Factsheet: Vaisakhi

By Dr Jasjit Singh

Vaisakhi is a traditional Punjabi harvest festival which for Sikhs is also one of their most important religious events, celebrating the start of the Khalsa

What is Vaisakhi?

Vaisakhi is a traditional Punjabi harvest festival celebrated in rural communities with processions, singing and colourful decoration. For Sikhs throughout the world, however, Vaisakhi also marks the inauguration of the Khalsa, the body of committed Sikhs who have decided to dedicate their lives to the values taught by the Sikh gurus. It is celebrated on 13 or 14 April each year.

What is the Khalsa?

The Khalsa were inaugurated by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru, in 1699. The Khalsa — meaning to be “pure, sovereign” — was founded to create a group of individuals prepared to stand up to injustice, to protect innocent people from religious persecution, uphold freedom, foster spiritual observance, promote honesty and equality, and ensure all people could access basic needs such as food and health. Five volunteers were initiated first and were given a new surname, Singh, which means lion. This tradition is now widely observed in all Sikh communities and includes women, who are given the title Kaur, meaning leader. It is important to note that this initiation is voluntary and that individuals choose to undergo initiation when they feel that they are ready to do so. The initiation, Amrit Sanchaar, takes place in a gurdwara (the Sikh place of worship), in a ceremony that includes recitals of the guru’s teachings and affirmations of the key principles of the faith. Amrit is a mixture of sugar (symbolising sweetness) and water (symbolising purity), stirred by a double-edged sword (symbolising strength), which is sprinkled on the eyes and hair and then drunk by the person being initiated. All those undergoing initiation recite the Mool Mantar, the foundational statement of the Sikh tradition, followed by key readings from the Sikh liturgy. Finally, all initiates eat the karah parshad — a sweet food of flour, sugar and ghee, symbolising that they are now all equal and removing any previous caste or social status related labels. All Khalsa are instructed to wear five key symbols known as the five Ks, as they all begin with the letter K in the Punjabi language:

• Kesh — uncut hair
• Kangha — a wooden comb
• Kara — an iron or steel bangle worn on the wrist
• Kirpan — a sword
• Kacchera (also spelt kachh, kaccha, and kachera) — short breeches

Is Vaisakhi Sikh new year?

Vaisakhi has often been described as the start of the Sikh new year. But it is not. In the Punjabi calendar, the start of the month of Chet (14 March to 14 April in the Gregorian calendar) marks the start of the Punjabi/Sikh New Year. Vaisakhi is celebrated by Sikhs around the world with more vigour than the start of Chet because of its significance. The labelling of Vaisakhi as Sikh new year is probably a consequence of Sikhs trying to illustrate the significance of Vaisakhi to non-Sikhs. In 2018, the Sikh Press Association complained to IPSO that The Times had stated Vaisakhi was the Sikh New Year. The complaint was rejected, because the description of Vaisakhi as the Sikh new year was widespread.

What happens during the festival?

Sikhs visit their gurdwara with those who feel they are ready to undergo Khalsa initiation. A procession called a nagar kirtan (loosely translated as “city praising”), is led by five Khalsa, known as the Panj Pyare or beloved ones, and proceeds through public spaces. This occurs in a number of cities around the world including many capital cities. Many Sikhs wear bright colours including orange, blue and yellow. The traditional colours of Vaisakhi are yellow and orange, which represent the spirit of rebirth and sacrifice of the Panj Pyare. The colours are also symbolic of joy and celebration, which is why they are worn by those at the festival. Guru Granth Sahib, the living guru of the Sikhs in the form of a book, is on a float as the main focus of the procession. The writings from the Guru Granth Sahib (Gurbani) are sung with those in the procession joining in. Food is served to all in a community kitchen (langar). Often there is a display of Sikh martial arts (gatka). Dr Jasjit Singh is a research fellow in the School of Philosophy, Religion and the History of Science at Leeds University

Further information

A BBC Teach class on Vaisakhi A reflection written for the Religion Media Centre on Vaisakhi under lockdown in 2020

Useful contacts

Jasjit Singh, Leeds University Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, senior lecturer in Sikh studies at Birmingham University The Sikh Council UK