Baisakhi festival

Baisakhi festival

Baisakhi is a harvest thankgiving festival and is celebrated on fixed date according to the solar calendar, on the thirteenth day of april. In punjab, this festival is celebrated with great fanfare. It is one of the main festival of the Sikhs.

baisakhi dance

In is said that after Guru Nanakdev founded the sikh religion, there were nine more gurus. The last guru, Guru Gobind Singh laid the foundation of the khalsa panth or the path of the pure on the Baisakhi day.

He wanted the shikhs to be valiant, daring, and protective of their religion and of place. He called his followers to assemble at the Gurudwara and ashed them to give a test of fearlessness. The guru ashed one of the daring disciples to go with him in the tent.

He then came out with a bloodsoaked sword. In the same way, and when all returned safe and sound, he declared them his panch pyaras, meaning five favourites. Then he asked his followers to maintain certain principles to become a pure sikh. They were to keep (hair), kara (iron bangle), kach chha (underwear), kangha (comb) and Kirpan (small dagger) always with them.

These are popularly known as the five 'K' of Sikhism. On this auspicious day, the Guru Granth sahib was declared as the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, and all followers of Sikhism were to revere it. On Baisakhi, the Sikhs go the gurudwaras and listen to the recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Then they perform the kar seva. Langaras of kitchens and meals are organised on this day. They give thaar i.e. charity to the poor and the needy. In the evening, a procession is taken out in the streets with the Guru Granth Sahib and the Gyani or priest gives religious discourses.

baisakhi

At this harvest festival, celebration are held in the countryside and community dancing takes place with much gaiety and gusto. Menfolk perform the Bhangra dance and women do the Gidda folk dance.

Baisakhi fairs and melas are popular amongst the people. The gurudwaras are illuminated on this day, which is also regarded as the new year's day.

Baisakhi festival celebrate in other place

This day is also celebrated in other parts of the nation under different names. In the south, the state of Kerala celebrates vishnu as the new year's day. People exchange gifts and greeting. In the state of Andhra Pradesh, It is celebrated as ugadi or the new beginning. Traditionally, a nutritious chutney is made from new neem flowers, green mangoes and jaggery.

In the Bengal, it is known as Naba Barasha, i.e New year. In manipur, it is know as lai haraoba when people sing and dance. In maharashtra, it is known as the Gudipadva in which new clothes and festive food add to the spirit of fun and celebration.

Thus, in the month of April, the day thirteenth to fifteenth are very special day of feast and festivities across the length and breadth of the subcontinent.