HAPPY BAISHAKHI

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Baisakhi Festival

 

 

Baisakhi is one of the major festivals of Sikhs and is

celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and gaiety in the state of Punjab and

all throughout the world where there is a significant Sikh population.

For the large farming community of Punjab, Baisakhi Festival marks the

time for harvest of rabi crops and they celebrate the day by performing

joyful bhangra and gidda dance. For the Sikh community, Baisakhi

Festival has tremendous religious significance as it was on a Baisakhi

Day in 1699, that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru laid the

foundation of Panth Khalsa-the Order of the Pure Ones.

 

DATE OF VAISAKHI

 

Baisakhi Festival falls on the first day of Vaisakh month (April-May)

according to Nanakshahi or Sikh Calendar. For this reason,

Baisakhi is also popularly known as Vaisakhi. According to

English calendar, the date of Baisakhi corresponds to April 13 every

year and April 14 once in every 36 years. This difference in Baisakhi

dates is due to the fact that day of Baisakhi is reckoned according to

solar calendar and not the lunar calendar. The auspicious date of

Baisakhi is celebrated all over India under different names and

different set of rituals and celebrations. Baisakhi date

coincides with 'Rongali Bihu' in Assam, 'Naba Barsha' in Bengal,

Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and 'Pooram Vishu' in Kerala.

 

BAISHAKHI CELEBRATIONS

 

People of Punjab celebrate the festival of Baisakhi with exuberance and

devotion. As the festival has tremendous importance in Sikh religion,

major activities of the day are organized in Gurdwaras. People wake up

early to prepare for the day. Many also take bath in the holy river to

mark the auspicious occasion. After getting ready people pay a visit to

their neighbourdood gurdwara and take part in the special prayer meeting

organized for the day. At the end of the Baisakhi ardas, congregates

receive specially prepared Kara prasad or sweetened semolina. This is

followed by a guru ka langar or community lunch.

 

Later, during the day people of Sikh faith take out a Baisakhi

procession under the leadership of Panj piaras. The procession moves

through the major localities of the city amidst the rendition of

devotional songs by the participating men, women and children. Mock

duels, bhangra and gidda performances make the procession joyous and

colourful.

 

 

Celebrations by Farmers

 

For the large farming community of Punjab and Haryana, Baisakhi marks a

New Year's time as it is time to harvest rabi crop. On Baisakhi,

farmers thank god for the bountiful crop and pray for good times ahead.

People buy new clothes and make merry by singing, dancing and enjoying

the best of festive food.

 

Cries of " Jatta aai Baisakhi " , rent the skies as gaily men

and women break into the bhangra and gidda dance to express their joy.

Everyday farming scenes of sowing, harvesting, winnowing and gathering

of crops are expressed through zestful movements of the body to the

accompaniment of ballads and dhol music.

 

In several villages of Punjab Baisakhi Fairs are organized where

besides other recreational activities, wrestling bouts are also held.

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OM GURU NATHA

SAI GURU NATHA