Vaisakhi Festival

Vaisakhi Festival 

Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi is a historical and religious festival in Hinduism and Sikhism. It is usually celebrated on 13 or 14 April every year, which commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

           In Hinduism, Vaisakhi celebrates the Solar new year, based on the Vikram Samvat calendar. Vaisakhi marks the first day of the month of Vaisakha. It is additionally a spring harvest festival for Hinduism and Sikhs.^[9]In Sikhism, Vaisakhi marks the start of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh

Compliance : Prayer, procession, establishment of Nishan Sahib flag
Holiday Type    :   Punjabi Religious Festival
Date                  :   Monday, April 13, 2020
Other Names    :   Vaisakhi, Visakhi
Type                 :   Sikh
Purpose            :   Harvesting

Vaisakhi Festival  of History

Since the time of Guru Amar Das it has been customary for Sikhs to assemble before their Guru on three of the most important Hindu festival occasions – Vaisakhi, Divali, and Maha Shivaratri. The alternative view is that Guru Amar Das chose Maghi, instead of Maha Shivaratri.^[22][23]

Subsequent events gave a new meaning to the festival which is, in part, a remembrance of the foundation of the Khalsa Sikh order which started after the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur was persecuted and then beheaded under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, after he stood up for freedom of religious practice and refused to convert to Islam.^[13][14] The guru's martyrdom triggered the coronation of the tenth and last Guru of Sikhism, and the formation of the sant-sipahi group of  both on the Vaisakhi day.

Vaisakhi Festival  ( Sikh New Year)

According to the Khalsa sambat, the Khalsa calendar starts with the creation of the Khalsa which is 1 Vaisakh 1756 Bikrami (30 March 1699).^[35][36] Accordingly, Vaisakhi has been the traditional Sikh New Year.^[1][2][37] The festival has been traditionally observed in the Punjab region.^[38][39] The alternative Nanakshahi calendar begins its year a month earlier on 1 Chait which generally falls on 14 March and begins with the birth year of the Guru Nanak Dev in 1469.^[40]

Vaisakhi Festival for Nagar Kirtan

Sikh communities organise processions called nagar kirtan (literally, "town hymn singing"). These are led by five khalsa who are dressed up as Panj Pyaare, and the processions through the streets. The people who march sing, make music, sing hymns from the Sikh texts. Major processions also carry a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib in reverence.^[9]

^{Baisakhi festival (major acts of the day)
They are remembered on the day of Vaisakhi by taking the form of Panj Pyaar.
    • Bhangra and Gidda are the traditional dance of Punjab on this day.
    • People gather around the fire in the evening to celebrate the new harvest.
    • Devotees from all over the country gather at the gurdwaras for the Ardas. The main ceremony takes place at Anandpur Sahib, where the foundation of the creed was laid.
    • At 4 am, Guru Granth Sahib is ceremonially brought out of the room.
    • • Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a throne after a symbolic bath with milk and water. After this, Panch Pyare sings 'Panchbani'.
    • After Ardas in the day, the Guru is offered hard offerings.
    • After taking the prasad, everyone joins the 'Guru's Langar'.
    • Devotees perform Karseva on this day.
    • Shabad and kirtan are sung throughout the day in honor of Guru Govind Singh and Panch Pyaras.}

Vaisakhi Festival  of Harvest festival

Two Sikh men celebrating Vaisakhi by giving away free sugarcane juice.

Vaisakhi mela

    Vaisakhi is a harvest festival for people of the Punjab region.^[41] In the Punjab, Vaisakhi marks the ripening of the rabi harvest.^[42] Vaisakhi also marks the Punjabi new year.^[43] This day is observed as a thanksgiving day by farmers whereby farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for future prosperity.^[44] The harvest festival is celebrated by Sikhs and Punjabi Hindus.^[45] Historically, during the early 20th century, Vaisakhi was a sacred day for Sikhs and Hindus and a secular festival for all Muslims and non-Muslims including Punjabi Christians.^[46] In modern times, sometimes Christians participate in Baisakhi celebrations along with Sikhs and Hindus.^[47]

Vaisakhi Festival  ( Aawat pauni)

Bhangra dance on Vaisakhi is a Sikh tradition

Aawat pauni is a tradition associated with harvesting, which involves people getting together to harvest the wheat. Drums are played while people work. At the end of the day, people sing dohay to the tunes of the drum.

 

Vaisakhi Festival  of Fairs and dances

The harvest festival is also characterized by the folk dance, Bhangra which traditionally is a harvest dance.

Fairs or Melas are held in many parts of Punjab, India to mark the new year and the harvesting season. Vaisakhi fairs take place in various places, including Jammu City, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Samba, ^] in the Pinjore complex near Chandigarh,^[50] in Himachal Pradesh cities of Rewalsar, Shimla, Mandi and Prashar Lakes.

 Baisakhi festival (harvest festival)

The first day of Vaisakh marks the traditional solar new year^[51][52] and it is an ancient festival that predates the founding of Sikhism. The harvest is complete and crops ready to sell, representing a time of plenty for the farmers. Fairs and special thanksgiving pujas (prayers) are common in the Hindu tradition

Baisakhi festival (Avat Pauni)
 Avat pauni is a tradition associated with harvesting, which involves people getting together to cut wheat.
Baisakhi festival (fairs and dances)
Bhangra which is also the folk dance of the harvest festival is traditionally called the harvest dance. Fairs are held in many parts of Punjab, India, for the New Year and the harvesting season. Vaish in various places including Jammu city, Kathua, Udhampur Reasi and Samba in Himachal Pradesh, Rewler, Shimla, Mandi and Prashara lakes in Pinjore campus near Chandigarh.

 Baisakhi festival (regional variations)
This festival in Kerala is called 'Vishu'. On this day new, clothes are bought, fireworks are done and 'Vishu Kani' is decorated. Flowers, fruits, grains, clothes, gold etc. are decorated in it and it is seen early in the morning. Wishing happiness and prosperity in the new year with this philosophy.
Baisakhi festival (scattered festival)
There is a tradition of people taking a dip in the holy rivers at the Khichoti Festival of Uttarakhand. In this popular practice of killing symbolic demons with stones