Also known as Vaisakhi, Baisakhi happens to be the harvest festival that is celebrated on the 1st day of the month of Vaisakh as per the Sikh Calendar. This date corresponds with the 13th day in the month of April according to the Gregorian calendar. Once in every 36 years, the Baisakhi festival falls on 14th of April. This difference in dates is owing to the fact the festival is counted following not the Lunar Calendar but the Solar Calendar. The festival is celebrated with grandeur and enthusiasm in the North India, especially in Punjab and Haryana.

This important festival of the Sikhs is celebrated during the harvesting of the Rabi crop. The festival bears a great significance because of the fact that on the Baisakhi Day in the year 1699, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh laid down the foundation of the Panth Khalsa that is the Order of the Pure Ones. This day is also observed as the Thanksgiving Day by the farmers whereby the farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for the future prosperity.

Legends associated with Baisakhi

There are several legends linked with the vibrant and colorful festival of Baisakhi. These legends reveal the fact that this Sikh festival is not only significant for the Sikhs but also for the Buddhists and the Hindus.

• In the year 1699, on this day, Guru Gobind Sing, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs organized the Khalsa order that is the Panth Khalsa. The Guru tradition among the Sikhs was discontinued by him and the declaration of the Granth Sahib as the eternal guru of the Sikhs was made.
  
  
• It is on this Baishakhi day that the Muslim rulers martyred Guru Arjan Dev
  
  
• In the year 1875, the Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati on this day.
  
  
• The day also bears a religious significance for the Buddhists since it is on this day that Nirvana was attained by Lord Buddha.

Baisakhi Celebrations

It’s Baisakhi and its time for celebrations, festivity, fun, enthusiasm and joy! Sikhs begin the day by paying a visit to the nearby Gurdwaras. Kada Prasad is distributed among people. Processions head by the 5 religious men or Panj Piaras are taken out! Passage recitals from the sacred Granth Sahib and Kirtans, take place at the gurdwaras. People are seen performing kar sewa that means helping at the everyday duties of the gurdwara.

Celebrating the festival with extreme devotion and exuberance, most of the activities on this day take place at the gurdwaras. People wake up early and after taking a bath pays a visit to the gurdwaras for attending the special prayers there. While most of them try to pay a visit to the famous and holy Golden Temple or Anandpur Sahib wherein the Khalsa was laid down, some others also visit the gurdwaras in their neighborhood.

At the gurdwara, the sacred book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib, is taken out ceremonially and thereby given a symbolical bath of water and milk. Following these rituals, the Guru Granth Sahib is then kept on the throne with extreme care. The book is also read out for all those followers who assemble at the gurdwara on this auspicious occasion of Baisakhi.

On the Baisakhi Day of the year 1699, the 5 beloved ones or Panch Pyaras chanted verses under Guru Gobind Singh’s guidance. Since then it has been a ritual of the Sikhs, wherein 5 priests by that same name go out and chant verses that were originally recited by the Panch Pyaras. Again, just as nectar or amrita made in an iron container was used by Guru Gobind Singh for blessing the panch pyare, similarly, till date, the holy nectar or amrita is made in an iron container and distributed to all those who gathers following the sacred chants. As one of the traditions, the followers sip in the amrita 5 times and promise to work for brotherhood that is the Khalsa Panth. Kirtans or religious songs are sung this for the spiritual upliftment of the devotees.

As soon as the Baisakhi ardas finish, in the noon the sweet semolina or the Karah Prasad is given to the Guru for receiving his blessings after which it is offered to all the devotes who gather at the gurdwara. The culmination of the ceremony takes place with a special community lunch or the guru-ka-langar. Vegetarian meals are served to the people.

On this pious occasion of Baisakhi, the Sikhs take out a procession led by Panj piaras. The procession then moves through important areas in the city with devotional songs for company. Women, men and children participate in various events like singing, mock duels, gidda and bhangra performances, thereby making the festive moment even more joyful.



Greetings and gifts are exchanged among neighbors, friends, family and dear ones. On this auspicious occasion of Baisakhi, people engage in merry making by performing energetic dances such as gidda and bhangra, while echoes of "Jatta aai Baisakhi" fills in the air. Everyday activities of the farmers such as sowing, harvest, winnowing and gathering of crops can be seen in full swing but with a touch of excitement, joy and zestful body movements. This is the time when you would get the opportunity to take pleasure in number of fascinating Punjabi dishes.

In different localities of Punjab, fairs and festivals are organized apart from recreational activities such as wrestling bouts, dances etc. The festival is observed with immense pleasure and excitement at Talwandi Sabo, the place where Guru Gobind Singh resided for 9 months and also finished the recompilation of the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib. People take this opportunity to buy clothes and make the very best of this festive event by singing, dancing, loving and wishing each other and most importantly enjoying their heart out!

For the farming community of Haryana and Punjab, Baisakhi commemorates the New Year and also the harvesting time for the Rabi Crop.

Baisakhi- Its Significance!

The festival of Baisakhi apart from carrying a special meaning for the farmers is also significant from several other point of views. From the point of view of the Sikhs, the significance of Baisakhi is immense. The festival is of prime importance to the Sikhs, owing to the foundation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru also administered nectar or amrit to his 1st batch of disciples and created a martial community. This eliminated the disparity among human beings and treated all as equal.

From the astrological point of view, Baisakhi falls every year on 13th of April. This date is significant because it marks the entry of the sun to Mesh Rashi. Hence the festival is often known as Mesha Sankranti.

For the farmers, this festival is important because it marks the beginning of Rabi crop harvest in the agricultural states of Haryana and Punjab. On this day, farmers express their gratitude to God and thank Him for the good harvest. They also pray for bountiful harvest in the future.

As for the other religions, the significance of Baisakhi is no less. For the Hindus, the day is important because in the year 1875, Swami Dayanand Saraswati on this very day created the Arya Samaj, one of the reformed sects of the Hindu Community. For the Buddhists, Gautama Buddha got enlightenment on this sacred day.