Baisakhi

13 April 2023

Religious

Amritsar, Punjab

22°C / Mist

Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi in various parts of India, is essentially a historical festival celebrated with great fervor in both Sikhism and Hinduism. Considered the spring harvest festival for Sikhs and Hindus, this Indian festival is observed every year either on April 13 or 14.

Apart from the harvest season of Rabi crops, it also commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth which was formed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699 after the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru of the Sikhs, for refusing to convert to Islam under the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

According to the Vikram Samvat Calendar, Baisakhi also marks the first day of the month of Vaisakha. Baisakhi Festival in 2021 will be celebrated on April 13th.

History of Baisakhi Festival

Looking back in time, the festival of Baisakhi is celebrated in remembrance of the Sikh order, Khalsa Panth that was formed after the persecution of the ninth guru of Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur. The execution was done by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as Guru Tegh Bahadur had refused to convert to Islam.

His martyrdom then triggered the rise of the last Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh Ji who decided to fight violence with violence against the Mughal rule. For this, he laid the foundation of a way of life, the Khalsa Panth. It rose as a family of soldier saints and fought valiantly against the Mughal Empire.

The Legend of Panj Pyare

It is believed that on this day in history, Guru Gobind Singh Ji came out of a tent with a mighty sword in his hand. As he came out, he challenged and told the Sikhs, that only those who were ready to die must enter the tent after him.

Saying this, he went inside the tent again. It is said that only five men went after him inside the tent and after some time returned wearing turbans with the Guru. These five men are known as the Panj Pyare and were the first few people to be baptized into the Khalsa Panth by the Guru.

Major Attractions of Baisakhi

1. Celebrations

As Baisakhi is the end of harvest season thus it is an occasion of celebration in Northern India. On this pious occasion, people dress in bright and colorful clothes with a very cheerful vibe. The day begins with taking a bath in the holy rivers and visiting Gurudwaras for blessings. The Gurudwaras are decorated and scrumptious langars are organized and served to the devotees.

2. Nagar Kirtan

At various places, the locals organize processions also known as Nagar Kirtans. These processions are led by five people from the Khalsa who are dressed as Panj Pyare. The people march, sing, and chant hymns in the name of Guru Granth Sahib.

3. Fairs

At many places in Punjab and nearby regions like Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, and Pinjore, cheerful fairs are organized to celebrate the Punjabi New Year and the harvesting season. In these fairs, people get to taste the delightful extravaganza of Punjabi culture ranging from food, cultural performances, and thrilling performances like mock fights as well.

How to Reach

Punjab, the land of five rivers is quite a celebrated travel getaway to explore. It is well connected via air routes, roads, and train networks with other Indian cities. Amritsar, Punjab is situated at an approximate distance of 449, 1800, 2,624, 1900 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata respectively. Here is how you can reach here by the following means of transportation.

By Air

If you are planning a trip to Punjab then traveling via flight is a very convenient option to consider. The primary airports in Punjab are Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, and Ludhiana Airport. The Amritsar Airport is considered the busiest airport in all of Punjab.

On the other hand, Ludhiana Airport serves the local districts of the nearby regions. One can take regular Amritsar to Minhad Flights Ticket Booking
from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata. After you deboard at the airport, you can travel the further distance using a cab or some other means of transportation.

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Amritsar

By Road

Traveling to Punjab via road can definitely be a memorable experience for you. The road network connecting Punjab with other cities is quite well-developed. One can easily traverse the geographical boundaries from cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Shimla.

Here is how you can reach here by the following road networks.

Delhi - 450-500 km via NH9 or NH352
Agra - 600-700 km via NH44 or Jammu-Delhi Road
Ludhiana - 150-200 km via NH44 or NH3
Shimla - 300 km via SH16
Lucknow - 950-1000 km via Jammu-Delhi Road or Agra- Lucknow Expressway

By Train

You can also consider traveling to Punjab via train routes. There are many railheads in Punjab like Chandigarh, Amritsar, Pathankot, and Jalandhar. However, the busiest of them all is considered to be the Amritsar Junction. This particular train station is located at 233 meters. As per the railway budget of 2016, the government has aimed to make the railway station aesthetically appealing. And it is also the first and only station in the region with free wi-fi connectivity.

After you deboard at the station, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation like a cab, auto, or a bus.

Here is how you can reach Amritsar by the following train routes.

Delhi - Board Amritsar Shatabdi from New Delhi Railway Station and deboard at the Amritsar Junction
Lucknow - Board Garib Rath Express from Lucknow NR and deboard at the Amritsar Junction
Ludhiana - Board Amritsar Shatabdi from Ludhiana Junction and deboard at the Amritsar Junction
Indore - Board Indore Amritsar Express from Indore Junction and deboard at the Amritsar Junction

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven tour planner India.

PLEASE NOTE : Dates can vary due to cancellation or last-minute changes.