When and why Baisakhi is celebrated in India – Baisakhi, spelled as Vaisakhi, is a religious festival in both Hinduism and Sikhism. The Baisakhi Festival every year is celebrated on either 13 April or 14 April.

The Baisakhi 2023 date is 14 April. For Hindus, Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, marks the Solar New Year.

What is the importance of Baisakhi? History and Importance of Baisakhi

Baisakhi marks the Sikh new year and commemorates the formation of the mighty Khalsa Panth under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. People in Punjab also celebrate this day as the good harvest day. Baisakhi Festival is celebrated with lots of joy and enthusiasm in the northern state of Punjab and Haryana. Farmers look forward to celebrating Baisakhi with all eagerness.

When is Baisakhi celebrated in India – History and Importance

Baisakhi was 1 of the 3 festivals that Guru Amar Das chose to be celebrated by the Sikhs. Back in 1699, Guru Teg Bahadur was beheaded by the Mughals. This happened due to his willingness to oppose the Mughal invaders and to protect the cultural identity of Hindus and Sikhs. On Baisakhi day of 1699, his son, Guru Gobind Rai, rallied the Sikhs and inspired them through his words and actions, bestowing upon them and himself the title of Singh or lion, and thus become Guru Gobind Singh.

The five K’s of Sikhism were adopted, and the Guru system was dispelled, with Sikhs being urged to accept the Granth Sahib as their eternal guide. Thus, the Baisakhi festival is observed as the coronation of the last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, as well as the foundation of the Khalsa Panth of Sikhism, granting it a position of immense importance to Sikhism, and is one of the biggest Sikh festivals.

When and why Baisakhi is celebrated in India

Culture and Traditions – Baisakhi 2023

On an auspicious day like Baisakhi, one takes an early bath, wears new sets of clothes, and visits their neighbourhood gurudwara to participate in special prayers. After a special ardas of kirtans and kada prasad, people have chabeel and sit together in rows to eat lungar which is prepared by volunteers. The major celebrations of Baisakhi is organised at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

What are some famous Baisakhi Food festivities?

For Baisakhi Food festivities, people usually tend to cook North Indian Punjabi dishes which include chole bhature, peele chawal, makke ki roti, sarso ka saag, sweet lassi, gur ka halwa, kadhi pakora, rice, etc while for desserts, people prepare coconut ladoos, dry fruits kheer, halwa, etc…