Importance of ‘Vaisakhi’ in Sikh Religion

‘Vaisakhi’ is an ancient harvest festival in Punjab, the northern state of India. The word Vaisakhi has been copied from the month Vaisakhi being used in the traditional Indian calendar. Vaisakhi marks the Indian New Year’s time and also a time to harvest wheat crops. People celebrate Vaisakhi before the next few months where they will then have to harvest the wheat and begin sowing the fall crops. Celebrating Vaisakhi is also another way of thanking the Lord for the plentiful crop and praying for good times ahead.

To celebrate Vaisakhi people buy new clothes, and enjoy by singing and dancing and eating traditional food such as jalebi’s, samosas, and many more. Some of the traditional dances that take place during Vaisakhi are 'Bhangra'  and ‘Gidda’ danced by both men and women respectively. These dances are very easy to do but really energetic and can be danced by the beat of a ‘dhol’ which is an Indian drum.

 

'Dhol'

image from Flickr Yahoo

Vaisakhi is probably one of the most special days for the Sikh community and also one of the most colourful days too. Vaisakhi was created by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji to mark the foundation of Khalsa Panth (community of Singhs (men) and Kaurs (females). Another celebration of Vaisakhi is the ‘Nagar Kirtan’ also known as the Sikh Parade which happens once a year in the month of May during the long weekend. The Sikh parade is led by the holy scripture known as the ‘Guru Granth Sahib Ji’ and then followed by thousands of Sikh people. Anyone is allowed to participate in the Sikh parade. People come out during the Sikh parade to do ‘Seva’ which is volunteering to offer free food and doing any other voluntary work and of course to enjoy the day.

'Nagar Kirtan' Sikh Parade

image from Flickr Yahoo

Lastly, Vaisakhi is also celebrated to remember those who suffered and died during the massacre of innocent Sikh’s by the British Empire. This happened during the independence movement to free India from the British rule. On April 13^th, 1919 there was a rally that was being held by innocent people who were trying to fight for their freedom in Jallianwala Bagh which is near the Golden Temple where thousands of people died and many of them wounded. This attack was placed by British Indian army soldiers who where under the command of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, all exists where closed where the rally was, keeping the innocent people trapped and that’s when the soldiers opened fire killing unarmed men, women and children who were trying to fight for their freedom and rights.

Image from Flickr Yahoo

'Jallianwala Bagh'

This is the place where soldiers opened fire on all the innocent, unarmed men, women and children. You can see the gun shots through the bricks when up close. Now it is a peaceful place for visitors and tourists to visit.