Baisakhi festival begins as Sikhs mark 319 years of Khalsa
Around 1,500 Indian Sikhs with over 500 from various European countries and over 2,000 Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs have added colour to Baisakhi festival that began in Hassanabdal on Thursday.
This year's festival marks the 319th anniversary of Khalsa (the righteous Sikh brotherhood). In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh (the last Sikh Guru in human form) asked his followers to sacrifice their lives for him.
Ashnan takes place twice a day, early in the morning and at sunset and is followed by worship. The followers also keep embracing five Ks, the Kaccha (shorts), the Kanga (comb), the Karda (bracelet), the Kais (hair) and the Kirpan (sword). Embracing all these five Ks are obligatory in their religion and is practised since centuries.
Baisakhi is widely celebrated by Sikhs in Punjab, with festivities centred on Panja Sahib Complex in Hassanabdal.