Baisakhi

Baisakhi is one of the significant festivals in India. Observed every year on April 13 or April 14, Baisakhi is celebrated with great gusto and fervour not only in northern parts of India but many Indian states in their own distinguished forms and with varied customs and rituals.

Traditionally, Baisakhi is a harvest festival and marks the culmination of a harvest season and beginning of a new one. On this day, farmers thank the Almighty for their fortune and pray for even a better crop the next year. Revelling in the glory of their revenues from the produce, they sing, dance and make merry.

Popular as Baisakhi in Punjab and Northern India, the festival is celebrated as ‘Vishu’ in Kerala, ‘Puthandu’ in Tamil Nadu, ‘Rongali or Bohag Bihu’ in Assam, ‘Naba Barsha’ in Bengal and ‘Vaisakha’ in Bihar.

Widely celebrated by Sikhs in Punjab, the state accredited for bringing the green revolution in India, Baisakhi has a deeper meaning and religious significance for the Khalsa community as it was during the Baisakhi celebrations in 1699 AD  when the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, laid the foundation of the Khalsa community and blessed The Beloved Five (Panj Pyaras) with nectar and directed them to wear the five Ks – Kesh or long hair, Kangha or comb, Kirpan or dagger, Kachchha or shorts and a Kada or bangle.

Commemorating this historic and holy event, Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi with vigour, joy and devotion every year.

Grand celebrations take place at the historical gurudwaras of Sri Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Sri Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar. Water taken from all the sacred rivers of India is poured into the tank surrounding the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, is taken out in a procession led by the Panj Pyaras. Fairs are held

throughout the state of Punjab. Social events are organised where people dressed up in the traditional folk attire perform giddhas and bhangras.

Differences are forgotten, enemies are forgiven and all come out in unison to celebrate this beautiful festival which spreads joy, happiness and prosperity.

Lohri

Celebrated on the 13th day of January, Lohri is a festival of zeal and verve and marks the culmination of the chilly winter. In true spirit of the Punjabi culture, men and women perform Bhangra and Giddha, popular Punjabi folk dances, around a bonfire. Enthusiastic children go from house to house singing songs and people oblige them generously by giving them money and eatables as offering for the festival. Late in the evening, people gather around the bonfire and throw sweets (gachak and rewri), puffed rice and popcorn (as holy offering) into it and sing folk songs. Lohri is also an auspicious occasion to celebrate a newly born baby’s or a new bride’s arrival in the family. The day ends with a traditional feast of sarson da saag and makki di roti and a dessert of rau di kheer (a dessert made of sugarcane juice and rice).