Festival of Baisakhi in Punjab

Baisakhi, the harvest festival, marks the beginning of the new spring year and the end of the Harvest of Rabi crop in India. It is a festival of joy and celebration.

Baisakhi Dates

The festival of Baisakhi falls on the first day of Vaisakh month (April-May) according to Sikh Calendar. For this reason, Baisakhi is also popularly known as Vaisakhi. Baisakhi also marks the Punjabi New Year. According to English calendar, the date of Baisakhi corresponds to April 13 every year and April 14 once in every 36 years. This year Baisakhi falls on 13 April.

Baisakhi is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm in Punjab and Haryana. Farmers thank God for the bountiful harvest and pray for prosperity in the coming year.

Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year; Puthandu, the Tamil New Year, Bohag Bihu in Assam, ‘Pooram Vishu’ in Kerala, are celebrated at the same time as Baisakhi.

Significance of Baisakhi

Baisakhi, however, finds major popularity among the Sikhs. They celebrate the festival as a collective birthday of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, and the foundation of the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood) in 1699.

How is Baisakhi Celebrated in Punjab?

The Sikh celebrate Baisakhi by visiting the Gurudwaras and taking part in the prayers held during the day. Baisakhi gets everyone into the festive mood and people like to dance their heart out.

Bhangra and Gidda are performed to the beat of the drums in open fields creating an atmosphere of zest and joy. At some places, fairs are held where people bring out their happiness and perform bhangra, gidda and acrobatics.

Baisakhi Processions

In the Baisakhi Procession, the most sacred scripture Granth Sahib is taken out with honour by traditionally dressed Panj Piaras, also known as the five senior religious Sikhs. Baisakhi processions move through the streets and lanes of the city and are accompanied by music, singing and chanting of scriptures and hymns. A large number of devotees participate in the Baisakhi processions.

During the Baisakhi processions, children and youth demonstrate their skills in martial arts along with the drummers and bands around, and men swinging swords making the event more colourful. All in all, it’s safe to say that each year, the festival of Baisakhi marks a new chapter in the life of people.