Many people around the world are preparing to celebrate Vaisakhi, a very important day in the Sikh calendar
Vaisakhi is sometimes called Baisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi and takes place each year in April and is celebrated across the world. This year Vaisakhi takes place on Tuesday, April 13.
What is Vaisakhi?
Vaisakhi is the holiest day in the Sikh calendar. An ancient festival of Punjabis, it marks the Solar New Year and is also a harvest festival marking the creation of the community of initiated Sikhs known as the Khalsa. There are two different elements to Vaisakhi: firstly it refers to the harvest festival in the Punjab region of India, and secondly, it marks the day that Sikhism was born as a collective faith in 1699.
How is Vaisakhi celebrated?
Vaisakhi is all about community, progression and celebration. The festival is marked around the world with processions known as a nagar kirtan.
Vaisakhi is celebrated in all Gurdwaras but the largest event is taking place in Anandpur. While the traditional processions will have to be scaled back this year because of the ongoing pandemic, Sikhs will still come together to rejoice at Guru Gobind Singh’s creation of the Khalsa.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to wish all a very happy and prosperous Vaisakhi.
