Sikh Festivals

The three Main Sikh festivals - Baisakhi, Divali & Hola Mohalla - are borrowed from Hinduism. (Although; Quote - Guru Amar Das, The Third Guru "Non-Sikh festivals should not be celebrated. Even if we do observe the same day we do it in our own way.") The primary celebrations are gurpurbs, which commemorate events in the lives of the Gurus.

New Year Festival - Baisakhi

Baisakhi, celebrated around the 13th April, is the Sikh New Year & in the Punjab coincides with the Spring wheat harvest. Sikhs worldwide link it with the inauguration of the Khalsa & because of this Baisakhi is the traditional time for the joining of the brotherhood. The Nishan Sahib, (the symbol of Sikh presence in the community that flies outside each gurdwara) is replaced with a different flag at Baisakhi. READ MORE

Festival of Lights - Divali

Divali is the festival of lights during which gurdwaras are brightly lit celebrate the coming of light into the natural world as well as symbolising the inner light which directs the believer towards union with God.

Diwali's link to Sikhism is much more recent. The Sikhs are said have started celebrating Diwali in 1621 AD when Guru Har Gobind Sahib was released from Gawalier Jail.

Since the festival of Diwali is linked to Hindu god-king Ram, they consider it as a socio-religious day, but for the Sikhs it is more of a socio-cultural occasion. However since the Diwali Day is holiday in India and it coincides with the Halloween day in the western world, the Sikhs decorate Gurdwaras with lights and hold religious services. At homes they celebrate with special feasts, fireworks and lights.

Source: Charnjit Singh Bal with thanks

The festival of Hola Mohalla - Holi

Hola Mohalla ('attack or be attacked') celebrates the military prowess of the worldwide Sikh community. Traditional Sikh warriors compete in wrestling, archery & shooting competitions, additionally mock battles take place in & around Anandpur in the Punjab.

Gurpurbs

Gurpurbs commemorate the births & deaths of the ten Gurus. Three gurpurbs are celebrated by Sikhs worldwide - the matyrdom of Guru Arjan & the birthdays of Guru Nanak & Guru Gobind Singh.