Vaisakhi a Sikh festival also known as Baisakhi, is celebrated by Sikhs around the world. Originating in Punjab, India the festival is also celebrated by many that celebrate Vaisakhi in different ways, it a start of the New Year for Sikhs or a solar year for Hindus.
Vaisakhi a Sikh festival (14 April) also marks the birth of the founder of Sikhi, The Guru Nanak (1469). The significance also rose when on this day, when Sikhism was born as a collective faith in 1699, The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh chose the festival day as the moment to establish The Khalsa – that’s the collective name given to Sikhs who’ve been baptised.
The Khalsa means initiated Sikhs, but also those who consider Sikhism a faith.
It saw five men step forward when he asked for volunteers who were willing to give their lives for the faith and almighty. But they returned unharmed and instead had been baptised and became known as the Panj Pyare, or the Beloved Five.
To celebrate Vaisakhi, Sikhs will visit places of worship called Gurudwaras. These will also be especially decorated for the occasion.
Many people enjoy parades and special processions through the streets called Nagar Keertans. Normally big celebrations take place in the city of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, which is where Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa.
Farmers in the Punjab will also use Vaisakhi as an opportunity to give thanks for a plentiful harvest and pray for a good one in the year to come.
Fairs and melas are held in many places in Punjab to celebrate the formation of the Khalsa. Celebrations include performing the martial art of Gatka using swords, sticks and daggers.
Vaisakhi a Sikh festival is a harvest festival for people of Northern India. Vaisakhi marks the ripening of the rabi harvest. In Punjab, this day is observed as a Thanksgiving Day by farmers whereby farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for future prosperity. The harvest festival is also characterized by the folk dance, Bhangra which traditionally is a harvest dance.
Waheguru 🙏
Thanks for information Harleen Kaur is a skih artist. visit her site at immersedinyouarts.com
Sat Guru ji Listen to live kirtan from this page make me feel relaxed. 🙂
Waheguru 29th August 2021 is Samputanta Divas Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 🙏
very well written and explaining about eighth Guru Ji. It is educational for younger generation. Waheguru Ji.
Cities across the world that have significant Sikh populations usually hold large public events to mark Vaisakhi. Sikh communities traditionally celebrate with processions called nagar kirtan – which means town/neighbourhood hymn singing.
The processions are led by five Sikhs in ceremonial dress representing the Punj Pyare (Beloved Ones) and include Dohl drummers, performers of Gatka (a Sikh martial art) and floats carrying women and spiritual leaders who are chanting prayers and singing hymns. Hundreds of people walk behind and line the streets, many of them chanting and singing.
Each year, Australia traditionally has two processions – one from Sikh game and one from harvest festival at Blacktown Showground on Richmond Road on 1st May 2022 and around Sydney area where a huge mela takes place. That was cancelled for 2021 due to coronavirus restrictions and no announcement.
Vaisakhi is a traditional harvest festival of Punjab that marks the start of the harvest season in the fertile lands of Punjab, Punjabi’s celebrate the occasion with loads of traditional music, rural games, food and family fun. Vaisakhi also marks the birth of founder of Sikhi The Guru Nanak and also is the start of the Sikh New Year.
When is Vaisakhi a Sikh festival 2022?
Vaisakhi – also written as Baisakhi – falls on April 13 or 14 each year, but every 36 years it falls on April 15. In 2022, religious officials have determined it will be on Thursday, April 14.
Vaisakhi falls on the first day of Vaisakha, the second month in the Indian national calendar. This month is known as Vaisakh in the Hindu calendar, where it is the first month of the year.
The date is determined by the solar calendar and marks the sun’s entry into the sign of Aries. Vaisakhi is also often seen as the start of summer, a time when storms called Kalboishakhi sweep in from the north-west at the end of a hot day.
0 Comments