Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) Festival Date, Story, Rituals and Celebrations

Note: Dates may vary.

Like lohri, baisakhi is also a festival of north India, especially of Punjab. This festival is celebrated by the farmers after they have completed harvesting the first crop of the year and sold whatever they can.

Baisakhi always falls on 14th April and this is also the Hindu new year for north India. A time when all the farmers give thanks to god for a good crop. The farmers are a little relieved having sold their crop and put away some money for family. They have the time to spend with friends and family.

Early morning people can be seen along rivers, having a bath. They dress in new clothes and visit temples and gurudwaras to thanks god for the good crop they have had, the money they have been able to put away and pray for a better crop the following year.

Earlier morning people can be seen along river, having a bath. They dress in new clothes and visited temples and gurudwaras to thanks god for the good crop they have had, the money they have been able to put away and pray for a battler crop the following year

Melas are held in villages, where people enjoy themselves with games, various stall, merry go rounds, etc. melas are also held for cows and buffaloes, where many of them are sold and bought. Since Vaisakhi is considered an auspicious day, the farmers transact business.

Where the fun melas are held, there are plenty of eating places, stalls all gaily decorated, and there is so much to buy and decorated, and there is so much to buy and see that the melas attract almost every one. The punjabies enjoy by performing the “bhangra”.

It was on baisakhi day that guru gobind singh intiated the panch pyara (the five loved ones). His five disciples were chosen from different parts of India and all were chosen from different parts of India band all were from the scheduled castes.

He decorated the khalsa at anandpur sahib near Chandigarh and gave these five people his first sermon on being a good Sikh. He preached the 5 ks to his disciples.

He made them take a vow that they would never cut their hair or beard, they would always carry a comb, to always wear underwear, wear iron bangles on one arm and always carry a kirpan, which is a small sword.

The temples are also known as hari mandir. There is a huge tank surrounding the temple and any one bathing in it is washed of his or her sins. On baisakhi, water is bought from all the holy rivers of India and poured into the tank surrounding the golden temple.

 Baisakhi is a time when friends and families get together. It’s a time when children’s are taught that they should give aims to the poor so that the feeling of charity remains to their heart. It’s a day for celebration and brotherhood.