New Delhi | Jagran Lifestyle Desk: Baiskhaki or Vaishaki is an annual harvest festival that marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year. The festival is celebrated with full of enthusiasm and zest in Punjab and neighbouring states like Haryana. On this auspicious occasion, Gurudwaras are decorated and hold keertans, Sikhs take bath in river or lakes before visiting gurudwara. In some places, nagar kirtan processions and community fairs. People gather to socialise and share festive foods. Since Punjab is an agrarian state, this day holds special importance as farmers worship gods before harvest (mainly Rabi crops).
On Vaishakis, Gurudwaras are decorated and hold kirtans. Sikhs visit and bathe in rivers or lakes before visiting Gurudwaras. In some places, community fairs and nagar kirtan processions are also held and people gather to socialise and share festive foods.
History and Significance
The festival observes major events in the history of Sikhism and India that happened in Punjab. The significance of Vaishaki as a major Sikh festival marks the birth of the Sikh order started after the persecution and execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur-- who did not follow the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and refused to convert to Islam. It triggered the coronation of tenth Guru of Sikhism and historic formation of Khalsa.
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On Vaishaki, Ranjit Singh was proclaimed as Maharaja of the Sikh empire in 1801, creating a unified political state. It is also the day when colonial British empire officials committed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Celebrations
People of the Sikh community celebrate Vaishaki with joy and devotion. They take early bath, wear new clothes and visit gurudwara to participate in special prayer meet. After a spiritual discourse and kirtan, prasad is distributed to the devotees. Later, people sit in rows to enjoy langar served by volunteers.
Major celebrations of Vaishaki are organised at the Golden Temple, Amritsar.