A symbolic picture: Baisakhi celebrations in Ludhiana.
City Air News photo: Mandeep Kumar Verma.
The Baisakh is the Sikh New Year festival and is celebrated on April 13. It is first day of the month of Vaisakha, the beginning of the Hindu year in some parts of the country. For the Sikhs in Punjab and other parts of the country, this day has a particular significance as it also commemorates 2699, the year Sikhism was born as a collective faith. The main celebrations are held at Anandpur Sahib and at Muktsar. It was on this day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib.
Guru Gobind Singh baptized five Sikhs and found the Khalsa. These five men came to be known as the Panj Pyare or Beloved Five. And he proclaimed said that whenever five baptized (Amritdhari) Sikhs come together, the Guru would be present. All those who receive Amrit from five baptized Sikhs, will be infused with the spirit of courage and strength to sacrifice. Thus with these principles, he established Panth Khalsa, the Order of the Pure Ones.
At the same time, the Guru gave his new Khalsa-a unique, indisputable and distinct identity. The Guru gave the gift of bana, the distinctive Sikh clothing and headwear. He also gave five symbols of purify and courage. These symbols, worn by all baptized Sikhs of both sexes, are popularly known today as Five Ks. They are kesh (A Sikh never cuts or trims his hair), kanga ( a wooden comb), kara (special iron bracelet), kachha (a pair of knee length shorts) and kirpan (a 6” to 9” long, dagger-like or knife- life weapon).
Sikhs celebrate this very important day of their religion with joy and devotion. They take an early bath and wear new clothes. Every Sikh visits on this day the largest gurudwara. If possible Sikhs visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar and take a bath in the pool of immortality. They also participate in the special prayer meet marked for the day. Major celebrations of Baisakhi are organised at Golden Temple, Amritsar where the Khalsa Panth was founded on a Baisakhi Day in 1699. After a special Ardas of kirtans and discourses, Kada Prasad (sweetened semolina) is distributed amongst all present. Later, people sit in rows to relish the langar or community lunch prepared and served by kar sevaks or volunteers.
In Punjab, the robust farming communities celebrate with rambunctious songs and dances. Melas or fairs are held over a couple of days and people participate in the fun, games and entertainment.
Even the farmers in Punjab, UP and Haryana celebrate the festival of Baisakhi with lot of joy and enthusiasm, since for the Baisakh marks the time for harvest of rabi crops. This is a time of hard work but also a time when the community gathers together to mark the end of a successful agricultural season. Prosperous with the bountiful produce they look forward to celebrating Baisakhi will all eagerness.