| Vaisakhi | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Vaisakhi |
| Also called | Baisakhi, Vaisakha Jayanti, Visakhī, Mesadi, Basoa, Vaisakhi |
| Observed by | Punjabis |
| Type | Religious and harvest festival[1] |
| Significance | Cultural day,[2][3][4][5] harvest festival, birth of theKhalsa |
| Celebrations | Fairs, processions and temple decorations |
| Observances | Religious gatherings and practices |
| Begins | 1 Vaisakh (13 April) |
| Ends | 2 Vaisakh (14 April) |
| Date | 13 or 14 April[1] |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Related to | South and Southeast Asian solar New Year |
Vaisakhi (Sanskrit:[ʋɐi̯ɕaːkʰiː]), also known asBaisakhi[8] (IPA:[bɛːsaːkʰiː]) orMesadi orBasoa (IPA:[meːsaːɖiː]), marks the first day of the month ofVaisakh and is traditionally celebrated annually on 13 April or sometimes 14 April.[9][2][10]It is seen as a spring harvest celebration primarily inPunjab and Northern India.[11][12][13][14][15]Whilst it is culturally significant in many parts of India as a festival of harvest, Vaisakhi is also the date for the Indian Solar New Year. However, Sikhs celebrate the new year on the first the month Chet, according to the Nanakshahi calendar.[16][17][18]
Historically, the festival of Vaisakhi was north India’s most important annual market.[19] Although Vaisakhi began as a grain harvest festival forHindus and its observance predates the creation ofSikhism, it gained historical association with the Sikhs following the inauguration of the Khalsa.[28][29][30]
For Sikhs, in addition to its significance as the harvest festival,[3] during which Sikhs holdkirtans, visit local gurdwaras, community fairs, holdnagar kirtan processions, raise theNishan Sahib flag, and gather to socialize and share festive foods,[2][31][32] Vaisakhi observes major events in the history of Sikhism and theIndian subcontinent that happened in thePunjab region.[31][33] Vaisakhi as a major Sikh festival marks the birth of theKhalsa order byGuru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism, on 13 April 1699.[34][35][36] Later,Ranjit Singh was proclaimed asMaharaja of theSikh Empire on 12 April 1801 (to coincide with Vaisakhi), creating a unified political state.[37]
Vaisakhi was also the day whenBritish Indian Army officerReginald Dyer ordered his troops to shoot into a protesting crowd in Amritsar, an event which would come to be known theJallianwala Bagh massacre; the massacre proved influential to the history of theIndian independence movement.[31]
The holiday is also observed by cultural Hindu communities and is known by various regional names in other parts of India. For many Hindu communities, the festival is an occasion to ritually bathe in sacred rivers such asGanges,Jhelum, andKaveri, visit temples, meet friends, take part in other festivities, and perform a mandatorydaan (charity) especially of hand fans, water pitchers and seasonal fruits. Community fairs are held at Hindu pilgrimage sites. In many areas, processions of temple deities are taken out. The holiday also marks the worship and propitiation of various deities, such asDurga in Himachal Pradesh,Surya in Bihar, andVishnu in southern India.[38]
Vaisakhi is observed on the 13 or 14 April every year in the 21st century. However, in 1801 AD, it fell on 11 April.[39] This is because the date of Vaisakhi and otherSankrantis keeps changing slowly over years. Vaisakhi would fall on 29 April in Year 2999.[40] The festival coincides with other new year festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh in other regions of theIndian subcontinent such asPuthandu,Pohela Boishakh,Bohag Bihu, andVishu.[41][15]
It is one of three Sikh celebrations still calculated using the traditionalBikrami calendar, alongsideBandi Chhor Divas andGuru Nanak Gurpurab, where as the rest are determined now as per theNanakshahi calendar.[42]
The word Vaisakhi or Baisakhi is anApabhraṃśa form evolved from the word Vaiśākhī (वैशाखी), derived from the name of the Indian month ofVaishakha.[43] There is no distinction between sounds 'sha' (श) & 'sa' (स)[44] and between 'va' (व) & 'ba' (ब) inPrakrit &Apbhramsa.[45] Hence the name, Vaisakhi or Baisakhi. Vaisakhi which is observed onSankranti of Vaisakh (Vaishakh) month literally means 'related to Vaisakh month', which in turn is derived from the name of aNakshatra known asVishakha.[46] In Punjab region, the wordVaisakhi is common, but in the Dogra regions, and theDoabi andMalwai dialects of Punjab, speakers often substitute aB for aV, so it is known as Baisakhi or Basakhi; also people in Jammu call it Basoa.[47] In tonal languages like Bengali, it is pronounced as 'Boishakhi'.[48]
For most of the Hindus, the first day of Vaisakh marks the traditional solar new year,[49][50][51] inAssam,Bengal,Bihar,Himachal Pradesh,Haryana,Kerala,Odisha,Punjab[52]Tamil Nadu,Uttar Pradesh,Uttrakhand and other parts of India.[15][51] However, this is not the universal new year for all Hindus. For some, such as those in and near Gujarat, the new year festivities coincide with the five-dayDiwali festival.[15] For others, the new year falls onCheti Chand,Gudi Padwa andUgadi which falls a few weeks earlier.[15][53] The harvest is complete and crops ready to sell, representing a time of plenty for the farmers. Fairs and special thanksgiving pujas (prayers) are common in the Hindu tradition.[54] It is available in the Vanis of the saints that in Satlok, the Vaisakhi-like atmosphere always remains there.
It is regionally known by many names among the Hindus, though the festivities and its significance is similar. It is celebrated by Hindus bathing in sacred rivers, as they believe that river goddess Ganges descended to earth on Vaisakhi fromSvarga.[54][55] Some rivers considered particularly sacred include the Ganges, Jhelum and Kaveri. Hindus visit temples, meet friends and party over festive foods.[26]
Vaisakhi is the day when Hindus believeRiver Goddess Ganga descended on earth from heaven.[56][57] One of the largest Vaisakhi fair in India is held atHaridwar, which is an important Hindu pilgrimage. Around 50 lakhs (5 million) pilgrims throngBrahmKund in Haridwar to take a dip inGanga river on this festival.[58][59] Historical records stress the importance of the Vaisakhi festival at Haridwar, where a lot of trade would occur.[19] However, the onset of railroad travel decreased its importance from the 19th century onwards.[19]
InPunjab, the Hindu Shrine ofKatas Raj was known for its Vaisakhi fair.[60][unreliable source?] It was attended by around 10,000 pilgrims who were mostly Hindus.[61] Similarly, at the shrine ofBairagi Baba Ram Thaman, a Vaisakhi fair was held annually since 16th century CE which was attended by around 60,000 pilgrims andBairagi saints from all over India used to throng the shrine.[62][63]
The Vaisakhi fair is atThakurdwara of Bhagwan Narainji at Pandori Mahatan village inGurdaspur district of Punjab where the fair lasts for three days from 1st Vaisakha to 3rd Vaisakha.[64] The celebrations start in form of procession on morning of 1st Vaisakha, carryingMahant in a palanquin byBrahmacharis and devotees. After thatNavgrahaPuja is held and charities in money, grains and cows are done.[65] At evening,Sankirtan is held in whichMahant delivers religious discourses and concludes it by distributingprasad of Patashas (candy drops). Pilgrims also take ritual bathings at sacred tank in the shrine.[64][66]
Vaisakhi is an important festival amongDogra Hindus ofJammu region. On this day, people get up early in the morning, throng the rivers, canals, and ponds and take a ritual dip every year on this occasion. In Dogra households, aPuja is performed afterwards and part of food crop is offered to the deities. New fruit of the year is enjoyed on this day.[67] A Ritual Bath atTawi river during Vaisakhi is common in Jammu.[68]
Vaisakhi is celebrated atUdhampur on the bank of Devika river where for three days devotees enjoy the folk songs. At Sudhmahadev, this festival is celebrated with great pomp and show where folk singers come down and a competition of folk songs is held. Vendors generally install their shops and stalls of eatables.[69]
Many people go to the Nagbani temple to witness the grand New Year celebration.[70] Vaisakhi is also considered "harvest festival" and considered auspicious, especially for marriages. Celebrations of Vaisakhi also includeDogri Bhangra.[71] According to Ganhar (1975),[72] "Bhangra dances are a special feature of Baisakhi celebrations but bhangra is an importation from the Punjab and is more secular than religious".
The occasion is marked by numerous fairs and people come by the thousands to celebrate Vaisakhi. For example, Airwan inKathua is known for Vaisakhi fair attended by 10,000 people as per Census 1961.[73] Every year on Baisakhi festival around 15,000 pilgrims pay their obeisance at 700 tear old temple ofSubar Nag Devta temple inBhaderwah.[74] Other places where Vaisakhi fairs are held areDoda Bridge andRamban.[75]
InHimachal Pradesh, Vaisakhi is an important festival of Hindus.[76] People get up early in the morning and have a ritual bath. Two earthen lamps are lighted on this day one of Sangiya of oil and other one is Jyot ofGhee. These are kept in a large saucer along with water pot, blades of evergreen turf, Kusha,Incense,Sandal,Vermillion and Dakshina (money). With these things worship of household deities is performed. Alms are given in form of rice and pulses with small coins which are placed near Deity. This is calledNasrawan and is commonly to family priest.[77]
Fried cakes of black gram which are prepared a day before are distributed to neighbours after Puja is completed.[78] Special dishes are prepared on this day. White washing is performed on this day and floors are plastered. This is calledPrau lagana.[79] In the evening people enjoy fairs which are organised for three days.
Vaisakhi is celebrated with religious fervour inYamunanagar andKurukshetra.[80] InKurukshetra district, Vaisakhi fair is held atBaan Ganga Tirtha[81], which is associated withArjuna ofMahabharata. There is a Vaisakhi tradition of ritual bath at the sacred tank ofBaan Ganga Tirtha in Village Dayalpur ofKurukshetra. A fair is held annually on Vaisakhi at this Hindu pilgrimage.[82] Besides,Haryana government organizes a Vaisakhi festival inPinjore Garden to commemorate this religious and cultural festival.[83]
Vaisakhi or Vaisakhi Sankranti is celebrated on first day of Vaisakha, as perHinduSolar Calendar. This day is also known asSattuā or Satwahi[84], asSattu is donated and consumed on this day.[85] The common rites during this festival is bath in a river or pond and to eatSattu andGur (Jaggery).[86]
Vaisakhi coincides with the first day of the solar cycle year, that is the solar New Year orMesha Sankranti which is also related to other regional new years such as 'Vishu' and 'Puthandu' celebrated inKerala andTamil Nadu a day after Vaisakhi. The festivities include fireworks, shopping for new clothes and interesting displays called 'Vishu Kani'. Hindus make arrangements of flowers, grains, fruits which friends and family visit to admire as "lucky sight" (Vishukkani). Giving gifts to friends and loved ones, as well as alms to the needy, are a tradition of Kerala Hindus on this festive day.[26] Vaisakhi is also related toBohag (Rongali) Bihu inAssam and as Pohela Boishakh inBengal, but typically one or two days after Vaisakhi.[87]
The following is a list of new year festivals:[15][51][88]
Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated on the same day as Vaisakhi in the Indian state of Kerala, and falls on the first day of Malayalam calendar month called Medam.[89][90] The festival is notable for its solemnity and the general lack of pomp and show that characterize other Hindu festivals of Kerala such asOnam.[89][91]
The festival is marked by family time, preparing colorful auspicious items and viewing these as the first thing on the Vishu day. In particular, Malayali Hindus seek to view the golden blossoms of the Indian laburnum (Kani Konna), money or silver items (Vishukkaineetam), and rice.[89][91] The day also attracts firework play by children,[89][92] wearing new clothes (Puthukodi) and the eating a special meal calledSadya, which is a mix of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items.[93] The Vishu arrangement typically includes an image of Vishnu, typically asKrishna. People also visit temples on the day.[94]
Bohag Bihu or Rangali Bihu marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year on 13 April. It is celebrated for seven days Vishuva Sankranti (Mesha Sankranti) of the month of Vaisakh or locally 'Bohag' (Bhaskar Calendar). The three primary types of Bihu are Rongali Bihu, Kongali Bihu, and Bhogali Bihu. Each festival historically recognizes a different agricultural cycle of the paddy crops. During Rangali Bihu there are 7 pinnacle phases: 'Chot', 'Raati', 'Goru', 'Manuh', 'Kutum', 'Mela' and 'Chera'.[95]
Pana Sankranti (ପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି) also known as Maha Vishuba Sankranti marks the Odia new year inOdisha. Celebrations include various types of folk and classical dances, such as the Shiva-relatedChhau dance.[96] On this day people hang pieces of Neem branches with leaves in front of their houses believed to have health benefits. They prepare a liquid mixture of jaggery, mango, pepper and other ingredients which is called Pana (ପଣା). An earthen pot with a small hole and a grass (କୁୁଶ) within the hole at the bottom is hung over the Tulasi (ତୁୁୁଳସୀ ଚଉରା). The pot is filled with water daily which acts as a drip to protect the sacred plant from the summer heat.[97]
Pohela Boishakh is the first day of theBengali calendar and is celebrated on 14 April every year in the states ofWest Bengal,Tripura,Jharkhand andAssam (Barak Valley) byBengali Hindus.[98][51][99][100][101]
Some historians attribute the Bengali calendar to the 7th-century kingShashanka.[102][103] The termBangabda (Bangla year) is found too in twoShiva temples many centuries older thanAkbar era, suggesting that Bengali calendar existed before Akbar's time.[103] Various dynasties whose territories extended intoBengal, prior to the 13th-century, used theVikram Samvat.Buddhist texts and inscriptions created in thePala Empire era mention "Vikrama" and the months such asAshvin, a system found inSanskrit texts elsewhere in ancient and medieval Indian subcontinent.[104][105][106][107][108]
Puthandu, also known asPuthuvarusham orTamil New Year, is the first day of the monthChithirai on theTamil calendar.[90][109][110] On this day, Tamil people greet each other by saying "Puttāṇṭu vāḻttukkaḷ!" or "Iṉiya puttāṇṭu nalvāḻttukkaḷ!", which is equivalent to "Happy New Year".[111] The day is observed as a family time. Households clean up the house, prepare a tray with fruits, flowers and auspicious items, light up the familyPuja altar and visit their local temples. People wear new clothes and youngsters go to elders to pay respects and seek their blessings, then the family sits down to a vegetarian feast.[112]
In theMithila region of Bihar andNepal, the new year is celebrated as Jur Sital.[113] It is traditional to use lotus leaves to serve sattu (powdered meal derived from grains of red gram and jau (Hordeum vulgare) and other ingredients) to the family members.[114]
Vaisakhi is an important among Pakistani Hindus. InUndivided Punjab, the Hindu Shrine ofKatas Raj was known for its Vaisakhi fair.[115][unreliable source?] It was attended by around 10,000 pilgrims who were mostly Hindus.[61] Similarly, at the shrine ofBairagi Baba Ram Thaman, a Vaisakhi fair was held annually since 16th century CE which was attended by around 60,000 Hindu pilgrims andBairagi saints from all over India used to throng the shrine.[62][63] The 1961 Muzaffargarh District Census Report claims that Vaisakhi is associated with bullock racing and is a common festivity among the cultivators.[116]
Vaisakhi is celebrated as Nepalese New Year because it is the day which marks the Hindu Solar New Year as perVikram Samvat, the Hindu Solar Calendar. Vaisakha is the first month in Nepalese Calendar. The idols of Goddess Thimi Kumari are carried out in palanquins and are taken around the city.[117][118]
Vaisakhi is celebrated by Hindu community and Indian & Nepalese diaspora in United States of America. Every year Nepalese Hindus gather up in traditional outsfits like kurtis and Nepalese caps to observe the Hindu Solar New Year.[119] The Bengali Hindu Community also celebrates its new year 'Pohela Baisakh' on this day. A Baisakhi Mela or fair is also held where Bengali handicrafts sessions are held.[120] The Bay Area Malayalee Association holdsVishu celebration (Kerala New Year). Event includesSadhya (Kerala-style feast) and cultural, cinematics and comedy programs, and end with a tea social.[121] Tamil Community also celebrates New Year on this day asPuthandu.
Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ਵੈਸਾਖੀ ,vaisākhī, is also known asBaisākhī), is a very important day for Sikhs and one of the most colourful events in the Sikh calendar. It occurs during mid-April every year and traditionally in Punjab, the festival corresponds with the first harvesting of the crops for the year. Historically, the festival has been a very joyous occasion and a time for celebration. However, since 1699, it has marked the very significant religious event of the creation of the Khalsa Panth.[122]
Vaisakhi falls on the first day of the Vaisakh month and marks the sun's entry to the Mesha Rasi (Mesha Sankranti) marking the solar transition to Aries. The day is also described as a sacred festival for Sikhs in India as it marks the birth of the Khalsa.
The significance of Vaisakhi as a Sikh religious festival started after the execution ofGuru Tegh Bahadur for refusing to convert toIslam under the orders of the Mughal EmperorAurangzeb. This triggered the ascension ofGuru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism, who subsequently inaugurated theKhalsa on Vaisakhi of 1699.[34][35][36][31] The increased persecution of Sikhs by Mughal authorities followed a period of increasing strength of the Sikh movement in theMalwa region of Punjab during the period of Guru Tegh Bahadur, which would lead to his execution and the resulting foundation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh,[35] to defend religious freedoms.[123][124][125] This gave Vaisakhi the added dimension of being observed as a celebration of the formation of the Khalsa, and is also known as Khalsa Sirjana Divas[126] or Khalsa Sajna Divas.[127] The Birth of the Khalsa Panth was on 30 March 1699.[128]. However, many historical Sikh sources place the events of Vaisakhi as spanning over multiple days.
Later,Ranjit Singh was proclaimed asMaharaja of theSikh Empire on 12 April 1801 (to coincide with Vaisakhi), creating a unified political state, with Sahib Singh Bedi, a descendant ofGuru Nanak, conducting the coronation.[37]
Vaisakhi is celebrated in much the same way asGurpurab, or a Guru's birthday anniversary, withgurdwaras being decorated and attended by Sikhs who listen tokirtan and religious discourses there. Many Sikhs also choose to be inducted into theKhalsa order on this day. After the prayers,karah parshad is then served to the congregation, and the function ends with alangar, or community lunch. The festival is marked with anagar kirtan street procession headed by a group ofPanj Pyare representatives, and music, singing, and chanting scriptures are part of the celebration.
Fairs and melas are held in many places in Punjab to celebrate the formation of the Khalsa. According to Dogra and Dogra (2003), "an annual fair is held at Takht Kesgarh Sahib on Baisakhi day".[129] A procession is lead through the city of Anandpur to mark the occasion. Other important places where large gatherings take place are Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo.[130] A special celebration takes place atTalwandi Sabo (whereGuru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of theGuru Granth Sahib),[131] in theGurudwara atAnandpur Sahib the birthplace of theKhalsa, and at theGolden Temple inAmritsar.[132]
Vaisakhi is a harvest festival for people ofNorthern India.[133] Chander and Dogra (2003) state that in Punjab, Vaisakhi marks the ripening of therabi harvest.[129] According to Dhillon (2015), in Punjab, this day is observed as a thanksgiving day by farmers whereby farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for future prosperity.[134] The harvest festival is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs.[135] In the Punjab, historically, during the early 20th century, Vaisakhi was a sacred day for Hindus and Sikhs and a secular festival for all Muslims and Christians.[136] In modern times, sometimes Christians in Punjab participate in Baisakhi celebrations along with Hindus and Sikhs.[137] The harvest festival is also characterized by the folk dance,Bhangra which traditionally is a harvest dance.
Aawat pauni is a tradition associated with harvesting in the Punjab, which involves people getting together to harvest the wheat.[138]
A large number of Sikhs visit Paonta Sahib on the festival of Vaisakhi.[139] According to Sahi (1999), Paonta Sahib "was the abode of Guru Gobind Singh Ji for a couple of years."[140] Paonta Sahib Gurdwara is inSirmaur district inHimachal Pradesh. The site is located near the river Yamuna. The tricentenary celebrations to mark the birth of the Khalsa were started from Paanta Sahib Gurdwara in 1999.[141]
Gurdwara Dera Nangali Sahib in Jammu was established in 1803. The Gurdwara is situated in the Poonch district of Jammu. An annual gathering takes place at the gurdwara on the on Baisakhi when many people participate in the day-long function of Baisakhi.[142] Dera Nangali Sahib is known as a centre for Sikhism in Jammu.[143][144] The other important gurdwara is the Dera Baba Banda which is dedicated to Banda Bahadur. The gurdwara is located near Reasi.[145] Baisakhi celebrations take place at this Dera.[146]
Sikhs in Kashmir celebrate Vaisakhi as a religious festival to mark the foundation of the Khalsa. Unlike in the North Indian plains where Vaisalhi is also associated with harvesting, Sikhs in Kashmir mark the day when Guru Gobind Singh baptised thePanj Pyare. Bajan Keertans are held in all gurdwaras in Kashmir. However, the main celebration takes place at Chatti Pathshahi Gurdwara in Rainawari. Sikhs will visit friends and family in Vaisakhi. People will wear special clothes and prepare special food to mark the festival. Sikhs will also visit the gardens and markets. The mode of celebration is believed to be different to the way the festival is celebrated elsewhere.[147]
TheNihang (Punjabi:ਨਿਹੰਗ) orAkali (lit. 'the immortals') is an armedSikh warrior order originating in theIndian subcontinent.[148] Nihang are believed to have originated either fromFateh Singh and the attire he wore[149] or from the "Akali Dal" (lit. Army of the Immortal) started byGuru Hargobind.[150] Early Sikh military history was dominated by the Nihang, known for their victories where they were heavily outnumbered. Traditionally known for their bravery and ruthlessness in the battlefield, the Nihang once formed the irregular guerrilla squads of the armed forces of theSikh Empire, theSikh Khalsa Army.
Nihangs mark Vaisakhi in their own unique manner. They will engage in martial arts and participate in Gatkas. They will also exhibit displays of horsemanship. According to Singh and Fenech (2014), Nihangs will move to the city of Amritsar on Vaisakhi day.[151]
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Pakistan has many sites that are of historic importance to the Sikh faith, such as the birthplace of Guru Nanak. These sites attract pilgrims from India and abroad every year on Vaisakhi.[152][153] Pakistan used to have many more Sikhs, but a vast majority moved to India during the 1947 India-Pakistan partition. Contemporary Pakistan has about 20,000 Sikhs in a total population of about 200 million Pakistanis, or about 0.01%.[154] These Sikhs, and thousands more who arrive from other parts of the world for pilgrimage, observe Vaisakhi inWestern Punjab (Pakistan) with festivities centered on thePanja Sahib complex inHasan Abdal,Gurudwaras inNankana Sahib, and in various historical sites inLahore.[155][note 1]
In western Punjab, Punjabi Muslims used to celebrate Baisakhi as a harvest festival, but Islamist policies of Zia-ul-Haq led to the ending of its observance, becoming solely viewed as a Sikh celebration rather than a pan-Punjabi one.[159] According to Aziz-ud-din Ahmed,Lahore used to have Baisakhi Mela after the harvesting of the wheat crop in April. However, adds Ahmed, the city started losing its cultural vibrancy in 1970s after Zia-ul-Haq came to power, and in recent years "thePakistan Muslim League (N) government in Punjab banned kite flying through an official edict more under the pressure of those who want a puritanical version of Islam to be practiced in the name of religion than anything else".[160] Unlike the Indian state of Punjab that recognizes the Vaisakhi Sikh festival as an official holiday,[161] the festival is not an official holiday in Punjab or Sindh provinces of Pakistan as Sikhs constitute a very small number in terms of population.[162][163]
In April 2010, the Federal Ministry of Minorities in Pakistan announced that Baisakhi would be officially recognized as a holiday.[164] The Pakistani government welcomes Sikh pilgrims from India to celebrate Baisakhi within its borders.[165]
In theProvince of British Columbia, large, local Sikh communities in the cities ofVancouver,Abbotsford, andSurrey hold their annual Vaisakhi celebrations in April,[166] which include twoNagar Kirtan (parades).
In Vancouver, the parade was first held in 1979 and is the largest annual single-day festival in the city.[167] The parade starts at Ross Street Temple[168] and makes its way through the traditionalPunjabi Market in theSunset neighbourhood of South Vancouver,[169] attracting up to 300,000 people.[167]
One week later, the festival in Surrey is one of the largest such celebrations outside of India, having attracted over 200,000 people in 2014,[170] over 350,000 in 2015, and approached 400,000 in 2016. The 2017 attendance in Surrey reportedly topped 400,000, causing organizers to consider future distribution of the festival over several days and local cities, particularly in areas of economic disadvantage which would benefit from the generous charitable efforts seen during Vaisakhi celebrations.[171][172] Record attendance was again experienced in April 2018 in the 20th annual Surrey Vaisakhi parade, with theRCMP officially estimating the crowd at over half a million people in a city with a 2016 census population of 517,887.[173] Starting at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple (12885 85th Avenue in Surrey), the parade features a variety of floats, community groups, free food, live music and dancers and performers, and travels along 124th Street, turns left onto 75th Avenue, continues on 76th Avenue, onto 128th Street, then back to the Temple.[174]
Kelowna's annual Vaisakhi parade is held a week after Surrey's parade each year and begins and ends at the Sikh Temple on Rutland Road.[175]
Victoria's all-day Vaisakhi celebration features a parade that begins and ends at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, 470 Cecelia Road. The 2018 celebrations on 29 April would be the first held in Victoria in over 100 years.[176]
In theProvince of Ontario, theToronto Vaisakhi Parade is held in April, starting at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds and traveling east to Toronto City Hall, finishing almost three hours later. Following the parade, dignitaries address the gathering until late afternoon.[177]
In the city ofBrampton, the Gurudwara Sikh Sangat temple and Gobind Sarvar Gurmat School hold Vaisakhi cultural events such as yoga, pagh (turban) tying, storytelling, and food fairs.[178]
In the city ofMalton, a three-hour Nagar Kirtan parade winds from Morning Star, Goreway, Derry Rd, & Airport Rd to Malton Gurdwara Sahib.
In theProvince of Alberta, theEdmonton Vaisakhi parade is held in May and travels between the Gurdwara Singh Sabha (4504 Millwoods Road S) & Gurdwara Millwoods (2606 Millwoods Road E) temples.[179]
In theProvince of Saskatchewan, theSaskatoon Vaisakhi parade is held in May, starting and ending at the Gurudwara Sahib Temple at 331 Lowe Road.[180]
In theProvince of Nova Scotia, theHalifax-based Maritime Sikh Society holds Vaisakhi celebrations in April featuringShabad Kirtan performed by professional ragis (musicians).[181]
TheUnited Kingdom has a large Sikh community originating from the Indian sub-continent,East Africa[182] andAfghanistan. The largest concentrations ofSikhs in the UK are to be found in the West Midlands (especiallyBirmingham andWolverhampton) andLondon.[183] The SouthallNagar Kirtan is held on a Sunday a week or two before Vaisakhi. The Birmingham Nagar Kirtan is held in late April in association with Birmingham City Council,[184] and is an annual event attracting thousands of people which commences with two separate nagar kirtans setting off fromgurdwaras in the city and culminating in the VaisakhiMela at Handsworth Park.[185]
Amongst Sikh populations in theUnited States, there is usually a parade commemorating the Vaisakhi celebration. InManhattan,New York City[186] people come out to do "Seva" (selfless service) such as giving out free food, and completing any other labor that needs to be done. InLos Angeles, California, the local Sikh community consisting of manygurdwaras[187] holds a full day Kirtan (spiritual music) program followed by a parade.
The Sikh community, a subgroup of theMalaysian Indian ethnic minority race, is anethnoreligious minority in Malaysia, which is why Vaisakhi is not a public holiday. However, in line with the government's efforts to promote integration among the country's different ethnic and religious groups, the prime minister,Najib Razak has announced that beginning 2013, all government servants from the SikhMalaysian Indian community will be given a day off on Vaisakhi Day.[188] Vaisakhi 'open houses' are also held across the country during the day of the festival, or the closest weekend to it.
The new year falls on or about the same day every year for many Buddhist communities in parts of South andSoutheast Asia. This is likely an influence of their shared culture in the 1st millennium CE.[15] Some examples include:
Vaisakhi is a harvest festival for people ofNorthern India.[133] Chander and Dogra (2003) state that in Punjab, Vaisakhi marks the ripening of therabi harvest.[129] Vaisakhi, the Hindu Solar new year, also marks the Nepalese Bengali New year and Punjabi cultural day[189] Fairs orMelas (fair) are held in many parts ofNorth India to mark the new year and the harvesting season. Vaisakhi fairs take place in various places, includingJammu City, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Samba,[190] in the Pinjore complex nearChandigarh,[191] inHimachal Pradesh cities of Rewalsar, Shimla, Mandi and Prashar Lakes. According to Ann Louise Wood, Vaisakhi is a festival that is celebrated by the Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims of Punjab.[192]
In some north Indian states, including the Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, the solar New Year, which occurs at the spring equinox, is celebrated as a festival known as Vaisakhi.
The first day of the Hindu solar month Vaisakha (Apr-May), it is New Year's Day by the solar calendar of South and East India and a spring harvest festival in North and East India, celebrated with melas, dances, and folksongs.
Baisakhi, which is celebrated as New Year's day in India, follows a solar calendar and usually falls on 13 April. It began as a grain harvest festival for Hindus, but has acquired historical association for Sikhs.
Baisakhi is celebrated mainly in the north, particularly in the state of Punjab and its surrounding regions. In the days when pilgrims still traveled through the Himalayas on foot, this festival marked the beginning of the Himalayan pilgrimage season; during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Baisakhi was the occasion for a great trading festival in the town of Haridwar, the gateway to the Himalayan shrines. Although this fair has long been eclipsed, Baisakhi is still the climactic bathing (snana) day for the Haridwar Kumbha Mela and Ardha Kumbha Mela, each of which is a bathing festival that occurs about every twelve years when Jupiter is in the sign of Aquarius (for the Kumbha Mela) or Leo (for the Ardha Kumbha Mela).
Sikhs were also instructed to assemble wherever the Guru happened to be at the Hindu spring festival of Vaisakhi (or Baisakhi), and in the autumn, at Diwali.
Vaisakhi predates Sikhism and began as a grain harvest festival in the Punjab region of India.
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.
While most Sikh holidays are now set by the Nanakshahi calendar, there are three holidays that Sikhs celebrate that remain linked to celebrations in the larger Hindu community. These three continue to be set annually according to the Hindu lunar calendar–Hola Mohalla (tied to the Hindu holiday called Holi), Bandi Chhor Divas (which coincides with the Hindu Festival called Diwali), and Guru Nanak's Birthday, a national holiday in India.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)The favourite day for bullock-racing is the first of Vaisakhi (13th April); hence bullock race is called Vaisakhi at whatever time of the year it may occur.
Although Baisakhi was primarily a harvest festival in which all Punjabis participated, irrespective of what religion they belonged to yet it did a vanishing trick from West Punjab after the Partition. In fact, it had gained identity as a Sikh festival with the establishing of the Khalsa on this day.
It can be acknowledged that in April 2010, the Federal Ministry of Minorities announced that ten religious festivals of the minorities would be celebrated officially in Pakistan. The festivals included Baisakhi. Diwali. Holi. Eid-e-Rizwan, Chelumjust, Nauroz, Christmas and Easter.
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Media related toVaisakhi at Wikimedia Commons
