Significance and influence of the Khalsa
Baisakhi, or Vaisakhi, is the festival which celebrates Sikh New Year and the founding of the Sikh community in 1699, known as the KhalsaThe Sikh community, literally 'the community of the pure'. Refers particularly to initiated Sikhs.. It is celebrated on 13 or 14 April and began as a harvestWhen crops are collected from the fields. festival in the PunjabPunjab meaning before it became the Sikhs' most important festival.
In 1699, Sikhs from all over the Punjab gathered together to celebrate the local harvest festival. Guru Gobind RaiGuru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru was named Gobind Rai at birth. came out of a tent carrying a sword and requested that anyone who was prepared to give up their life for their religion come forward.
A young Sikh came forward and disappeared into the tent with the GuruCan mean God, teacher or guide. Usually means a teacher of religion. In Sikhism, it also refers to the ten human messengers of God.. Then the Guru reappeared alone with his sword covered in blood and asked for another volunteer. This happened another four times until a total of five Sikhs had gone into the tent with him.
Eventually all five emerged from the tent alive and wearing turbanHeadwear consisting of a length of cloth wound around the head., along with the panj kakke, or The Five KsFive symbols of the Sikh community, worn by most Sikhs still today.. These five men became known as the Panj Piare meaning 'Five Beloved Ones'.
Amrit Sanskar, the rite of initiation into the Khalsa, often occurs on Baisakhi, very early in the morning. Amrit Sanskar involves five men, Panj Piare, initiating candidates with sweetened water (amrit) and the candidates commit themselves to observing a daily discipline.