Vaisakhi or Baisakhi is the crop harvesting festival of Punjab and neighboring areas. Vaisakhi came from the word Vaisakh or Baisakh, the second month of the Nanakshahi year system. For Punjabi people, it is the biggest traditional festival.
Vaisakhi signifies the happiness of the evolution of the Rabi crop. On the same day, Guru Govind Singhji founded Khalsa Panth on April 13, 1699. Sikhs observe this festival as a communal anniversary.
History of Vaisakhi
When the atrocities of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb increased, he martyred Guru Teg Bahadur in Delhi. Guru Govind Singh Ji became very sad by this incident. He gathered his disciples and established the Khalsa sect, which was always prepared for religion and goodness. On April 13, 1699, Guru Govind Singh ended the atrocities with the Khalsa sect at Kesargarh Sahib Anandpur.
Celebrations of Vaisakhi Festival
Though the Vaisakhi is considered the biggest festival in Hariyana and Punjab, some other states also celebrate Vaisakhi. Each state has a different name for Vaisakhi, and they celebrate it in different styles. Let’s dig a little more to know how other states celebrate Vaisakhi.
Punjab
People of Punjab set a fire on the evening of Vaisakhi and they gather around it. They celebrate the night for the money they got selling the crops. They dedicate some of the new grain to the fire and celebrate the night by performing the traditional Punjabi dance Bhangra and Gidda. Devotees go to Guruduwaras for Ardas.
Anandpur Sahib, where the Khalsa sect’s foundation stone was laid, organizes a special Ardas and reverence. In Gurudwaras, Guru Granth Sahib is distinguished on the throne by devotees after bringing him out with a symbolic bath with milk and water. Then they sing the Panchabani. After Ardas, Guru Ji is given the indulgence of stiff offerings. After the prasad’s indulgence, all devotees eat at guru Ji’s anchor.
Hariyana
People of Hariyana celebrate Vaisakhi on April 13 every year. It is also the new year for them as they follow the traditional Vikrami calendar. The main celebration of Vaisakhi in Hariyana is organized in a small village named Pinjore. They celebrate this day to mark the beginning of the reaping year.
People wear their best clothes and jewelry and visit temples and Gurudwaras to worship and pray. They also arrange folk dances in the Pinjore village to celebrate Vaisakhi. Vaisakhi is celebrated with much festivity at Pinjore garden every year, which is about 20 km away from Chandigarh. The festival at Pinjore garden is one of the most widespread carnivals for inhabitants and guests of Hariyana.
West Bengal
People of West Bengal celebrate Vaisakhi in the name ‘Pahela Baisakh.’ Pahela Baishakh is a provincial day off in the provinces of West Bengal and Tripura. Some regions start celebrating a few days earlier. They decorate their homes with Alpana(design or Rangoli). Some of them also take a ritual bath in nearby rivers. Some shopkeepers make calendars with pictures of the goddess and distribute them to their clients
They arrange a procession named ‘Prabhat Pheri.’ They perform various prayers like Kumari Puja and Ganesh Puja; They also ask for elders’ blessings. They also enjoy numerous sweets and confectionaries. Bengali communities of Assam and some other eastern states also celebrate the day.
Celebration of Vaisakhi Outside India
Bangladesh
Like West Bengal, Bangladesh also celebrates Vaisakhi as Pahela Baisakh. It is observed on April 14 every year. Bangladesh observes Pahela Baishakh as a public holiday. People of all religious beliefs celebrate the day following almost the same traditions. It is a method of expressing national superiority and legacy. This festival is closely related to the village life of Bangladesh.
People bathe early in the morning to visit relatives, friends, and public places. They prepare food for guests. Many organizations and locals arrange Baishakhi fairs; people wear traditional red-white Panjabi and Saree. Bangladeshis enjoy various conventional foods, including Paanta-Vaat, Hilsha Fry, and Varta(mashed vegetables or fishes).
Pakistan
Some places in Pakistan have religious importance for the followers of Sikhism. Guru Nayaka was born on the Pakistani side of Punjab. Every year a lot of Sikhs visit that place. Many Sikhs from India and other parts of the world visit Western Punjab for pilgrimage, including Panja Sahib and gurudwaras at Nanika Sahib.
Europe and North America
Followers of Sikhism arrange a procession in the streets of New York on the day of Vaisakhi. People also go out to participate in voluntary work for the whole day. Devotees of Sikhism arrange Kirtan and other cultural programs in Los Angeles and California.
Sikhs of Canada also arrange a procession with about 200,000 people in Vancouver. The Sikhs of the United Kingdom are generally from India and East Africa. They join the Kirtan Sabha organized in Santhal Nagar, London; the Sikhs of Malaysia get a day-off on the occasion of Vaisakhi since 2013.
Importance of Vaisakhi Festival
The commemoration of Baisakhi is observed on April 13 each year, but once in 36 years, the carnival is observed on April 14. Vaisakhi is also known as Mesh Sankranti because the sun enters Mesh(Aries) Rashi on this day.
In Punjab and Haryana, the festival of Vaisakhi is seen to be linked to agriculture. Farmers harvest the crops when they have ripened enough. People get up early in the dawn and take baths. Afterward, they wear new clothes and visit Gurudwaras.
Vaisakhi is a very big festival for the Sikh community. On the day of Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth guru of Sikhs, Guru Govind Singh Ji, established the Khalsa sect, which helped Sikhs build a distinct identity all over the world. A special prayer is held at Gurudwaras on this day.
How Does Jatiya Pitha Utsab Compare to the Harvest Celebration of Vaisakhi?
The Jatiya Pitha Utsab tradition and the harvest celebration of Vaisakhi both hold cultural significance in their respective regions. While Jatiya Pitha Utsab is a traditional festival in Bangladesh, Vaisakhi is celebrated in the Punjab region. Both occasions are marked by vibrant festivities, delicious food, and joyful dancing.
How Does Vaisakhi Celebrate Harvesting Crops and What Are Some Traditional Foods Served During the Celebration?
Vaisakhi celebrates harvesting crops with joyful community gatherings. Traditional foods served during the celebration include heavenly angel food cake, a light and airy dessert symbolizing purity and abundance. Other dishes like saag, makki di roti, and jalebi are also enjoyed, reflecting the bounty of the harvest season.
Conclusion
India is a country of different religions and festivals. Despite having so many differences, India has established itself as one of the fastest-growing economies and powerful nations globally. It became possible because they live in harmony, forgetting the religious and cultural diversities. If the whole world follows India’s footsteps, maybe one day, the world will grow into a better place to reside.
More about Indian Culture and Traditional Festivals.