India is all set to celebrate the harvest festival of Punjab celebrated with much pomp, fervour, and feasting. Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, marks the beginning of a new year. The word ‘Baisakhi’ is derived from ‘Baisakh’, the first month of the Bikram Sambat Hindu calendar. It is also the day when Khalsa, a collective body of all initiated Sikhs, was established at Kesgarh in Anandpur Sahib, by the 10th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh in the year 1699. The farming community celebrates the day as a thanksgiving day and prays for a bountiful year ahead. In 2018, Baisakhi will be celebrated on April 14. Read on to know about the astrological, religious and cultural significance of the Punjabi festival.
Astrological significance
The festival is celebrated on April 13 every year and on 14 once in 36 years. On this day, the sun enters Mesh (Aries) sun sign and hence it is also called as ‘Mesha Sankranti’. The day is celebrated across India with different names and rituals such as Pahela Baishakh (Bengali New Year), Bihu (Assamese New Year), Kerala (Vishu) and Puthandu (Tamil New Year).
Religious significance
In 1699, on Vaisakhi, Khalsa, a collective body of baptised Sikhs, was established. Khalsa was inaugurated at Kesgarh in Anandpur Sahib by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru. Khalsa basically means pure. Every year during Baisakhi, Sikhs who are ready to join Khalsa are baptised. For the same, they need to undergo Amrit ceremony. Those undergoing the ceremony are committed to giving up alcohol/tobacco/intoxicants, not allowed to remove any hair from the body and asked to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.
Cultural significance
Baisakhi marks the harvest time of the winter (rabi) crops and so the farmers after months of hard work are loaded with cash and are in a mood for enjoyment. The day is observed as a thanksgiving for the abundant harvest and to seek blessings for future prosperity and progress. There is also a tradition where people gather in a farm and diligently harvest the crop on the beat of drums. Besides, they also perform the traditional bhangra or gidda, sing traditional songs and dohas.
Rituals
It is a ritual to visit Gurudwara in the morning to offer prayers. There’s also a tradition to visit Golden Temple (Amritsar, Punjab) and Anandpur Sahib (Anandpur, Punjab), the birthplace of Khalsa. The reason behind the visit is the ‘Khasa Panth’ is recited here. On the day, Granth Sahib, the holy book is placed on a ceremonial chair and read. After reciting the hymns Prasad is distributed among the devotees. The holy book is later taken out for Nagar Kirtan where devotees dance and sing religious songs.
Celebration by the Sikh community
Baisakhi is celebrated with great fervour, people wake up early, wear new clothes, visit Gurudwara and offer prayers, recite religious songs and hymns. ‘Khada Prasad’ is distributed to all the devotees. In the evening people visit their relatives and friends and exchange sweets and gifts. The festival also sees ‘Nagar Kirtan’, the procession involves singing of holy hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib –the Sikh holy book. People visit Punjab’s Talwandi Sabo, a place where Guru Gobind Singh resided for nine months and completed the Sikh holy book.
Celebration around the globe
United States: A parade is organised every year by the Sikh community.
United Kingdom: Nagar Kirtans are organised in the Southall gurudwara.
Los Angeles: Sikh community holds a full day kirtan followed by a parade.
Malaysia: Government servants from the Sikh Malaysian Indian Community are given a day off.
Canada: Sikh community organises Nagar Kirtan followed by a parade.
