The festival of Baisakhi is very special for the entire Hindu and Sikh community. Baisakhi is celebrated with great joy and gaiety mainly in Punjab and Haryana on 13th April, but people of Sikh religion all over the world consider this festival to be very special. The day of Baisakhi is also celebrated as the new year of Sikhism. On this day in the year 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji laid the foundation of Khalsa Panth and Baisakhi is also celebrated because farmers harvest their crops in this season.
Shri Guru Amar Das Ji, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, had ordered to celebrate 3 festivals of Hindus, those three festivals were Baisakhi, Diwali and Mahashivratri. The story of Baisakhi festival begins with the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had asked Guru Tegh Bahadur ji to convert to Islam but he refused.
Aurangzeb saw Guru Tegh Bahadur as a threat to the whole of Islam and hence Aurangzeb had Guru Tegh Bahadur beheaded in the meeting. Guru Tegh Bahadur wanted to give this message to the people of the entire Hindu and Sikh religion that they should never change their religion but raise their voice against the crime of Aurangzeb.
Hindus and Sikhs also celebrate the festival of Baisakhi in memory of the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Aurangzeb wanted to spread Islam religion all over India but it could not happen because of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. After Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, Many Hindu and Sikh people stood up against Aurangzeb and shouted against him.
After the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, Guru Gobind Singh ji became the next Sikh Guru and on the day of Baisakhi, he decided to form a Sikh army so that voice could be raised against Aurangzeb’s atrocities. Guru Gobind Singh Ji addressed thousands of people at Anandpur Sahib. Thousands of people were sitting there and Guru Gobind Singh ji reached there with a sword.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji said among thousands of people, “Whoever can lay down his life for his Guru, come forward.” A person came and then Guru Gobind ji took him to a tent and then after sometime when he came out his sword was red with blood. Guru Gobind Singh Ji again said that whoever can give his life for the Guru should come forward. Then a person came, whom Guruji took to the tent and again came out with a blood red sword. He did this 5 times.
Everyone was very worried that what Guru ji is doing. Then after some time Guru Gobind Singh ji went inside the tent and tied the heads of the five with turbans and brought them out and those five were honored with the name of “Panj Pyare”.
These were the 5 people whom Guru Gobind Singh had included in his Khalsa army. After this, thousands of people joined the army of Khalsa and gave a befitting reply to Auranzeb.
Sikhism was born on the day of Baisakhi and hence this day is very special for Sikhs.
In Punjab and Haryana, Baisakhi is celebrated with great joy. Fairs are also held on this day at many places. On the day of Baisakhi, people of Sikh religion go to the Gurudwara in the morning, where special Ardas (Prayer to God) is done for this day. On this day, Langar (community kitchen of a gurdwara) is also held at many places in Punjab. The festival of Baisakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Golden Temple.
F&Q
Why is Baisakhi important?
It is considered as the Sikh New Year and reminds the formation of the Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
What is the message of Baisakhi?
The message is Waheguru bless all human kind with growth, health, and peace on festival of harvest.
