Baisakhi Festival 2025 - Sunday, Apr 13

Baisakhi is a seasonal festival with a special accent. It is celebrated all over Punjab on the first of Baisakh. This is the time when harvested crops are gathered in and the farmers exult in the fulfillment of their year's hard work. On this festival, the farmers join the merry-making with full gusto and do not mind walking for miles to be able to do so.
Since this fair is also an expression of prosperity- singing and dancing are its most enchanting features. The Punjab s famous Bhangra and Giddha are inextricably linked with this festival. Many fairs in the Punjab are held near the tombs and shrines of pirs. These fairs must have originated in a spirit of devotion to those saints and sages. The most famous among such fairs are the Chhapar fair, the Jarag fair, and the Roshni fair of Jagranyan.

The Significance of Baisakhi

Baisakhi marks the beginning of the New Year, particularly in the northern part of India. It is among the few Indian festivals that have a fixed date. In Kerala, Baisakhi is known as "Vishu" and in Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as "Puthandu".
Considered a holy day, the devout celebrate the festival of Baisakhi with a dip in the holy rivers just around the break of dawn. It is on this day that the Sun enters Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac. This signifies the ushering of the New Year.

It also signifies the end of the harvest of the main crop. During Baisakhi, the farmers pay thanks to the Lord Almighty for their fortune and pray for a better crop the next year. Baisakhi involves a lot of socializing where friends and relatives are invited and delicious meals are served.

Baisakhi in Punjab

For Sikhs, Baisakhi marks the establishment of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, in 1699. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh baptized his followers as the Khalsa, creating a community of saint-soldiers dedicated to upholding righteousness and protecting the oppressed. Baisakhi is therefore celebrated as a collective birthday of the Khalsa Panth (community). Sikhs commemorate this day with processions, prayers, kirtans (spiritual music), and community gatherings at Gurdwaras (Sikh temples).

In Punjab (the land of the Green Revolution) particularly and in the northern belt of India in general, farmers perform their prayers and rejoice. And on this day, they commence cutting their harvest.

The fields can be seen full of nature's bounty. Dressed in their typical folk attire, both men and women, celebrate the day with Bhangra and Gidda, the famous Punjabi dance forms. Sweets are distributed, old enmities are forgiven and life is full of joy, and merriment and everyone seems to rejoice.

In Hinduism, Baisakhi holds agricultural significance. It marks the harvest festival and the beginning of the Hindu solar New Year. Farmers express gratitude for the bountiful harvest and pray for prosperity in the upcoming agricultural season. In some regions, people bathe in sacred rivers like the Ganges and visit temples to seek blessings for a prosperous year ahead.

Baisakhi Legend and Celebrations

The legend of Baisakhi is deeply intertwined with the formation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, in 1699. According to Sikh tradition, on the day of Baisakhi, Guru Gobind Singh called together Sikhs from all over India to the city of Anandpur Sahib. There, in front of a large gathering, he asked for a volunteer willing to sacrifice their life for the sake of righteousness. After a dramatic pause, Guru Gobind Singh emerged from his tent with a bloody sword, symbolizing the sacrifice.

One by one, Guru Gobind Singh called five men into his tent, each time returning with a bloodied sword. The crowd grew anxious, fearing the worst. But to their amazement, Guru Gobind Singh emerged from the tent with all five men alive and dressed in new saffron robes. These five men became known as the Panj Pyare, or the Five Beloved Ones, and they symbolize the virtues of courage, sacrifice, equality, love, and devotion.

Guru Gobind Singh then initiated the Panj Pyare into the Khalsa by baptizing them with Amrit, a sweetened water stirred with a sword, while reciting verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture. This ceremony transformed the Sikhs into the Khalsa, a community of saint-soldiers dedicated to upholding righteousness and protecting the oppressed.

To celebrate Baisakhi, Sikhs gather at Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) for special prayers and kirtans (devotional songs). The day typically begins with early morning processions known as Nagar Kirtan, where the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is carried through the streets amidst singing and chanting. Langar, a community meal, is also an integral part of Baisakhi celebrations, where people from all walks of life are welcomed to partake in a free meal regardless of caste, creed, or religion.

In addition to religious observances, Baisakhi is also celebrated with cultural festivities, including vibrant dance performances such as Bhangra and Gidda, traditional music, and colorful attire. It's a time for Sikhs to reaffirm their commitment to the principles of the Khalsa and for communities to come together in joyous celebration.

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