Vaisakhi (Baisakhi or Basoa)

What is Vaisakhi? 

Vaisakhi has been a harvest festival in Punjab - an area of northern India - for a long time, even before it became Sikhism's most important religious festival. 

In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh chose the festival as the moment to establish the Khalsa - that's the collective name given to Sikhs who've been baptised. The story goes that at the festival, he came out of a tent carrying a sword and said that any Sikh prepared to give his life for his faith should come into the tent.

Five men disappeared into the tent, and the Guru came out - alone - with blood on his sword. This worried the crowds. That is until the five men then came out from the tent unharmed and wearing turbans. They became known as Panj Piare or the 'Beloved Five' - and they were to be the first members of the Khalsa. They were baptised by the Guru who sprinkled them with Amrit, which is the Sikh word for holy water. He also said prayers.

This ritual became the basis of the Sikh baptism ceremony.

How is Vaisakhi celebrated?

To celebrate Vaisakhi, Sikhs will visit places of worship called Gudwaras. 

These will also be especially decorated for the occasion.

Many people enjoy parades and special processions through the streets called nagar kirtans.

'Nagar' means town and 'kirtan' means the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the Sikh holy book.

The book is carried in the processions in a place of honour.

Celebrations traditionally include singing and music, as well as reading scriptures out loud and chanting hymns.