{"id":764109,"date":"2024-04-09T15:26:59","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T09:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/discover\/?p=764109"},"modified":"2024-04-09T15:26:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T09:56:59","slug":"baisakhi-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/discover\/trending-events\/baisakhi-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Baisakhi Festival- History, Significance, Celebrations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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<\/strong>, Malaysia, The United States <\/strong><\/a>and The United Kingdom<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

History and Story of Baisakhi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Significance of Baisakhi?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The festival has great significance for Hindu and Sikh Communities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • This day embarks on the beginning of the Hindu Solar new year<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 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<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The day marks the beginning of the spring season known as the month of Baisakh in Hindi<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 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 <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • It is also believed that Ranjit Singh was proclaimed the Maharaja of the Sikh empire on the day of Baisakhi <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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