Baisakhi (A festival
of Panjab/Sikhs)
Vaisakhi, to Sikhs marks the creation of
the Khalsa and to others, the Punjabi and Nepali New Year and the
beginning of the harvest season in Punjab, India and Nepal.
Vaisakhi falls in the Nanakshahi calendar (not in the Amantha- nor
in the Purnimantha-calendar) on the first day of Vaisakh month and
marks the sun entering Mesha Rasi (this occurrence is called Mesha
Sankranti). Vaisakhi is therefore determined by the solar calendar.
Baisakhi usually falls on April 13, and on April 14 once every
thirty-six years, however it has now been agreed for Vaisakhi to
always fall on the 14th of April.
It occurs at the same time as the "Hindu/Vedic New Year"
commemorated in different parts India as follows: Rongali Bihu in
Assam, Naba Barsha (literally meaning "New" = "Nava" "Year"="Barsha")
in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, 'Pooram Vishu' in Kerala, and the
Sinhala/Tamil new year festival in Sri Lanka.
Vaisakhi in Sikhism
Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs founded the Khalsa
(Community of the Pure) at the Baisakhi gathering in 1699, at
Keshgarh Sahib near Anandpur. Guru Gobind Singh, had arranged for
followers from all over India to meet him at the Basakhi Fair in
Anandpur.
The guru asked for a man to step forward who was willing to die for
his religoun. They crowd thought he was crazy but one man came
forward, entered the Gurus tent and after a thud noise was herd the
Guru came out of the tent - his sword stained with blood. One by one
the guru chose four more men to come forward, and one by after
another they entered and the Guru exited alone with his blood
stained sword. The crowd was nervous, and mysteriously there was no
screaming at all. When the five men came before the people, clothed
in robes like the Guru wore, all alive and well!
The Guru put water in a bowl for sprinkling over the five in a
simple initiation ceremony. He said prayers as he stirred the water
with a short steel sword; symbolising the need for strength. The
Guru's wife, Mata Sundri, then came forward and placed some sugar
crystals into the holy water or amrit as a reminder that strength
must always be balanced by sweetness of temperament. After
completing his prayers, the Guru then sprinkled the amrit over the
five.
He declared them to be the first members of a new community of
equals, to be called the Khalsa, meaning "pure". These "saint
soldiers" were to dedicate their lives to the service of others and
the pursuit of justice for people of all faiths. The Panj Pyare were
asked to wear five distinctive symbols of their new identity, The
Five Ks.
In a move to end social divisions the five dropped their surnames -
traditionally associated with one's caste - and took the common name
Singh, meaning "lion", a reminder of the need for courage. At the
same time, the Guru gave Sikh women the name or title Kaur, meaning
"princess", to emphasise dignity and complete equality. The Guru
then knelt before the five and asked them to initiate him. Hence,
the Khalsa became a community in which master and disciple were
equal.
For Sikhs, this seasonal festival also has great importance as the
founding of the Akal Khalsa (Soldiers of the Timeless One) at
Anandpur Sahib. The Akal Khalsa played an important role in
resistance against Mughal rule. For many centuries after that, the
first male child of many Hindu families in Punjab was ordained as a
Sikh in order for him to train and become a warrior and fight for
the people. Other male children used to take care of the family,
parents and the land.
Celebrations
To mark the celebrations, devotees, irrespective of their religion,
throng at gurdwaras - the Sikh place of worship. The celebrations
start early as devotees, with flowers and offerings in their hands,
proceed towards the gurdwaras and temples before dawn. Processions
through towns are also common. Vaisakhi is the day on which the
Khalsa (The Pure Ones) was born and Sikhs were given a clear
identity and a code of conduct to live by. The event was led by the
last living Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who baptised the first Sikhs
using sweet nectar called Amrit. Around the world at Baisakhi time,
Sikhs and Punjabis reflect on the values taught to them by their
Gurus and celebrate the birth of the Khalsa. On top of this usually
on this day in India, there is a huge parade/celebration. In the
United States, there is usually a parade a few days after Vaisakhi,
the actually day. In New York, Manhattan is a huge parade where many
people come out to do seva, (religious work) such as giving out free
food, and completing any other labor needed to be done
