Vaisakhi is a South East Asian festival celebrated anually towards the Solar New Year. The festival is also known as Baisakhi, it is celebrated by the Sikh, Buddhism and Hindu religions. It is popularly celebrated by the adherents of the Sikh religion, a monotheistic religion that originated in the late 16th Century. Sikhs are found in India, Pakistan.
The Sikhs call their faith Gurmat in Punjab meaning ‘The way of the Guru’ established by Guru Nanak.The religion has nearly 25 million population worldwide with a greater part living in the Indian State of Punjab. The Vaisakhi festival marks the first day of the month of Vaisakhi which is celebrated anually on the 13th and 14th of April as a Solar New Year. The festival is also a Spring Harvest for Sikhs and Hindus, the festival began around 1699 when Sikhs from all over Punjab gathered to celebrate the traditional existing festival Vaisakhi.
The tenth Guru, ‘Guru Gobind Singh’ who emerged from his tenth with a sword asking for anyone who was prepared to give his life for the religion to step forward. A brave young man stepped up and went with the Guru into the tent. The Guru came out of the tent with a blood stained sword and requested another volunteer until he got five men. The Sikhs were curious and mortified believing all five men were dead, nut to their surprise all five men came out alive wearing Turbans and they became known as Panj Piare or Beloved five. They became the fist members of Khalsa, Vaisakhi is also then celebrated to mark the birth of Khalsa.
During Vaisakhi, the Sikhs visit Gurdwara (a place of worship) for a morning service. They wear colourful clothing and parade the streets amid chants from the ‘Holy Book’. In Punjab specifically, ‘Langars’ are organized at various places and Kada Prasad (wheat halwa) is served, Nagarkitans are also carried out where they sing from Holy Books. Vaisakhi though started as a harvest festival is celebrated to the creation of the Khalsa order, the festival creates a haven to promote justice and equality. The festival joins believers and adherents of Sikhs all over the world.
