Vaisakhi, also pronounced Baisakhi, marks the first day of the month of Vaisakha and is usually celebrated annually on 13 or 14 April as the Hindu and Sikh solar new year. It is additionally a spring harvest festival for many Indians. This post is about the Significance of Vaisakhi | Why is Vaisakhi Celebrated? – Indian Festivals
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Vaisakhi/ Baisakhi is the Sikh New Year’s Day as it is not just a Spring-time harvest festival but also a day that is commemorative of the formation of the Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
Every year it is celebrated on 13 April and after every 36 years, on 14th April.
Why is Vaisakhi Celebrated?
The word Vaisakhi comes from the Hindu calendar month of Vaishakh. It is the second month in the Hindu calendar that begins with the month of Chaitra and ends with Falgun or Fagun. This is the time when the farmers in the northern part of India have harvested the season’s crops and are gearing up for the next season’s sowing.
On this day. Gurdwaras wear a festive look as they gear up to welcome the footfall of thousands of devotees. Sikhs take a holy dip in nearby ponds or lakes and don festive gears. Nagar kirtan processions are carried out, food-charity or Langar Seva is held.
Nagar Kirtan is the procession of Guru Granth Sahib – the holy book of Sikhs. This religious procession is carried out by devotees chanting or singing holy hymns. The procession is always led by the Panj Pyare (the five beloved ones who form the central part of the Khalsa), dressed in saffron. They are followed by the holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib, and other members of the procession. Sewadars or volunteers help clear beforehand the road through which the procession is to pass. The procession arrives finally at the designated Gurudwara where Ardas or the prayer is offered.
For the non-Sikh Hindus too, it is a holy day. A number of people mark it as a day to take a dip in a river or lake and then visit a temple, It is a day of making and sharing sweetmeats and dance and festivity.
Incidentally, Vaisakhi – in its own local flavour, is observed in Bengal, Assam (Rongali Bihu) and Bihar too.
Sadly, it is also commemorative of the day in 1919 when an uncouth British colonial officer General Dyer opened fire on thousands of Indians at Jallianwala Baug in Amritsar. The death of thousands of festive revellers by the haul of bullets shocked the world and also set the narrative for independence from the foreign rule that ultimately cam by in 1947.
Read Also: Significance of Holi | Why is Holi Celebrated? – Indian Festivals
Significance of Vaisakhi
The Festival of Vaisakhi/ Baisakhi is celebrated by the farmers as a harvest festival. It is an important festival for Sikh. It is celebrated as a foundation day of Khalsa Panth. Besides, auspicious Vaisakhi is of importance for astrological reasons. Astrologically, Vaisakhi marks sun’s entry into Mesh Rashi. Hence, many people also know Vaisakhi as Mesha Sankranti. The auspicious festival of Vaisakhi is celebrated all over India with different names and rituals. It is celebrated as ‘Rongali Bihu‘ in Assam, ‘Naba Barsha‘ in Bengal, ‘Puthandu’ in Tamil Nadu, ‘Pooram Vishu‘ in Kerala and ‘Vaishakha’ in Bihar.
The day of Vaisakhi has a special significance for the Hindus as on this day in 1875 that Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj. It is a reformed sect of Hindus who are devoted to the Vedas for spiritual guidance and have discarded idol worship. Vaisakhi is a day of relevance for the Buddhists as Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment and Nirvana on this auspicious day.
Legend
Vaisakhi is associated with major events in the history of Sikhism. The significance of Vaisakhi as a Sikh festival marks the birth of Sikh sect which was started after the persecution and execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur as he refused to convert to Islam under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. This led to the coronation of the tenth Guru of Sikhism and the formation of Khalsa which took place on the Vaisakhi day.
It is also the day when British colonial officials committed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on a gathering of innocent locals, an event influential to the Indian movement against colonial rule.
Celebrations and Rituals
On Vaisakhi, Gurdwaras are decorated, and kirtans are performed, Sikhs visit and bathe in lakes or rivers before visiting Gurdwaras. Community fairs and nagar kirtan processions are held. People gather to socialize and share festive foods. For Hindus, the festival is their traditional solar new year, a harvest festival, an occasion to take a holy dip in sacred rivers such as Ganges, Jhelum, and Kaveri, visit temples, meet friends and party over festive foods.