I hope you will correct this statement, because it perpetuates confusion, especially as many will perceive you as an expert.

“Whilst Bhangra was specifically performed by men during the Sikh harvest festival of Vaisakhi, the women performed the gentler, more feminine Giddha.”

Here are the reasons:
1. Vaisakhi is not a Sikh harvest festival. Vaisakhi is more than 2000 years old, Sikhism is less than 400 years old.

2. To describe Bhangra in the form of a dance or performance is incorrect. This is outsider’s misinformed perspective. Bhangra means ‘intoxicated joyous movement’; at least that’s the closest English description (this is important for point 3).

3. Because Sikhism is against the consumption of toxic substances such as alcohol and cannabis, they disassociate themselves from bhangra as much as possible. To describe Vaisakhi as an event at which Bhangra is done and is Sikh, is offensive to many Sikhs.

4. We have little idea of the originals of Bhangra and the connection to Vaisakhi. To suggest women did the gentler ‘giddha’ is hearsay and conjecture, and very unlikely. Especially since Vaisakhi events are typically thought to be public and open meleh/festivals. Traditionally women dancing in public was considered inappropriate. It’s likely that Giddha was the norm in private women-only events; but not at Vaisakhi.

I have a suggested correction for that line, to help.

Vaisakhi marks the beginning of the Punjabi calendar which marks the onset of spring and the beginning of the harvest season. It is thought that for thousands of years that communities in Punjab (which is one third in modern day India and two thirds in modern day Pakistan) celebrated Vaisakhi with an outdoor open festival called a mela. A feature of the festivals was for people, mostly men, to dance, which later became known as bhangra.

[Optional] In 1699 the birth of Sikhism was announced on that year’s Vaisakhi celebration; so Vaisakhi is also the anniversary of the birth of Sikhism. However, bhangra is not something a dedicated Sikh would partake in.

[Extra optional] Because most of Punjab today is in the Islamic state of Pakistan, the religious influences of Islam (similar to Sikhism) are not tolerant to celebrations that involve dancing.

Thank you for your attention.