Today, thousands of Sikhs across the U.S. and throughout the world are celebrating Vaisakhi, a harvest festival associated with important beginnings for Sikhism.
According to USA Today, Vaisakhi, also spelled Baisakhi, is observed on the first day of the month Vaisakh in the Sikh calendar. That day usually falls on April 13 or 14.
Vaisakhi was celebrated in Punjab and other parts of Northern India as a harvest festival for centuries. According to BBC, it became important to Sikhs in 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last human Sikh guru, chose the festival to start the Khalsa. The Khalsa refers to committed and baptized Sikhs.
Last Sunday, April 7, hundreds of Sikh Americans gathered at the Los Angeles Nagar Kirtan to celebrate Vaisakhi. A Vaisakhi parade is being held on April 13 in Vancouver, Canada.
California Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, the first Sikh American elected to California state office, wished her consituents a happy Vaisakhi on Twitter.
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