Welcome to Sikhism Expanded Observance: Baisakhi
Baisakhi or Vaisakhi falls on the first day of the month of Baisakh, the second month, on the Indian calendar. According to the new Sikh calendar, called Nanakshahi calendar and adopted by the Sikh leadership in recent years, the observance always falls on April 14th
Baisakhi is celebrated as a festival in the state of Punjab in two different ways, culturally and religiously. Culturally, all Punjabis (people residing in Punjab) celebrate the occasion. The observance happens during harvest time when the crops are ripe and mature and are ready to harvest. Over 80% of the population of Punjab are farmers. In anticipation of good fortune and financial rewards, celebrations are organized all over Punjab. People, dress in colorful clothes, attend different types of fairs, entertainment and sports events, and arts and craft displays. Restaurants, as well as fruit and sweet shops become common gathering venues. This day is for fun and rejoicing. The highlight of the celebration is a folk dance called Bhangra and Gidda. Bhangra is performed by men while Gidda by women.
The religious celebration is confined only to Sikhs. This is the day when Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and the last of the Sikh Gurus, created the brotherhood called “Khalsa”, meaning pure.
This happened in 1699 C.E., when Guru Gobund Singh sent messages and invitations to the Sikhs all over India to come and attend Baisakhi at Anandpur, Punjab. Over 80,000 individuals from all over gathered for this celebration. After morning prayers, the Guru addressed the congregation. Suddenly, he pulled his 3½ foot long sword and asked for any brave follower to sacrifice his head to the Guru. After a slight hesitation, a person named Daya Ram stood up and offered his head to the Guru. The Guru took him to a nearby tent and came to the stage again with his sword drenched in blood and asked for another head. The process was repeated five times. After a few minutes he brought the five uniquely dressed back to the stage and called them “his five beloved ones”. He instructed them with a code of conduct of what they could or could not do. From then on Sikhs have been given a common name of “Singh” for males and “Kaur” for females. Each baptized Sikh is commanded to wear five articles of faith: uncut hair, comb, Kirpan (a small sword), bracelet and a special type of shorts. Everyone is expected to recite morning and evening prayers. All must perform service to humanity, be truthful, earn their own living, and share at least 10% of their earnings with the needy.
In 1999 C.E., Sikhs from all over the world celebrated the 300th anniversary of the creation of “Khalsa”. On this day, there are many processions, religious services in the form of kirtan (singing of hymns), and lectures on Sikh history. Baisakhi is a great celebration for Sikhs all over the world.
