punjab too. In Himachal Pradesh
, the Hindu Goddess Jwalamukhi is worshipped on Vaisakhi, while in Bihar
, the Sun-god Surya
is honoured. The festival is celebrated as Rongali Bihu in Assam
, Naba Barsha or Pohela Boishakh in Bengal
and Tripura
, Puthandu
(Tamil New Year) in Tamil Nadu
, Vishu
(or Vaishakhi) in Kerala
, Bikhu or Bikhauti in the Kumaon
region of Uttarakhand
, Maha Vishuva Sankranti
(or Pana Sankranti) in Orissa
, and the Sinhalese New Year festival in Sri Lanka
. Besides Punjab
, Vaisakhi is widely celebrated as a traditional harvest festival in many northern states of India, such as Haryana
, Himachal Pradesh
and Uttarakhand
. In many places the day is marked by ritualistic bathing in sacred rivers like the Ganges.
devotees generally attend the Gurudwara before dawn with flowers and offerings in hands. Processions through towns are also common. Vaisakhi is the day on which the Khalsa
was born and Sikhs were given a clear identity and a code of conduct to live by, led by the last living Sikh spiritual teacher, Guru Gobind Singh
Ji, who baptized the first Sikhs using sweet nectar called Amrit.
in Punjab
in Pakistan
as well, with festivities centered on the Panja Sahib complex in Hassan Abdal, numerous shrines in Nankana Sahib
, and in various historical sites in Lahore
. It is culturally and traditionally regarded as an important and significant Punjabi festival, further exemplified by the thousands of Sikh
pilgrims from around the world arriving each year to commemorate the day at the sacred Sikh sites of Nankana Sahib
and Hasan Abdal
. Further, local Pakistani's offer their well wishes and welcome the incoming pilgrims. In April 2009, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
announced plans for formally organising the event on a larger scale in the country as well as expressing intentions for elegant arrangements. In 2010, over 20,000 pilgrims were expected to arrive in Pakistan for the celebrations, a significant increase over previous years.
), and in the gurdwara
at Anandpur Sahib
, the birth place of the Khalsa and at the Golden Temple
in Amritsar
.
, there is usually a parade commemorating the Vaisakhi celebration. In Manhattan
, New York City
people come out to do "seva
" (religious work) such as giving out free food, and completing any other labor that needs to be done. In Los Angeles, California
, the local Sikh community consisting of more than 20 Gurudwaras or Sikh Temples holds a full day Kirtan
or spiritual music program followed by a two mile parade in downtown Los Angeles with an estimated 15,000 participants. The local Sikh community in Vancouver, Abbotsford and Surrey
, British Columbia
, Canada
holds its annual Vaisakhi celebrations in the April long weekend, which often includes a nagar
kirtan
, or parade, which an estimated 200,000 people attend.
Legends are associated with a number of festivals celebrated in India. Since agriculture is the backbone of India - it provides livelihood to majority of the people in the rural areas of the country - the festival of harvest are given special importance in the calendar of events. Baisakhi is one of the important festivals celebrated with fun and fervor by the people living in the northern parts of the country. Apart from being a harvest festival, it holds religious significance too. A number of legends that revolve around Guru Gobind Singh, their tenth Guru, are associated with Baisakhi. Explore the article to know about the legends of Baisakhi.
Legends Of Baisakhi Festival
Guru Granth Sahib
Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi as the day of the formation of the Sikh Khalsa, or brotherhood. On the day, in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh guru) called on the Sikhs to sacrifice themselves for their community. Sikhism, in its present form, owes its existence to that Baisakhi day. After the Baisakhi Day of 1699, the tradition of Gurus was put to an end by the Sikhs, who, thereafter, declared the Guru Granth Sahib as their eternal guide and their Holy Book. Baisakhi also prepares the people of Punjab for the joy of the harvest season, which begins on the following day. It is a day of feasting and merriment before the hard, tiring but fruitful time ahead.
The Story Of Five Sikhs
The most famous Sikh stories revolve around Baisakhi. Guru Gobind Singh, standing outside a tent, called for five Sikhs to sacrifice themselves for the community. When the first volunteer stepped up, the guru took him into the tent, and reappeared alone, carrying a blood stained sword. This happened with the four other people who volunteered. Later, the Guru revealed that he had been smearing the sword with the blood of a dead animal, and all the five people were safe. This is, perhaps, the most interesting legend connected to Baisakhi.
Other Legends
According to the legend associated with Baisakhi, in 1567, Guru Ram Das committed Baisakhi as one of the special days, when all the Sikhs would assemble to seek the blessings from Guru at Goindwal.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj on Baisakhi, in 1875. Therefore, Baisakhi is as special for the Hindus, as it is for Sikhs.
Apart from the Sikhs and Hindus, Baisakhi is an important day for the Buddhists as well. On the day, Gautam Buddha achieved Nirvana in the town of Gaya, under the Mahabodhi tree.
Many Sikhs believe that on the day of Baisakhi, martyr zed by the barbaric acts of the Muslim rulers. According to the legend, he was dumped into boiling oil, by the Muslim rulers.
For people in northern parts of India, especially the Sikhs, Baisakhi is a mega event - it is a religious festival, harvest festival and New Year's Day all rolled into one. In April, this day marks the beginning of the Hindu solar New Year. In fact, this day is celebrated all over the country as New Year day, under different names. For the Sikh community, Baisakhi has a very special meaning. It was on this day that their tenth and last Guru - Guru Gobind Singh - organized the Sikhs into Khalsa or the 'pure ones'. By doing so, he eliminated the differences of high and low and established that all human beings are equal.
Sikhs assign quite a different meaning to Baisakhi, and if you happen to be in a Punjabi village to catch the men performing the wild bhangra dance, you'll get the clear picture. This strenuous dance tells the story of the agricultural process, from tilling the soil through harvesting. As the dholak (drum) changes beats, the dancing sequence progresses, dramatizing plowing, sowing, weeding, reaping, and finally celebrating. Baisakhi also commemorates the day in 1689 when Guru Gobing Singh founded the Khalsa, the fighting Sikh brotherhood that donned the distinctive Sikh outfits.
Sikhs visit temples, such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where the holy Granth is read, commemorating the day on which the Guru asked five volunteers to offer their lives, then took them one at a time into a tent. He emerged each time with a bloody sword, although he had in fact sacrificed a goat. In honor the "Beloved Five," a series of parades are held, in which sets of five men walk in front of the holy book with swords drawn. When the ceremony is over, a round of feasting, music-making, and dancing begins, amid the blossoming flowers and harvested grain.
Baisakhi has special significance for two of India's major religious groups. For the Hindus, it is the start of the New Year, and is celebrated with requisite bathing, partying, and worshipping. It's believed that thousands of years ago, Goddess Ganga descended to earth and in her honor, many Hindus gather along the sacred Ganges River for ritual baths. The action is centered in the holy cities along the Ganges in north India, or in Srinagar's Mughal Gardens, Jammu's Nagbani Temple, or anywhere in Tamil Nadu. Hindus plant poles (wrapped in flags of god-embroidered silk) in front of their homes, and hang pots of brass, copper or silver on top.
Children wear garlands of flowers and run through the streets singing "May the new year come again and again!" In Kerala, the festival is called 'Vishu'. It includes fireworks, shopping for new clothes and interesting displays called 'Vishu Kani'. These are arrangements of flowers, grains, fruits, cloth, gold, and money are viewed early in the morning, to ensure a year of prosperity. In Assam, the festival is called Bohag Bihu, and the community organizes massive feasts, music and dancing.
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
regardless of religion. In Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
the Khalsa
Khalsa
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was founded on same day as the Vaisakhi festival, so Sikhs celebrate twice as much.
In Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
, it is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar, commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib is a city in Rupnagar district in the state of Punjab, India. Known as "the holy City of Bliss," it is a holy city of the Sikhs and is one of their most important sacred places, closely linked with their religious traditions and history...
in 1699, by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh is the tenth and last Sikh guru in a sacred lineage of ten Sikh gurus. Born in Patna, Bihar in India, he was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur as the leader of Sikhs at a young age of nine...
.
This day is also observed as the beginning of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
solar new year celebrated by people across Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, the Assam Valley
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
and other regions of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The particular significance attached to the occasion shows regional variation outside of Punjab too. In Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, the Hindu Goddess Jwalamukhi is worshipped on Vaisakhi, while in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, the Sun-god Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
is honoured. The festival is celebrated as Rongali Bihu in Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, Naba Barsha or Pohela Boishakh in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
, Puthandu
Puthandu
Puthandu , or better known as Tamil New Year, is the celebration of the first day of the Tamil new year in mid-April by Tamils in Tamil Nadu, in Pondicherry in India, in Sri Lanka and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Reunion Island and Mauritius. People in the world greet each other...
(Tamil New Year) in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Vishu
Vishu
Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, usually on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit into the Mesha Raasi , according to Indian astrological calculations, and represents the vernal equinox...
(or Vaishakhi) in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Bikhu or Bikhauti in the Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
region of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, Maha Vishuva Sankranti
Vishuva Sankranti
Pana Sankranti or Maha Vishuva Sankranti , also known as Mesha Sankranti and Pana Sankranti, is celebrated as the Oriya New Year. The day marks the beginning of the New Year in the traditional Hindu Solar Calendar. On this day the sun enters the sidereal Aries or Mesha rashi. It generally falls on...
(or Pana Sankranti) in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, and the Sinhalese New Year festival in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Besides Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, Vaisakhi is widely celebrated as a traditional harvest festival in many northern states of India, such as Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
and Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
. In many places the day is marked by ritualistic bathing in sacred rivers like the Ganges.
Celebrations
Vaisakhi is usually on the 13th April, and occasionally on 14th April. To mark the celebrations, SikhSikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
devotees generally attend the Gurudwara before dawn with flowers and offerings in hands. Processions through towns are also common. Vaisakhi is the day on which the Khalsa
Khalsa
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was born and Sikhs were given a clear identity and a code of conduct to live by, led by the last living Sikh spiritual teacher, Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh is the tenth and last Sikh guru in a sacred lineage of ten Sikh gurus. Born in Patna, Bihar in India, he was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur as the leader of Sikhs at a young age of nine...
Ji, who baptized the first Sikhs using sweet nectar called Amrit.
Punjab, Pakistan
Vaisakhi is widely celebrated by SikhsSikhism in Pakistan
Sikhism in Pakistan has an extensive heritage and history, although Sikhs form a very small community in the Islamic Republic today. Most Sikhs live in the province of Punjab, where the religion was born in the middle ages...
in Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
as well, with festivities centered on the Panja Sahib complex in Hassan Abdal, numerous shrines in Nankana Sahib
Nankana Sahib
Nankana Sahib , earlier known as Rai-Bhoi-Di-Talwandi, is a city in the Pakistani province of Punjab. It is named after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev, the central figure in Sikhism who was born here, so it is a city of high historic and religious value and is a popular pilgrimage site...
, and in various historical sites in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. It is culturally and traditionally regarded as an important and significant Punjabi festival, further exemplified by the thousands of Sikh
Sikhism in India
Sikhism is India's fourth-largest religion and has existed for over 500 years, beginning with the birth of its founder Guru Nanak Dev ji. The Sikhs are predominately located in Punjab, but also in many other parts of India.-The birth of the Sikh religion:...
pilgrims from around the world arriving each year to commemorate the day at the sacred Sikh sites of Nankana Sahib
Nankana Sahib
Nankana Sahib , earlier known as Rai-Bhoi-Di-Talwandi, is a city in the Pakistani province of Punjab. It is named after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev, the central figure in Sikhism who was born here, so it is a city of high historic and religious value and is a popular pilgrimage site...
and Hasan Abdal
Hasan Abdal
Hasan Abdal is an historic town in Northern Punjab, Pakistan. It is located where the Grand Trunk Road meets the Karakoram Highway near the North-West Frontier Province province, northwest of Wah. It is 40 km northwest of Rawalpindi. It has a population of about over 50,000. It is famous for...
. Further, local Pakistani's offer their well wishes and welcome the incoming pilgrims. In April 2009, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee is a Sikh religious organisation in Pakistan. Its creation and organisation is sponsored by the Government of Pakistan...
announced plans for formally organising the event on a larger scale in the country as well as expressing intentions for elegant arrangements. In 2010, over 20,000 pilgrims were expected to arrive in Pakistan for the celebrations, a significant increase over previous years.
Punjab, India
The main celebration takes place at Talwandi Sabo (where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the Guru Granth SahibGuru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
), and in the gurdwara
Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib
Takht Sri Darbar Sahib Kesgarh Sahib is one of the five Temporal Authorities of Sikhism. It is located in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab State ,...
at Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib is a city in Rupnagar district in the state of Punjab, India. Known as "the holy City of Bliss," it is a holy city of the Sikhs and is one of their most important sacred places, closely linked with their religious traditions and history...
, the birth place of the Khalsa and at the Golden Temple
Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib also Darbar Sahib , also referred to as the Golden Temple, is a prominent Sikh gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab . Construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev...
in Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
.
United States, Canada and United Kingdom
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, there is usually a parade commemorating the Vaisakhi celebration. In Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
people come out to do "seva
Selfless Service
Selfless service is a commonly used term to denote a service which is performed without any expectation of result or award for the person performing it.-Religious significance:...
" (religious work) such as giving out free food, and completing any other labor that needs to be done. In Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, the local Sikh community consisting of more than 20 Gurudwaras or Sikh Temples holds a full day Kirtan
Kirtan
Kirtan or Kirtana is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed...
or spiritual music program followed by a two mile parade in downtown Los Angeles with an estimated 15,000 participants. The local Sikh community in Vancouver, Abbotsford and Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
holds its annual Vaisakhi celebrations in the April long weekend, which often includes a nagar
Nagar
Nagar can refer to:*-nagar, a term meaning "settlement" in Sanskrit and other Indo-Aryan languages*the Nagar Valley in northern Pakistan**Nagar, Pakistan, a town in northern Pakistan...
kirtan
Kirtan
Kirtan or Kirtana is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed...
, or parade, which an estimated 200,000 people attend.
Legends are associated with a number of festivals celebrated in India. Since agriculture is the backbone of India - it provides livelihood to majority of the people in the rural areas of the country - the festival of harvest are given special importance in the calendar of events. Baisakhi is one of the important festivals celebrated with fun and fervor by the people living in the northern parts of the country. Apart from being a harvest festival, it holds religious significance too. A number of legends that revolve around Guru Gobind Singh, their tenth Guru, are associated with Baisakhi. Explore the article to know about the legends of Baisakhi.
Legends Of Baisakhi Festival
Guru Granth Sahib
Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi as the day of the formation of the Sikh Khalsa, or brotherhood. On the day, in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh guru) called on the Sikhs to sacrifice themselves for their community. Sikhism, in its present form, owes its existence to that Baisakhi day. After the Baisakhi Day of 1699, the tradition of Gurus was put to an end by the Sikhs, who, thereafter, declared the Guru Granth Sahib as their eternal guide and their Holy Book. Baisakhi also prepares the people of Punjab for the joy of the harvest season, which begins on the following day. It is a day of feasting and merriment before the hard, tiring but fruitful time ahead.
The Story Of Five Sikhs
The most famous Sikh stories revolve around Baisakhi. Guru Gobind Singh, standing outside a tent, called for five Sikhs to sacrifice themselves for the community. When the first volunteer stepped up, the guru took him into the tent, and reappeared alone, carrying a blood stained sword. This happened with the four other people who volunteered. Later, the Guru revealed that he had been smearing the sword with the blood of a dead animal, and all the five people were safe. This is, perhaps, the most interesting legend connected to Baisakhi.
Other Legends
According to the legend associated with Baisakhi, in 1567, Guru Ram Das committed Baisakhi as one of the special days, when all the Sikhs would assemble to seek the blessings from Guru at Goindwal.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj on Baisakhi, in 1875. Therefore, Baisakhi is as special for the Hindus, as it is for Sikhs.
Apart from the Sikhs and Hindus, Baisakhi is an important day for the Buddhists as well. On the day, Gautam Buddha achieved Nirvana in the town of Gaya, under the Mahabodhi tree.
Many Sikhs believe that on the day of Baisakhi, martyr zed by the barbaric acts of the Muslim rulers. According to the legend, he was dumped into boiling oil, by the Muslim rulers.
For people in northern parts of India, especially the Sikhs, Baisakhi is a mega event - it is a religious festival, harvest festival and New Year's Day all rolled into one. In April, this day marks the beginning of the Hindu solar New Year. In fact, this day is celebrated all over the country as New Year day, under different names. For the Sikh community, Baisakhi has a very special meaning. It was on this day that their tenth and last Guru - Guru Gobind Singh - organized the Sikhs into Khalsa or the 'pure ones'. By doing so, he eliminated the differences of high and low and established that all human beings are equal.
Sikhs assign quite a different meaning to Baisakhi, and if you happen to be in a Punjabi village to catch the men performing the wild bhangra dance, you'll get the clear picture. This strenuous dance tells the story of the agricultural process, from tilling the soil through harvesting. As the dholak (drum) changes beats, the dancing sequence progresses, dramatizing plowing, sowing, weeding, reaping, and finally celebrating. Baisakhi also commemorates the day in 1689 when Guru Gobing Singh founded the Khalsa, the fighting Sikh brotherhood that donned the distinctive Sikh outfits.
Sikhs visit temples, such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where the holy Granth is read, commemorating the day on which the Guru asked five volunteers to offer their lives, then took them one at a time into a tent. He emerged each time with a bloody sword, although he had in fact sacrificed a goat. In honor the "Beloved Five," a series of parades are held, in which sets of five men walk in front of the holy book with swords drawn. When the ceremony is over, a round of feasting, music-making, and dancing begins, amid the blossoming flowers and harvested grain.
Baisakhi has special significance for two of India's major religious groups. For the Hindus, it is the start of the New Year, and is celebrated with requisite bathing, partying, and worshipping. It's believed that thousands of years ago, Goddess Ganga descended to earth and in her honor, many Hindus gather along the sacred Ganges River for ritual baths. The action is centered in the holy cities along the Ganges in north India, or in Srinagar's Mughal Gardens, Jammu's Nagbani Temple, or anywhere in Tamil Nadu. Hindus plant poles (wrapped in flags of god-embroidered silk) in front of their homes, and hang pots of brass, copper or silver on top.
Children wear garlands of flowers and run through the streets singing "May the new year come again and again!" In Kerala, the festival is called 'Vishu'. It includes fireworks, shopping for new clothes and interesting displays called 'Vishu Kani'. These are arrangements of flowers, grains, fruits, cloth, gold, and money are viewed early in the morning, to ensure a year of prosperity. In Assam, the festival is called Bohag Bihu, and the community organizes massive feasts, music and dancing.
External links
- Baisakhi Festival in North India
- Vaisakhi Astrology
- Baisakhi Resource – Established on the tercentenary, the definitive guide on religious significance of Vaisakhi.
- NYC Sikh Day Parade Website