The Miracles Of Baisakhi

The most famous festival of Punjab is Baisakhi and is also the Punjabi new year. It falls on the month Baisakh, which is the first month of the Bikram Sambat Hindu Calendar and hence is known as Baisakhi. This day also marks the birth of Khalsa in the year 1699. Khalsa was the name of the collective body of all the initiated Sikhs, represented by the Five Beloved-Ones (or the Panj Piare in Punjabi). It can also be called the Guru Panth, the embodiment of the Guru.

Baisakhi is said to be one of the largest, most colorful and probably the loudest festival celebrated by the South Asian community. In other words, it is the thanksgiving festival of the Indian farmers. This is also the day when the sun makes its entry into the Mesh Rashi. It is known as Naba Barsha in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Rongali Bihu in Assam and Vaisakha in Bihar.

Significance of Baisakhi

• This festival is considered to be a very important day for the Sikhs as in Sikhism this is the foundation day of Khalsa Panth. This day also has astrological significance.
• Astrologically, the date of Baisakhi is significant as it marks sun’s entry into Mesh Rashi hence it is also termed as Mesha Sankranti.
• This is also a very important day for farmers of the agriculturally rich states like Haryana and Punjab. After waking up early and dressing in new clothes, farmers visit temples and gurdwaras to express gratitude to God for the good harvest and seek blessings for ensuring agriculture season. Farmers also celebrate Baisakhi by performing energetic bhangra and gidda dance and participating in Baisakhi Fairs.
• This day is also significant for the Hindus as it was on this day in 1875 that Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj – a reformed sect of Hindus who are devoted to the Vedas for spiritual guidance and have discarded idol worship.
• Baisakhi day is relevant in another way as well for the Buddhists as Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment and Nirvana on this auspicious day.

Mythology behind Baisakhi Celebration

During the reign of Emperor Jahangir in 1606,  Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru was arrested and executed. Jahangir did this as he was believed to be threatened by the growth of the Sikh faith, especially the number of Muslim converts. The same thing repeated in 1675 during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb when Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, was executed. As the story goes, Guru Gobind Singh came out of his tent with a sword and asked for any man willing to die for his faith to step forward. One young man

As the story goes, Guru Gobind Singh came out of his tent with a sword and asked for any man willing to die for his faith to step forward. One young man did and went into the Guru’s tent with him. Minutes later, the Guru emerged alone, with blood dripping from his sword. He then asked for another volunteer, with the same result. Five men had gone in without returning, leaving others in attendance worried until eventually Guru Gobind Singh brought out all five men alive, and wearing turbans. These five men are known as the Panj Piare, or Beloved Five. They were then baptized into the Khalsa by the Guru, sprinkled Amrit over them while reciting prayers. After that, this day was celebrated as the Punjabi new year and the harvest festival for Rabi crop as well.

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