Happy Baisakhi 2019: Baisakhi or Vaisakhi holds immense historical and cultural importance in Sikhism. Celebrated every year on the 13 April, Baisakhi marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year.

It is celebrated as the spring festival with Sikh diaspora across the country offering prayers for the good crop and bountiful harvest. Additionally the day also commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 following the persecution and execution of the ninth-Sikh guru, Tegh Bahadur for refusing to convert to Islam under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

This event triggered the coronation of the tenth Guru of Sikhism and the historic formation of Khalsa on the same day, Baisakhi, at Anandpur Sahib.

It was also on Baisakhi that the British officer, Brigadier Dyer undertook the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on a graceful gathering in Jallianwala in Punjab.
Farmers celebrate the festival as Thanksgving Day. Many visit temples or gurudwaras to express their gratitude.

Special Baisakhi fairs are organised across Punjab to celebrate the day.There is bhangra and gidda, wrestling bouts, singing and acrobatic displays. Folk performances especially on instruments like vanjli and algoza are also quite popular.

Many Sikh devotees take an early bath, wear new clothes and visit the neighborhood gurudwara to participate in the special prayer meet marked for the day. After a special Ardaas of kirtans( religious songs) and discourses kada prasad( sweetened semolina) is distributed among the present.

Later a community lunch or langer is prepared and served to all by kar sevals or volunteers.

Another highlight of the day if the Baiksakhi p-procession or nagar kirtan that is carried under the leadership of Panj Piaras or the five beloveds, to commemorate the day when the first five disciples stepped forward to be initiated into the Khalsa panth. The sacred scripture of Sikhs , Guru Granth Sahib is also carried along in the procession.

Men, women and children alike participate in the procession. Mock duels, bands, bhangra performances and gidda accompany the procession.

Baisakhi is celebrated with great pomp at the Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib also known as Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab every year.

The auspicious day is celebrated across India in varying styles under different names. In Assam, it is celebrated as Rongali Bihu, while in West Bengal as Naba Barsha. In Bihar, Baisakhi is celebrates as Vaishakha in honour of the Sun God and in Kerala- celebrated as Vishu and Tamil Nadu as Puthandu.

In Kashmir, a ceremonial bath and festivities mark Baisakhi and in Himachal Pradesh, devotees worship at the Jwalamukhi temple and take a holy dip in the Hot Springs.

Happy Baisakhi!