#VAISAKHI2021 & #GUDIPADWA2021

Artwork by Inkquisitive

What is Vaisakhi?

Known as the harvest festival of Punjab, Vaisakhi is celebrated by people across religions. Specifically for the Sikh community, it marks the Sikh New Year in addition to commemorating the day Sikhism was born as a collective faith in 1699. Guru Gobind Singh chose this festival as the day to establish the Khalsa (a collective name given to baptized Sikhs). The festival is carried out with much fanfare at Gurudwaras (places of worship). Parades and processions called “nagar kirtans” are also carried out. These nagar kirtans involve crowds of people singing hymns from the holy Sikh book-Guru Grant Sahib. The festival calls upon people to give thanks for the plentiful harvests and pray for a good new year. 

What is Gudi Padwa?

Samvatsar Padvo or Gudi Padwa is the first day of Chaitra month in the Hindu Calendar. For people in Maharashtra and the Konkan region, it is the first day of the New year and holds great significance. It also signifies the reaping of Rabi (seasonal crops) and the arrival of the Spring season. The day is considered to be the day that Lord Brahma created the concept of days, weeks, months and years. It is also celebrated as Lord Ram’s victory over evil-king Ravan and his return to the kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The “Gudi” a flag made out of bamboo and a silk scarf  is a symbol of victory. 

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#Vaisakhi2021 #GudiPadwa2021