Baisakhi Festival- History, Significance, Celebrations

Baisakhi is one of the most popular harvest festivals in India. The festival holds great significance for Hindu and Sikh communities. The festival is usually celebrated on the 13th or 14th of April every year. This year, In 2023 the festival is celebrated on 14th April. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in different states of India including Punjab, Haryana, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Hindus and Sikhs residing out of India in countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, The United States and The United Kingdom also celebrate this festival. As the festival is around the corner, it is the perfect time to teach your kids about Baisakhi, its history, significance, and how it is observed in India.

History and Story of Baisakhi

Baisakhi is widely observed in India, especially in the states of Punjab and Haryana. There is a popular tale behind why do we observe the harvest festival of Baisakhi. It states that in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh chose the occasion of Baisakhi to establish Khalsa, a collective name used to refer to Sikhs who were baptised. 

Guru Gobind Singh came out of a tent carrying a sword and proclaimed that any Sikh who is ready to sacrifice his life for his faith should come into the tent. Five men went into the tent but Guru came alone, with splashes of blood on his sword. 

Soon after this, five men wearing turbans came out of the tent unharmed. They were then recognised as Panj Piare or the Beloved Five. In this way, they also became the first members of the Khalsa community. They were baptised by Guru Gobind Singh who gave them amrit, the Sikh word for holy water. 

What is the Significance of Baisakhi?

The festival has great significance for Hindu and Sikh Communities:

• This day embarks on the beginning of the Hindu Solar new year
• According to Hindu belief, it is believed that on the Day of Baisakhi, the river goddess Ganga (holy Ganges) descended on the Earth from the abode. Taking a dip in the river on Baisakhi Day is considered auspicious
• The day marks the beginning of the spring season known as the month of Baisakh in Hindi
• It is also believed that after being triggered by the persecution and execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb,  his son Guru Gobind Singh formed Khalsa on the day of Baisakhi 
• It is also believed that Ranjit Singh was proclaimed the Maharaja of the Sikh empire on the day of Baisakhi 

Rituals to Celebrate the Festival of Baisakhi

The following are the ways in which the festival is celebrated:

• According to Hindu rituals, taking a dip in the river Ganga, Jhelum, and Kaveri is considered auspicious
• On this day, people visit temples for prayer, cook delicious food and invite friends and relatives over to celebrate this festival together
• Some people also donate hand fans, seasonal fruits, and water pitchers to poor and less fortunate people
• Fairs and Melas are organized to celebrate the festival 
• In Gurudwaras, ‘Lungars’ are organized are people to sit together and have a meal together
• Major celebrations take place in Golden Temple in Amritsar where many people gather together for the prayer
• Farmers offer their prayers to the Almighty God and seek their blessing for their harvest and the beginning of the new season
• People of Kashmir organize ceremonial baths in holy rivers 
• In Himachal Pradesh, people visit the Jwalamukhi temple and take a dip in the holy natural hot spring 

Best Places to Celebrate Baisakhi 

The following are the best places to celebrate the festival of Baiakhi:

Also Read: Diwali at Top Universities in the World 

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