Baisakhi

The first day of the month of Vaisakh is known as Vaisakhi, which is also pronounced as Baisakhi and Basoa. It is customarily observed yearly on April 13 and, on occasion, April 14. Particularly in Northern India, it is seen as a celebration of the spring harvest. Moreover, the diaspora and many Indian communities mark this festival. In terms of culture, Vaisakhi is a significant harvest festival, but it also ushers in the Indian Solar New Year in many parts of the nation.This day has a significant historical connection to the Dogras because it was the day that Raja Shaktikaran Dogra, also known as Raja Shastri, launched the Shastri Calendar, also known as the Dogra-Pahari Calendar.

Hindus refer to this festival by the name Vaisakhi Festival, and people in other regions of India refer to it by a number of different regional names. For many Hindu communities, the festival is an opportunity to perform mandatory daan (charity), especially of hand fans, water pitchers, and seasonal fruits, as well as to visit temples, Get together with friends, take part in other festivities, and take a ceremonial dip in rivers like the Ganges, Jhelum, or Kaveri. Community fairs are held at the sites of Hindu pilgrimage. In several places, there are procession transporting temple deities. Vaisakhi was originally a Hindu holiday celebrating the harvest of grains, but over time it came to be associated historically with the Sikhs.

Time to Celebrate

Vaisakhi is observed on April 13 or 14. This ceremony coincides with others conducted on the Indian Subcontinent on the same day, including Pohela Boishakh, Bohag Bihu, Vishu, Puthandu, and others.

Hinduism

The first day of Vaisakh, which falls in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Odisha, and Punjab, is observed by certain Hindus as the start of the traditional solar new year. India’s other regions are Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, and Tamil Nadu. Yet, not all Hindus celebrate this new year. For certain communities, such as those in and around Gujarat, the five-day Diwali festival falls during the time of their new year’s celebrations. Others celebrate the start of the year a few weeks early on Cheti Chand, Gudi Padwa, or Ugadi. Farmers are enjoying a time of plenty as the harvest is complete and the crops are getting ready for sale. Festivals and unique pujas (prayers) for thanksgiving are widespread in the Hindu religion. The Vanis of the Saints make it abundantly obvious that Satlok is perpetually infused with Vaisakhi’s aura.

Despite the fact that the ceremonies and its significance are the identical, Hindus refer to it by a number of different regional names. Hindus observe it by taking a bath in a revered river since they believe the river goddess Ganges descended from Svarga to earth on this day. A few rivers that are particularly respected are the Ganges, Jhelum, and Kaveri. Hindus visit temples, interact with friends, and feast on seasonal foods to celebrate.

Uttar Pradesh

According to the Hindu Solar Calendar, Vaisakhi or Vaisakhi Sankranti is observed on the first day of Vaisakh. Due to the donation and consumption of Sattu on this day, it is also known as Satwahi. It is customary to take a bath in a river or pond and consume Sattu and Gur during this occasion.

Haryana

Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra both observe Haryana Vaisakhi with fervour. Vaisakhi fair is conducted in Kurukshetra district at Baan Ganga Tirtha, which is connected to Arjuna from the Mahabharata. In the holy Baan Ganga Tirtha in the Kurukshetra village of Dayalpur, ritual baths are typically taken during the festival of Vaisakhi. In this Hindu pilgrimage, a fair is held every Vaisakhi. A Vaisakhi festival is also held in Pinjore Garden by the Haryana government to honour this religious and cultural occasion.

Jammu

Vaisakhi is a prominent occasion for Dogra Hindus in the Jammu region. On this day every year, crowds of people gather early, take a ceremonial plunge in the rivers, canals, and ponds. Following a Puja, a piece of the harvest is offered to the gods in Dogra houses. People enjoy the first fresh fruit of the year on this day. Jammu is known for its ritual baths during Vaisakhi beside the Tawi River.

Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh, Vaisakhi is a significant holiday for Hindus. They bathe ceremonially in the early morning. Two clay lamps are lit on this day, one with oil for Sangiya and the other with ghee for Jyot. They are stored in a large saucer with a water container, evergreen grass blades, Kusha, Incense, Sandal, Vermillion, and Dakshina (money). The worship of household deities involves the use of these objects. Together with small coins that are placed close to the god, alms are given in the form of rice and pulses. The family priest commonly refers to this as Nasrawan.

Punjab

Several locations in Punjab hold fairs and melas to commemorate the founding of the Khalsa. A yearly fair is held at Takht Kesgarh Sahib on Baisakhi day, claim Dogra & Dogra (2003). To commemorate the event, a parade is led through the city of Anandpur. Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo and Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar are two more significant locations where massive crowds occur. At Talwandi Sabo (where Guru Gobind Singh resided for nine months and finished compiling the Guru Granth Sahib), in the Gurudwara at Anandpur Sahib, the Khalsa’s birthplace, and at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, there is a special celebration. Swords, sticks, and daggers are used in the Gatka martial art, which is performed at celebrations. The largest Vaisakhi fair is held in the Bhagwan Narainji Thakurdwara in the Punjabi village of Pandori Mahatan’s Gurdaspur district. From the first to the third day of Vaisakha, the fair lasts three days. The celebrations formally start on the morning of the first Vaisakha when Brahmacharis and followers carry Mahant in a palanquin. Following the performance of Navgraha Puja, donations of cows, wheat, and cash are made. Mahant delivers sermons at the evening Sankirtan, which is followed by the delivery of Patasha prasad. Also, visitors take part in ritual washing at the hallowed tank of the shrine.

Uttarakhand's Haridwar

On the day of Vaisakhi, according to Hindu mythology, the River Goddess Ganga descended to Earth from heaven. Haridwar, an important Hindu pilgrimage site, is home to one of India’s largest Vaisakhi celebrations. At Brahm Kund in Haridwar, more than 50 lakh (5 million) pilgrims assemble on this day to take a bath in the Ganga river.