What is Vaisakhi, or Baisakhi and how is it celebrated?
Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. Vaisakhi has been a harvest festival in Punjab – an area of northern India – for a long time, even before it became so important to Sikhs.
In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh chose the festival as the moment to establish the Khalsa – that’s the collective name given to Sikhs who’ve been baptised.
The story goes that at the festival, he came out of a tent carrying a sword and said that any Sikh prepared to give his life for his faith should come into the tent. Five men disappeared into the tent, and the Guru came out – alone – with blood on his sword. This worried the crowds.
That is until the five men then came out from the tent unharmed and wearing turbans.
They became known as Panj Piare or the ‘Beloved Five’ – and they were to be the first members of the Khalsa.
They were baptised by the Guru who sprinkled them with Amrit, which is the Sikh word for holy water. He also said prayers.
This ritual became the basis of the Sikh baptism ceremony. To celebrate Vaisakhi, Sikhs will visit places of worship called Gudwaras. These will also be especially decorated for the occasion. Many people enjoy parades and special processions through the streets called nagar kirtans.
‘Nagar’ means town and ‘kirtan’ means the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the Sikh holy book. Many Sikhs also choose Vaisakhi as the day to be baptised in to the Khalsa brotherhood.
Normally big celebrations take place in the city of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, which is where Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa. Farmers in the Punjab will also use Vaisakhi as an opportunity to give thanks for a plentiful harvest and pray for a good one in the year to come. Source: bbc.co.uk/
Vaisakhi is a spring festival which happens on the 13 or 14 April in Vancouver and after one week in Surrey every year.
Thousands of locals and visitors will take to South Vancouver’s streets for the annual Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade was on Saturday, April 12.
The cherished celebration has been held annually since 1979 (with a pandemic pause) and is one of the biggest Vaisakhi events, featuring a traditional parade, vendors, and free food for all. “We wish the Sikh community, along with all those joining in the celebrations, a joyful and safe Vaisakhi and Nagar Kirtan,” said Mayor Ken Sim.
The largest Vaisakhi Parade in the world occurs in Surrey, where approximately 500,000 people attend the annual Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade, this year April 19th will celebrate Vaisakhi in Surrey.
