What is the Baisakhi festival?
Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi or Baisakhi, is a traditional festival celebrated primarily by the Sikh community, but it is also celebrated by Hindus and other communities in India. The festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and the Punjabi New Year.
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| What is the Baisakhi festival? |
Baisakhi is usually celebrated on April 13 or April 14 every year, depending on the Sikh calendar. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is marked by special prayers, processions, and festive gatherings. People dress up in their traditional clothes, dance to the beat of dhol and sing folk songs.
For Sikhs, Baisakhi is an especially important occasion as it marks the formation of the Khalsa, the Sikh brotherhood, in 1699 by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The Khalsa is a community of initiated Sikhs who have committed themselves to living by the highest standards of Sikhism.
Overall, Baisakhi is a time for celebrating the joy of the harvest season, renewing faith, and strengthening community bonds.
Baisakhi festival Date
The date of the Baisakhi festival varies every year as it is determined by the Nanakshahi calendar, which is a solar calendar based on the tropical year.
Baisakhi festival Date
However, Baisakhi is usually celebrated on April 13 or April 14 every year, depending on the Sikh calendar. In 2023, Baisakhi will be celebrated on April 14.
How is celebrated Baisakhi festival?
Baisakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by the Sikh community and other communities in India. Here are some of the ways in which the festival is celebrated:
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| How is celebrated Baisakhi festival? |
Visiting Gurdwaras: Sikhs visit gurdwaras, which are Sikh places of worship, to offer prayers, listen to hymns and sermons, and seek blessings.
Nagar Kirtan: A Nagar Kirtan is a colourful and vibrant procession that takes place on the streets of cities and towns. The procession is led by the Panj Pyare (the five beloved ones) carrying the Sikh flag known as Nishan Sahib, followed by a group of devotees singing hymns and playing traditional musical instruments.
Bhangra and Gidda: People dress up in colourful traditional clothes and perform Bhangra and Gidda, which are Punjabi folk dances, to the beat of the dhol.
Langar: Langar refers to a free community meal that is offered to all visitors at gurdwaras and other community centres. The meal usually consists of vegetarian food that is cooked by volunteers and served to everyone, regardless of their caste, creed, or religion.
Fairs: Baisakhi fairs are organised in many parts of India, where people come together to celebrate the festival, enjoy rides, play games, and savour traditional food.
Overall, Baisakhi is a time for celebrating the joy of the harvest season, renewing faith, and strengthening community bonds.
History of the Baisakhi festival
The history of the Baisakhi festival is rooted in the Sikh faith and is associated with the formation of the Khalsa, the Sikh brotherhood, in 1699. Here's a brief overview of the history of Baisakhi:
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| History of the Baisakhi festival |
Formation of the Khalsa: In 1699, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, called a gathering of Sikhs in the town of Anandpur Sahib. During the gathering, Guru Gobind Singh asked for a volunteer who would be willing to give his life for the Sikh faith.
A young man named Bhai Daya Singh stepped forward and was taken into a tent by Guru Gobind Singh. When Guru Gobind Singh emerged from the tent, he was holding a sword dripping with blood. He asked for another volunteer, and four more Sikhs stepped forward. Guru Gobind Singh then initiated the five Sikhs into the Khalsa, the Sikh brotherhood, by baptising them with Amrit (sweetened water).
Significance of Baisakhi: The formation of the Khalsa is considered a significant event in Sikh history as it marked the transformation of the Sikh faith into a martial community. Guru Gobind Singh chose the occasion of Baisakhi, which is traditionally a time for celebrating the harvest season and new beginnings, to initiate the Khalsa. The Khalsa was tasked with upholding the principles of Sikhism, protecting the weak and oppressed, and fighting against tyranny and injustice.
Baisakhi after the formation of the Khalsa: Following the formation of the Khalsa, Baisakhi became an important occasion for Sikhs to reaffirm their faith and celebrate the harvest season. The festival is marked by special prayers, processions, and festive gatherings, and is celebrated by Sikhs and other communities in India.
Overall, the history of Baisakhi is closely tied to the formation of the Khalsa and the transformation of the Sikh faith into a martial community committed to upholding the principles of Sikhism.
What is the Khalsa?
The Khalsa is the community of initiated Sikhs who have committed themselves to living by the highest standards of Sikhism. The Khalsa was founded by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, on the occasion of Baisakhi in 1699.
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| What is the Khalsa? |
To become a member of the Khalsa, a person must undergo a special initiation ceremony called Amrit Sanchar, where they are baptised with Amrit (sweetened water) and take a vow to follow the teachings of Sikhism. The initiation ceremony involves a series of rituals and prayers that symbolise the commitment of the individual to the Sikh faith.
Members of the Khalsa are required to observe the five Ks, which are five articles of faith that signify their commitment to the Sikh faith. The five Ks are:
Kesh: Uncut hair, which is seen as a symbol of spirituality and humility
Kangha: A wooden comb, which is used to keep the hair clean and tidy
Kara: A steel bracelet, which symbolises unity with God and the Sikh community
Kirpan: A sword or dagger, which represents the defence of the weak and oppressed
Kachera: Cotton underwear, which represents modesty and self-control
The Khalsa is a community of Sikhs who are committed to living by the highest standards of Sikhism, including the principles of equality, justice, and compassion. Members of the Khalsa are expected to be strong in their faith, uphold the principles of Sikhism, and be willing to defend the weak and oppressed.
Sikh festival of Baisakhi
The Sikh festival of Baisakhi is one of the most important festivals in Sikhism, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by Sikhs and other communities in India. Baisakhi is traditionally celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year, depending on the Sikh calendar. Here are some of the key features of the Sikh festival of Baisakhi:
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| Sikh festival of Baisakhi |
Harvest festival: Baisakhi is traditionally a harvest festival that marks the beginning of the Punjabi new year. It is a time for farmers to celebrate the abundance of the harvest season and offer thanks for the blessings of nature.
Religious significance: Baisakhi has a significant religious significance for Sikhs, as it commemorates the formation of the Khalsa, the Sikh brotherhood, by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1699. On this occasion, Guru Gobind Singh initiated the first five members of the Khalsa and established the principles of the Sikh faith.
Special prayers and processions: Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi by offering special prayers and hymns at gurdwaras, which are Sikh places of worship. Processions known as Nagar Kirtans are also held, where devotees sing hymns and play traditional musical instruments while carrying the Sikh flag known as Nishan Sahib.
Festive gatherings: Baisakhi is also a time for festive gatherings, where people come together to enjoy traditional food, music, and dance. Bhangra and Gidda, which are Punjabi folk dances, are popular during the festival.
Community service: Baisakhi is also a time for community service, and Sikhs participate in langars, which are free community meals offered to all visitors at gurdwaras and other community centres.
Overall, the Sikh festival of Baisakhi is a time for celebrating the harvest season, renewing faith, and strengthening community bonds. It is a time for Sikhs to reflect on the principles of their faith and commit themselves to live by those principles.
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