The festival is usually celebrated on April 13 or 14, depending on the Nanakshahi calendar. It is also known as Baisakhi, which is derived from the month of Vaisakh in the Sikh calendar.
On this day, Sikhs visit gurudwaras (Sikh temples) to offer prayers, participate in kirtan (devotional singing), and listen to the Gurbani (Sikh holy scriptures). The highlight of the celebration is the Nagar Kirtan (procession) that takes place, where Sikhs take out a procession through the streets, singing hymns and carrying the Sikh flag.
People also participate in community service activities and organize langars (community meals) to feed the needy and spread the message of equality and brotherhood. In addition to this, people dress up in traditional Sikh attire, and bhangra and giddha (Punjabi folk dances) are also performed.
Overall, Vaisakhi is a joyous occasion that celebrates the Sikh community's rich culture and heritage and reinforces their commitment to selfless service, equality, and righteousness.
Although scholars debate when exactly a separate Sikh identity was formed, for many Sikhs today Baisakhi is seen as formative turning point in the Sikh faith. Sikhs mark the occasion by going to Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship, for a service, followed by a procession. There is singing, bhangra dancing and Sikh martial arts called gatka. In addition, for Sikhs in the diaspora, such public celebrations are also an opportunity to help the non-Sikh public better understand Sikh beliefs and practice. Sikhs see Sikhism as a tradition that has been fundamentally concerned with equality from its outset. They believe in equality among men and women and reject caste distinctions. With the creation of the Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh called for men initiated into the Khalsa to discard their last names and take the last name Singh and women to take the last name Kaur as a rejection of caste. This is because in India, last names are indicators of caste. When Sikhs communicate to non-Sikhs about their faith, they often emphasize this egalitarian vision of Sikhism.
Sikhs see the creation of the Khalsa, which is commonly translated as “pure,” as creating a distinctive Sikh identity. Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa with the intention that Sikhs who joined the order be set apart from those around them. Sikhs initiated as members of the Khalsa are known as “amritdhari” Sikhs. Sikhs who have not been “initiated” are known as “sahejdhari” Sikhs. The precise size of each group is not known, but amritdhari Sikhs are a significant minority. Sikhs are initiated into this order through the “amrit pahul.” It is a rite that involves drinking a nectar called amrit, prepared using a mixture of sugar and water that has been stirred with a double-edged sword. The initiates read from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture that is seen as the embodiment of the guru, recite a formal prayer, and agree to adhere to guidelines for behavior and practice.
