|
Baisakhi - known as Vaisakhi festival
Celebrated by the Sikhs
It is celebrated on the 1st day of the Baisakhi according to the Nanakshahi calendar.
Significance
Baisakhi is considered as the most important festival for the Sikhs. It is observed as New Year for them. It is also well-known as Vaisakhi. This festival is celebrated in different ways in different states. In Bihar people worship Sun-god on this day, in Himachal Pradesh goddess Jwalamukhi is being worshipped and in Assam it is known as the Rangoli Bihu. There are different traditions and rituals in different states for celebrating this festival.
Celebration of Baisakhi
People early in the morning even before dawn they have bath hold flowers and sweets and proceeds on the way to gurdwaras. This procession is led by the band who will sing the songs of Baisakhi accompanied by the children. This procession of the Sikhs is common as all the Sikhs get collected to one common place and then they proceed to Gurdwaras.
This is the day on which the Khalsa was born and therefore the Sikh got their clear and firm identity. This event was lead by the Guru Govind Singh who was the last guru of Sikhs. He was the one who baptised with the help of the 1st Sikhs by means of sweet nectar known as Amrit.
The people of Sikh celebrate this festival with full passion and joy. Baisakhi is one of the festivals well known for harvesting grains. People get collected at one place and enjoy by singing songs, dancing and showing their talent to everyone present. The Punjabis sing songs in their own traditional form. On this day even woman break all the rules and regulations and enjoy this festival. They get dressed up in their traditional form with lots of jewelry and colorful dresses.
This festival is largely celebrated on the bank of the river with a bone fire in the centre. People visit gurdwaras and also distributes Prasad Kada to all the people present in the Gurdwaras. People walk singing the kirtans and read the passages from their Granths. People wait outside the Gurdwaras for Kada Prasad and after that they perform Kar sewa. Kar sewa means helping the labors of the Gurdwara as this is a symbol of humanity and generosity.
For the farmers it is as if the farmers have to enjoy before doing the main work of harvesting. For this there are no prayers and no fast to be followed by the farmers.
Traditional food
The traditional foods of Baisakhi are as follows Sarsoon ka Saag, coconut ladoo, makki ki roti, Battura, pindi chana, til gajak, rajma rice, Peele chawal and dry fruit kheer these all are the vegetarian dishes. There are some non-vegetarian dishes also such as achari mutton, Saag meat and tandoori chicken.
This festival signifies fun and enjoyment for the farmers as it will bring wealth for the farmers
| 