Baisakhi

In Sikhism

The Khalsa (Punjabi: “the Pure”)—a casteless group of Sikhs created by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru—traces its origins to Baisakhi day in 1699. On that day a large number of Sikhs had gathered at Anandpur, Punjab, to celebrate the occasion. At the height of the festivities Guru Gobind Singh emerged from a tent with a drawn sword and asked whether anyone would sacrifice himself for the faith. The crowd fell silent, and the Guru repeated his question. Finally, one man stepped out. The Guru led the man inside the tent and moments later returned with his sword stained with blood. He requested another volunteer, and four more devoted men came forward. As each man was taken inside the tent, the sound of a striking sword could be heard. Finally, all five men emerged from the tent dressed in identical saffron-colored robes, each adorned with a neatly tied turban, also saffron, and swords hanging gracefully at their sides. The Guru had merely tested the men’s faith and slaughtered five goats instead.

It was then that the Guru introduced a new process of initiation—khande ki pahul (“ceremony of the double-edged sword”)—in which sweetened water (amrit) is churned with a double-edged broadsword (khanda). Drinking the amrit is considered a sacred part of the initiation, as it is said to connect one with God. The five volunteers were the first to be initiated and were given the title panj pyares (“the five beloved ones”); they formed the nucleus of the Khalsa. The celebration of Baisakhi by Sikhs commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa.

In contemporary history

Baisakhi is also tied to one of the darkest incidents in India’s history—the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. On the afternoon of April 13, 1919, at least 10,000 men, women, and children gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, a spacious area in Amritsar, Punjab, almost completely enclosed by high walls, with only one exit. Many had come to celebrate Baisakhi, while others were there in defiance of a British ban on public gatherings. British Brig. Gen. Reginald Dyer and his troops arrived, blocked the only exit, and opened fire on the unarmed crowd. The exact death toll remains uncertain, but an official British report estimated 379 fatalities and about 1,200 wounded—though Indian sources suggest the numbers were significantly higher. The tragic event of colonial oppression further galvanized the Indian Independence Movement.

In agriculture

Baisakhi heralds the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab, and farmers come together to celebrate the abundance provided by nature. Wheat, the primary rabi crop in Punjab, reaches full maturity about this time. The festival serves as a moment of thanksgiving, in which prayers are offered for a prosperous harvest and continued fertility of the land. Many farmers seek divine blessings for favorable weather and a bountiful season.