Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar and falls on either 13th or 14th April each year. Traditionally, Vaisakhi was a spring harvest festival, but it gained even greater significance in the 17th century and today, Sikhs all over the world celebrate the birth of the Sikh identity at Vaisakhi.
When Did Sikhism Begin?
The founder of the Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak, was born in Punjab in South Asia in 1469 CE. He lived a life of devotion and service and is considered the first Sikh guru. Soon people began to follow his teachings and the community grew under the guidance of ten religious leaders. Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and the last of the gurus. In 1699, he called on all Sikhs to gather in the city of Anandpur on the harvest festival of Vaisakhi. He addressed the large crowd with a stirring speech, which culminated in five devotees being initiated into a new order of Sikhs.
What Are Sikh Beliefs?
Oneness is central to Sikhism. Sikhs believe that people of all faiths worship one God and that divinity is present in all people. This idea of oneness is clear in the equality of all people within Sikh society and also in the eyes of God. There is no hierarchy of holy men to speak to the divine for you.
Love is also central to the faith. The Sikh Coalition writes: “finding love within our own lives is both the end and the means; realizing divine love is [the] ultimate goal and practicing love with intention and spirit is the process for achieving that goal. In this sense, the complementary aspects of oneness and love are core theological precepts of the Sikh tradition.”
These twin concepts of oneness and love naturally lead followers of the Sikh faith to perform acts of service in their communities.
How Is Vaisakhi Celebrated?
Vaisakhi begins with Sikhs attending a service at the gurdwara—a place of worship, which is beautifully decorated for the occasion. They pray, meditate, reflect on Sikh principles, and reaffirm their faith.
Afterwards, there may be joyous parades called “Nagar kirtans” with the Guru Granth Sahib—the holy scripture, which is treated as a living guru— carried in a place of honor, while children may demonstrate their martial arts skills. The scriptures may be read aloud and hymns chanted.
People dress in joyful colors, particularly in yellow and orange, which reflect the spirit of rebirth. Langar (free vegetarian food) is served and eating together unites the community.
What Food Is Eaten at Vaisakhi?
Many Sikhs do not eat meat, though it is not explicitly prohibited. Langar, however, served at the gurdwara is always vegetarian as a mark of inclusivity, as no group or faith is prohibited from eating vegetarian foods. Meat taken from animals who were ritually slaughtered, however, is prohibited and so is alcohol. Some of the most common meals to be eaten at Vaisakhi are flavorful vegetable curries and dal, served with chapatis and rice, and spiced rice pudding (kheer).
Vaisakhi Recipes
These are some of our favorite Vaisakhi recipes, made vegan with the spirit of oneness and love in mind.
Moong Dal Khichdi
Deliciously simple spiced lentils
Lentil Curry
Lentils cooked in coconut milk
Sweet and Sour Spinach Curry
A celebration for the tastebuds
Tofu Makhanwala
The vegan version of the much-loved paneer dish
Vegetable Pulao
Delicately spiced rice with veggies
Rotis
Simple flatbreads
Kheer (Sweet Khichdi)
The ultimate rice pudding
