Muhammad Saud KharalPhD in Social Science, Department of Sociology Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya Indonesia. Email: muhhammad.saud@gmail.com

1. 14 APRIL 1699
1ST VESAKH
Muhammad Saud Kharal
PhD in Social Science,
Department of Sociology Faculty of Social
and Political Sciences, Universitas Airlangga,
Surabaya Indonesia.
Email: muhhammad.saud@gmail.com

2.  Also called
Baisakhi, vaisakhi
 Observed by
Punjabis
 Type
Punjabi festival
 Significance
The beginning of the harvest season and birth of the khalsa
 Date
First day of vaisakh (usually 13 april, but 14 april in 2011 in the Gregorian calendar)
 Celebrations
Parades and nagar kirtan
 Observances
Prayers, processions, raising of the nishan sahib flag

3.  Vaisakhi (also spelled Baisakhi) is the festival which
celebrates the founding of the Sikh community known
as the Khalsa. It is celebrated on April 14 each year. On
Vaisakhi day in 1699(AURANGZEB), Guru Gobind
Singh summoned Sikhs from all over India to the city
of Anandpur Sahib. At this gathering, the Guru called
upon Sikhs to uphold their faith and preserve the Sikh
religion.

4. In West Punjab
 Vaisakhi is widely celebrated by Sikhs in Western Punjab (Pakistan) as
well, with festivities centered on the Panja Sahib complex in Hasan
Abdal, numerous Gurudwaras in Nankana Sahib, and in various
historical sites in Lahore. It is culturally and traditionally regarded as
an important and significant Punjabi festival, further exemplified by
the thousands of Sikh pilgrims from around the world arriving each
year to commemorate the day at the sacred Sikh sites of Nankana Sahib
and Hasan Abdal. Further, local Pakistani's offer their well wishes and
welcome the incoming pilgrims. In April 2009, the Pakistan Sikh
Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee announced plans for formally
organising the event on a larger scale in the country as well as
expressing intentions for elegant arrangements. In 2010, over 20,000
pilgrims were expected to arrive in Pakistan for the celebrations, a
significant increase over previous years.

5. Punjabi style of celebration
 To mark the celebrations, Sikh devotees generally attend
the Gurdwara before dawn with flowers and offerings in
hands. Processions through towns are also common.
 Punjabis assign a quite different meaning to Vaisakhi. In
rural areas of Punjab they celebrate with full happiness and
joy. They can be caught performing Bhangra.This
strenuous dance tells the story of the agricultural process,
from tilling the soil through harvesting. Thus it prepares
the people of Punjab for the joy of the harvest season which
begins on the following day. It is a day of feasting and
merriment before the hard, tiring but fruitful time ahead

6.  PEOPLES WORK MUTUALLY TO HARVEST WHEAT
CROPS AND MOST OF THEM GET LEAVES FROM
ROUTINE JOBS.
 DIFFERENT STEREOTYPES ABOUT START OF
VESAKHI FOR INSTANCE IT IS SAID THAT MAKING
SMALL CUTS ON FRUITE TREES CAUSE THEM TO
BEAR MORE FRUITS AND MORE VUNERABE TO
DISEASES
 PEOPLES USE TRADIONAL MUSIC AND DHOOL

7.  AFTER CUTTING CROPS PEOPLES GIVE AND
DISTRIBUTE AMONG POOR AND OUTSTANDINGS
LIKE BARBERS ETC
 DIFFERENT FESTIVALS CALLED MELAY ARE
ARRANGED.
 IN THESE FESTIVALS JOKERS AND SINGERS ARE
INVITED TO ENTERTAIN PEOPLES AFTER LONG
TASK OF HARVESTING

8.  STALLS OF SWEATAND DIFFERENT TYPES OF
MEALS ARE ARRANGED.
 SPORTS ACTIVITIES LIKE KABADI ARE LIKELY TO
BE SEEN IN THESE FESTIVALS.

9.  ALL THESE AND MANY MORE ACTIVITIES
ENTERTAIN THE PEOPLES AFTER LONG SEASON
OF WORK AND EARNING.SO VESAIKHI IS A VERY
POPULAR EVENT WHICH GIVES RELIEF TO THE
HARDWORKING