Significance of Baisakhi for Farmers
For the agriculturally rich state of Punjab and Haryana, Baisakhi marks the time for harvest of Rabi (winter) crops and is therefore extremely significant for the farmers. Baisakhi Festival is also celebrated as a Thanksgiving Day festival in these states. After waking up early and dressing themselves in new clothes, farmers visit temples and gurdwaras to express gratitude to God for the good harvest and seek blessing for ensuing agriculture season. Farmers also celebrate Baisakhi by performing energetic bhangra and gidda dance and participating in Baisakhi Fairs.
Significance of Baisakhi in Sikhism
Baisakhi is of major importance for the people following Sikh faith. As it was on a Baisakhi Day, in the year 1699 that the Tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa Panth or the Order of Pure Ones and gave a unique identity to Sikhs. The Sikhs are the only people who celebrate their birthday because they were born on that day as a new nation. There is hardly any group in the world that can boast such a privilege.
On this day the Guru Gobind Singhji administered Amrit (nectar) to his first batch of five disciples making them Singhs, a martial community. The tenth Guru initiated the five Sikhs (Panj Piaras) who in turn baptised the Guru. Thus distinction between the Guru and disciple was fused and the Guru undoubtedly became the father of the Khalsa nation The duality in spirituality between the Master and disciple (Chela) is observed when the disciple adheres to the Master’s teachings and discipline. The men took on a common surname, Singh ('Lion'), a reminder to be courageous, which they still do to this day. Women take on the name Kaur ('Princess'), to emphasise dignity. The Sikh Gurus exceeded this relationship by giving their followers to adopt their form.
Khalsa is my form.
In the Khalsa do I reside (Guru Gobind Singh)
.By doing so, he eliminated the differences of high and low as people of all classes and castes came forward to adopt this new religion; especially those who had been depressed and despoiled for generations under an obstinate social system. After adopting Sikhism as their new faith they could now discard the stamp of inferiority and attained equality with the highest in the land. Thus Guru Gobind Singhji established that all human beings were equal.
The creation of Khalsa nation gave rise to 3 important aspects of Sikhism namely the Khalsa civilisation; the Sikh form and the manner of implementing the philosophy of Guru Nanak as prescribed – Shabad surat abyass:
Suraṯ sabaḝ bẖav sĝgar ṯarī▫ai Nĝnak nĝm vakẖĝṇe.
By Surat-Shabad do thou cross the ocean of phenomena
By uttering His Nam, O Nanak
(SGGS p938)
The mission of Guru Nanak was achieved after the sacrifices of the Gurus, sacrifice by the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh and numerous sacrifices by shahid Singhs. These three aspects encompassed and protected all that was achieved during the 314 years.