Vaisakhi - Sikhs and the people of Punjab
Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi in some parts of the country, is a significant festival mainly celebrated by Sikhs and the people of Punjab. This year, Baisakhi is being celebrated on April 14. The festival marks the start of the harvest season. Baisakhi also reflects on the formation of the Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh. The occasion is observed by the Hindu community as well, as it marks the beginning of the Hindu solar New Year.The festival is celebrated with full zeal and enthusiasm, especially in Punjab and neighboring states like Haryana.
The significance of Baisakhi as a major Sikh festival marking the birth of the Sikh order started after the persecution and execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur for refusing to convert to Islam under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. This triggered the coronation of Guru Gobind Singh the tenth Guru of Sikhism and the historic formation of Khalsa, both on the Baisakhi day.
