Vaisakhi / Baisakhi / Vishu 2023: Date, History, Facts about Sikhs

Vaisakhi or Baisakhi, depending on the Sikh calendar, is celebrated by Sikhs around the globe. This year’s event occurs on April 14. Although the majority of Vaisakhi celebrations take place in northern India, Sikhs all over the globe celebrate one of the most significant holidays on the Sikh calendar on this special date. In Indian and Sikh culture, Vaisakhi is a commemoration of the spring harvest, and many consider it to be the Indian Solar New Year as well.

The background of Vaisakhi / Baisakhi / Vishu

Vaisakhi is one of the most important annual celebrations in India and the Sikh religion. Historically, it has always occurred in the middle of April and begun with the harvest of the earliest crops. As a religious observance, it has always been characterised by numerous festivities and community celebrations. This historical custom began to acquire new meanings and significance for Sikh history over time.

Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth of ten gurus who founded the Sikh religion, was executed by the Mughal Empire for refusing to convert to Islam in the late 1600s. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of the Sikh religion, established the Khalsa identity shortly thereafter. As the prominence of Sikh communities expanded throughout the region, a conflict erupted with Mughal authorities. As a result, the Vaisakhi festival became a symbol of the Sikh fight for the recognition of their religion and a commemoration of the Khalsa and its formation.

Khalsa refers to both the community of Sikhism adherents and a select group of devoted Sikhs. A few decades after the establishment of a unified Sikh state, the Vaisakhi celebration took on a new significance for many Sikhs. As of today, Vaisakhi is not only a commemoration of the beginning of the new solar year, but also a recognition of Sikh communities. As one of the most important Sikh festivals, Vaisakhi is celebrated with numerous fairs, harvest ceremonies, and public performances.

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5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT SIKHS

Ten gurus, all of whom are spiritual mentors of Sikhism, founded the Sikh religion and made significant contributions to it.

The primary Sikh scripture is called Adi Granth and is frequently referred to as Guru Granth Sahib, as the text is considered to be the current Guru.

The Guru Granth Sahib is an essential Sikh religious text written in the form of a poem.

Men and women are treated equally in the Sikh religion, and believers are required to regard women as equals.

Although most Sikhs are from Northern India, Canada has the second-largest Sikh population in the globe, after India.

VAISAKHI / BAISAKHI / VISHU DATES