Vaisakhi: Celebrating the Spring Harvest of Punjab

Vaisakhi, otherwise popularly known as Baisakhi is a traditional spring festival celebrated in the state of Punjab, India. The festival mostly celebrates the spring harvest in the northern India which mostly reaps copious rabi crops. It celebrates the spring or vernal equinox on the first day of the Vaishakha month on the Hindu Calendar, making Vaisakhi the advent of a New Year in Punjab. Vaisakhi, thus, usually falls on the 13th, 14th, or 15th of April on the Gregorian Calendar.

Vaisakhi 2024 is on April 13 Saturday

The festival of Vaisakhi is observed differently under different names unique to other states of the country. In Tamil Nadu, the New Year is celebrated as Puthandu, or Tamil New Year, while it goes by the name Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal. While the festival of Vishu marks the beginning of a new year in Kerala, it is celebrated as Bihu in Assam and Pana Sankranti in Orissa. Mesha Sankranti is the Hindu festival that marks the New Year in the Indian Solar Calendar.

Vaisakhi also marks the anniversary of the righteous leader, Guru Gobind Singh while people commemorate his legendary efforts to establish the Khalsa Panth, a community that follows Sikhism.

Spiritual Significance of Vaisakhi

It marks the anniversary of the far sighted man named Guru Gobind Singh. It was his persistent efforts that the Kalsa Panth was formed- where by the entire Sikh community a solid living structure to live into and it has proved to be useful for all these years.

Rituals of Vaisakhi

• This festival is celebrated on April 13th as per the Gregorian calendar. But after a set of 36 years, then the festival is celebrated on April 14th.
• The celebrations denote the harvest festival and lots of delicacies are prepared to make the day extra special.
• On this day, Sikhs visit the Golden Temple in Punjab.
• Alongside the Holy Granth is read by religious gurus and then a ritual of symbolically purifying it with water and milk is organized.
• Then this is placed on a blessed royal throne. With this, a small parade is conducted whereby five Sikhs carrying swords walk to and fro in front of the throne.
• A lot of people walk behind this parade to watch the whole function.
• Baisakhi marks the harvest of the Rabi crops. Rabi translates to 'spring season' in the Arabic language.
• The believers first take ritual baths and then take part in a number of religious celebrations.
• The bath is usually taken at the river Ganga and this done to pay respect to Goddess Ganga.
• After the prayers, they return back home and set up a pole in front of their homes.
• Then silk flags are tied onto the pole and also metallic or brass pots are placed carefully on the pole.

Important Timings On Vaisakhi 2024

Did you know?

• It is known by many names in India like Vishu in Kerala, and in Assam it is named as Bohag Bihu. 
• The Khalsa which otherwise means ‘The Pure Ones’ was formed with an intention to keep the tradition, community and beliefs of the Sikh community alive for years to come.
• Some of the interesting chants that you can hear during this time goes like this ”May the new year come again and again”.
• One of the highlights of Baisakhi is the use of the Dholak to play music and give rhythmic beats to their celebrations.
• They are known to dance to the tunes of Bangra music and for this the Dholak or in other words- the drum- leads the moods of the music.