Happy Vaisakhi

Taking place on Tuesday 14 April this year, we wish those celebrating a happy Vaisakhi.

What is Vaisakhi?

Vaisakhi sits alongside a range of South and Southeast Asian New Year and harvest festivals celebrated at this time, including Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year marked by cultural celebrations and food; Puthandu, which signifies renewal in Tamil communities; Bohag Bihu, a spring harvest festival centred on music and dance; and Vishu, observed in Kerala with rituals symbolising prosperity. This period also includes festivals such as Thingyan in Myanmar and Aluth Avurudda in Sri Lanka, reflecting a broader shared cultural moment across the region that cuts across different languages, cultures and faith traditions.

For Sikhs, it is a major festival of significance as it represents the birth of the Khalsa. The Khalsa is the body of fully initiated Sikhs. Whilst not all Sikhs are fully initiated or practising, it is very common for Sikhs to celebrate Vaisakhi. You may also encounter people refer to the festival as Baisakhi – both spellings are valid and stem from the evolution of the Sanskrit word "Vaishākhī" and the Indian month of Vaishakha.

How is it celebrated?

Many Sikhs will visit places of worship called Gudwaras, which are decorated for the occasion. They may attend parades and special processions through the streets called ‘Nagar Kirtans’. 'Nagar' means town and 'Kirtan' means the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the Sikh holy book. Vaisakhi is a popular day to choose to be baptised into the Khalsa. Many Sikhs use Vaisakhi to reflect on the teachings of their Gurus and reaffirm their commitment to their faith.

A common greeting used throughout the festival is "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh" which translates to "The Khalsa belongs to God, and all victory belongs to God".

Celebrating at UAL

There are several student societies at UAL who may be celebrating Vaisakhi: