26 Facts About Vaisakhi

Whilst it is culturally significant as a festival of harvest, some consider Vaisakhi to be the legitimate date for the Indian Solar New Year.

Sikhs, in addition to its significance as the harvest festival, during which Sikhs hold kirtans, visit local Gurdwaras, community fairs, hold nagar kirtan processions, raise the Nishan Sahib flag, and gather to socialize and share festive foods, Vaisakhi observes major events in the history of Sikhism and the Indian subcontinent that happened in the Punjab region.

Later, Ranjit Singh was proclaimed as Maharaja of the Sikh Empire on 12 April 1801, creating a unified political state, Vaisakhi was the day when Bengal Army officer Reginald Dyer orders his troops to shoot into a protesting crowd, an event which would come to be known the Jallianwala Bagh massacre; the massacre proved influential to the history of the Indian independence movement.

Vaisakhi which is observed on Sankranti of Vaisakh month literally means 'related to Vaisakh month', which in turn is derived from the name of a Nakshatra known as Vishakha.

In Punjab region, Vaisakhi is common, but in the Doabi and Malwai dialects, speakers often substitute a B for a V The spelling used depends on the dialect of the writer.

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Vaisakhi is the day when Hindus believe River Goddess Ganga descended on earth from heaven.

One of the largest Vaisakhi fair in India is held at Haridwar, which is an important Hindu pilgrimage.

Similarly, at the shrine of Bairagi Baba Ram Thaman, a Vaisakhi fair was held annually since 16th century CE which was attended by around 60, 000 pilgrims and Bairagi saints from all over India used to throng the shrine.

Vaisakhi is an important festival among Dogra Hindus of Jammu region.

Vaisakhi is celebrated at Udhampur on the bank of Devika river where for three days devotees enjoy the folk songs.

Vaisakhi is considered "harvest festival" and considered auspicious, especially for marriages.

In Himachal Pradesh, Vaisakhi is an important festival of Hindus.

Vaisakhi is celebrated with religious fervour in Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra.

In Kurukshetra district, Vaisakhi fair is held at Baan Ganga Tirtha, which is associated with Arjuna of Mahabharata.

Vaisakhi coincides with the first day of the solar cycle year, that is the solar New Year or Mesha Sankranti which is related to other regional new years such as 'Vishu' and 'Puthandu' celebrated in Kerala and Tamilnadu a day after Vaisakhi.

Vaisakhi is related to Bohag Bihu in Assam and as Pohela Boishakh in Bengal, but typically one or two days after Vaisakhi.

Similarly, at the shrine of Bairagi Baba Ram Thaman, a Vaisakhi fair was held annually since 16th century CE which was attended by around 60, 000 Hindu pilgrims and Bairagi saints from all over India used to throng the shrine.

Vaisakhi is celebrated as Nepalese New Year because it is the day which marks the Hindu Solar New Year as per Vikram Samvat, the Hindu Solar Calendar.

Vaisakhi, it is a very important day for Sikhs and one of the most colourful events in the Sikh calendar.

Vaisakhi falls on the first day of the Vaisakh month and marks the sun's entry to the Mesha Rasi marking the solar transition to Aries.

Since 2003, the Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee named the month in which Vaisakhi falls as Vaisakh, making the first day of the second month according to the Nanakshahi calendar.

Vaisakhi is celebrated in much the same way as Gurpurab, or a Guru's birthday anniversary, with gurdwaras being decorated and attended by Sikhs who listen to kirtan and religious discourses there.

Vaisakhi is a harvest festival for people of Northern India.

Kelowna's annual Vaisakhi parade is held a week after Surrey's parade each year and begins and ends at the Sikh Temple on Rutland Road.

Vaisakhi is a harvest festival for people of Northern India.

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Vaisakhi fairs take place in various places, including Jammu City, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Samba, in the Pinjore complex near Chandigarh, in Himachal Pradesh cities of Rewalsar, Shimla, Mandi and Prashar Lakes.