Also known as Sikh New Year, Baisakhi is a spring harvest festival which is celebrated in Punjab and a few other parts of North India. This day commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
The descent of Goddess Ganga on Earth is celebrated by the Hindus on this day. In the honour of Goddess Ganga, devotees take a dip in the river Ganga. In Punjab, farmers pay their tribute by thanking God for an abundant harvest as this day marks the harvest of the rabi crop.
How Is It Celebrated
Aforementioned, this is a spring harvest festival which is celebrated with enthusiasm in Punjab. Like all other things in Punjab, this festival is also filled with fun, colours and joy. People perform bhangra and gidda, Gurudwaras hold kirtans and Sikhs visit and bathe in rivers or lakes before visiting the Gurudwaras. Also, community fairs and nagar kirtans are held on this day.
Why Is Baisakhi Celebrated
The festival of Baisakhi marks the formation of Khalsa Panth under Guru Gobind Singh (who is the tenth Guru) in 1699. This was done by baptising Sikh warriors in order to defend religious freedom. This was done after the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur was massacred by Aurangzeb as he refused to convert to Islam.
Mythological Story
You just read about why Baisakhi is celebrated but this was just a gist. It was actually a lot more than this. In 1606, the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Singh was arrested and prosecuted during the reign of Jehangir. This was done by Jehangir as he was believed to be threatened by the growth of Sikh faith, especially the number of Muslim converts.
As aforementioned, the same thing was repeated in 1675 when the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur was prosecuted by Aurangzeb.
As the story goes, Guru Gobind Singh came out of his tent with a sword in his hand and asked the people to step forward if they were willing to die for their faith. One young man came forward, Guru Gobind Singh took him inside and came back outside with a sword dripping with blood.
He asked for another volunteer, and he came out in the same way. Five men volunteered and every time Guru Gobind Singh came out alone. This left everyone in attendance worried but a few moments later, he came out with all the five men alive and all of them were wearing turbans.
These five men are known as Panj Pyare. These five men were baptised into the Khalsa by the Guru. Guru Gobind Singh sprinkled Amrit on them while singing prayers. From that day, Baisakhi is celebrated as Punjabi New Year and harvest festival for rabi crops as well.
Don't Miss:Interesting Facts About Good Friday
Baisakhi – Harvest festival
We all know that Punjab is rich in agriculture and therefore, it is important to celebrate the harvest season. Baisakhi is significant for farmers as this day commemorates the harvest season for rabi crops. This day is a special event for farmers and is observed as the day of Thanksgiving to the gods and natural elements. To celebrate the day, farmers wear new clothes, visit Gurudwaras, dance, eat good food and enjoy themselves.
Take charge of your wellness journey—download the HerZindagi app for daily updates on fitness, beauty, and a healthy lifestyle!
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation