Also known as Baisakhi, Vaisakhi - the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, in 1699 – sees Punjabis across the world celebrating the harvest festival of Baisakhi with full pomp and grandeur as the spring festival, which happens on the 13 or 14 April every year, sees this year’s Vaisakhi taking place today.
It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab until it became Sikhism's most important festival. In 1699, Sikhs from all over the Punjab gathered together to celebrate the local harvest festival of Vaisakhi.
The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, came out of a tent carrying a sword. He asked anyone who was prepared to give their life for their religion to step forward.
A young man stepped forward and went into the tent with Guru Gobind Singh. Then Guru Gobind Singh came out of the tent alone with his sword covered in blood and asked for another volunteer.
This happened four times until five Sikhs had gone into the tent. Everyone was very worried that five men had died.
However, they all came out of the tent alive and wearing turbans. The five men became known as the Panj Piare or 'Beloved Five'.
Guru Gobind Singh then baptised all the men into the Khalsa. He said some prayers and sprinkled them all with sugar water called amrit, with these five men becoming the first members of the Khalsa.
Also celebrated as Sikh New Year, based on the Hindu Solar calendar, for Vaisakhi, Sikhs will go to the Gurdwara in the morning for a service, after which, there will be a procession - called the Nagar Kirtan - through the streets with lots of singing, chanting and colourful clothes. In the evening, Sikhs will be preparing a special meal with family and friends.
