Baisakhi 2023: What is Baisakhi, why it is celebrated and 5 traditional foods to enjoy on this day

Baisakhi, the agricultural festival of happiness and prosperity, is celebrated every year on 13 or 14 April. It's also known as Vaisakhi and is a significant festival for the Sikh community. Baisakhi marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year and commemorates the formation of the Khalsa. For the Punjabi community, Baisakhi is an occasion to celebrate the harvest season and offer prayers for a bountiful crop in the upcoming year. This is a beautiful festival, which is celebrated by visiting Gurudwaras, participating in prayer services, and organizing processions known as Nagar Kirtan. (Images courtesy: Canva)

According to the legends, Guru Gobind Singh chose Baisakhi as the occasion to create the Khalsa as it was the day of the harvest festival, and people from all walks of life would be gathered to celebrate the harvest in the year 1699. On this day, Guru Gobind Singh addressed a large gathering of people and asked them to come forward and sacrifice their lives for their faith. He then baptized five Sikhs, known as the Panj Pyare, by giving them Amrit, a sweetened water infused with blessings, and asked them to form the nucleus of the Khalsa Panth. The formation of the Khalsa marked a turning point in Sikh history and transformed the community into a formidable force against injustice and oppression. Baisakhi is thus a significant festival that celebrates the birth of the Khalsa and the spirit of courage, sacrifice, and selflessness that it embodies. In addition to religious observances, Baisakhi is also a time for people to enjoy various cultural activities, such as music and dance performances, fairs, and feasts. People wear colourful traditional attire, and the atmosphere is filled with joy and excitement.

On this festival, Punjabis prepare a lot of delicious foods but there are some, without which the festival feels incomplete and here is a list of all those foods.

It’s a traditional Punjabi dish made from mustard greens, spinach, and other green leafy vegetables, usually cooked with ginger, garlic, and green chilies. This Saag is enjoyed with a bread that’s called Makki Ki Roti, which is prepared with maize flour.

Baisakhi is incomplete without Meethe Chawal. This sweetened rice dish is prepared with fragrant basmati rice, saffron, dry fruits and jaggery.

Punjabi food is incomplete without Sweet Lassi, which is made by churning together curd and sugar. It can be made by combining fruits like mango, which increases the flavour of the drink.

Kesar Phirni is a delicious dessert that is often made and enjoyed during Baisakhi in Punjab. It's a creamy rice pudding that's flavoured with saffron and garnished with nuts and raisins.

On this popular festival, Punjabis love to indulge in Chole Bhature, which is prepared by leavening all purpose flour or maida and making a spicy white chickpea, also known as Chole.