Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ਵੈਸਾਖੀੀ, vaisākhī, also known as Baisakhi) marks the Punjabi and

Nepali New Year and the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab, India and Nepal.

Vaisakhi falls in the Nanakshahi calendar (neither in the Amantha- nor in the
Purnimantha-calendar) on the first day of Vaisakh month and marks the sun entering
Mesha Rasi (this fact 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.

It occurs at the same time 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.

Baisakhi 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 organised for followers from all over India to meet him at the Basakhi Fair in
Anandpur.

Guru Gobind Singh emerged from a tent with a sword, and asked for volunteers to offer
his life for his faith. A young Sikh volunteered, followed the Guru into a tent. Shortly
after, the Guru reappeared alone with his sword covered with blood, and asked for a
second volunteer. Another Sikh stepped forward and again the Guru took him into the
tent, and re-appeared alone, his sword covered in more blood. This was repeated for a
third, fourth and fifth volunteer. The crowd became very unnerved, as many believed that
the Guru had killed the five Sikhs. He soon came out of the tent again, this time followed
by all five Sikhs who were alive and well and dressed in turbans and other symbols that
have since become symbols of Sikh identity. He called the five Sikhs the Panj Pyare - the
beloved five.

Then 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 respect of what
Sikhs had done for India.

Celebrations
To mark the celebrations, devotees, irrespective of their religion, throng 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 Sikh Nation, 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 reflect on the values taught to them by
their Gurus and celebrate the birth of the Khalsa.

The following sentences are written:

"For many centuries after that, the first male child of many Hindu families in Punjab was
ordained as a Sikh in respect of what Sikhs had done for India."

It is complete mis-interpretation of facts. I belong to the family, whose one son till last
generation was made khalsa or keshdhari(one who maintains long hairs) Sikh, . My own
father was a keshdhari sikh, apart from many others in our broader family network. My
father's name was Sh. Ujjal Singh. But my uncle was not a keshdhari sikh. The Hindu
families choose to make their sons a keshdhari sikh, since Hindus and Sikhs were not
considered different or two opposing "religions". They made their sons keshdhari sikhs
since the situation demanded that a son be made soldier to fight the religious intolerance,
oppression, injustice and slaughter meted out by the Muslim Mughal empire on non-
Muslims. I belong to the family, whose fore-fathers fought the tyranny of the then rulers
and established the first non-Muslim rule the the area under Baba Bande Bahadur. Even
this fact is never recognized by the Sikh Historians. Since our fore-fathers have lived that
part of history, we can feel it. But the Sikh historians, who are dying to declare that they
have no connection with Hindus and are altogether a different entity, would not like to
recognize these facts. They go so far to declare themselves different that they ignore what
the gurus have themselves said. The recent example being that many Sikh leaders
declared that the tenth Guru, Guru Govind Singh has not written many texts.
Baisakhi Festival
Baisakhi is one of the major festivals of Sikhs and is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm
and gaiety in the state of Punjab and all throughout the world where there is a significant
Sikh population. For the large farming community of Punjab, Baisakhi Festival marks the
time for harvest of rabi crops and they celebrate the day by performing joyful bhangra
and gidda dance. For the Sikh community, Baisakhi Festival has tremendous religious
significance as it was on a Baisakhi Day in 1699, that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh
Guru laid the foundation of Panth Khalsa-the Order of the Pure Ones.

Date of Baisakhi
Baisakhi Festival falls on the first day of Vaisakh month (April-May) according to
Nanakshahi or Sikh Calendar. For this reason, Baisakhi is also popularly known as
Vaisakhi. According to English calendar, the date of Baisakhi corresponds to April 13
every year and April 14 once in every 36 years. This difference in Baisakhi dates is due
to the fact that day of Baisakhi is reckoned according to solar calendar and not the lunar
calendar. The auspicious date of Baisakhi is celebrated all over India under different
names and different set of rituals and celebrations. Baisakhi date coincides with 'Rongali
Bihu' in Assam, 'Naba Barsha' in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and 'Pooram Vishu' in
Kerala.

Baisakhi Celebrations People of Punjab celebrate the festival of Baisakhi with

exuberance and devotion. As the festival has tremendous importance in Sikh religion,
major activities of the day are organized in Gurdwaras. People wake up early to prepare
for the day. Many also take bath in the holy river to mark the auspicious occasion. After
getting ready people pay a visit to their neighbourdood gurdwara and take part in the
special prayer meeting organized for the day. At the end of the Baisakhi ardas,
congregates receive specially prepared Kara prasad or sweetened semolina. This is
followed by a guru ka langar or community lunch.

Later, during the day people of Sikh faith take out a Baisakhi procession under the
leadership of Panj piaras. The procession moves through the major localities of the city
amidst the rendition of devotional songs by the participating men, women and children.
Mock duels, bhangra and gidda performances make the procession joyous and colourful.

Celebrations by Farmers For the large farming community of Punjab and Haryana,
Baisakhi marks a New Year’s time as it is time to harvest rabi crop. On Baisakhi, farmers
thank god for the bountiful crop and pray for good times ahead. People buy new clothes
and make merry by singing, dancing and enjoying the best of festive food.

Cries of "Jatta aai Baisakhi", rent the skies as gaily men and women break into the
bhangra and gidda dance to express their joy. Everyday farming scenes of sowing,
harvesting, winnowing and gathering of crops are expressed through zestful movements
of the body to the accompaniment of ballads and dhol music.

In several villages of Punjab Baisakhi Fairs are organized where besides other
recreational activities, wrestling bouts are also held.