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The most popular festival of the Sikh community, Baisakhi is celebrated with much vibrancy in the state of Punjab. It is a harvest festival and hence, holds special significance for the farmers in India. The festival of Baisakhi is celebrated on 13th April every year and on 14th April once in every 36 years. It is also popularly known by the names of Vaisakhi or Vasakhi. The festival coincides with the celebration of New Year in other different states in India and is known by different names; ‘Rongali Bihu’ in Assam, ‘Naba Barsha’ in Bengal, ‘Puthandu’ in Tamil Nadu and ‘Pooram Vishu’ in Kerela.
Baisakhi marks the time for the harvest of the winter crops. The festival holds extreme importance for the farmers residing in the states of Punjab and Haryana. The festival of Baisakhi has great spiritual significance for the Sikh community, as it marks the establishment day of Khalsa Panth in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, their tenth Guru. In the process of this act he eliminated all discrepancies between the high and low and stood for the equality of all human beings. Baisakhi is actually a mega event for the people in the northern parts of India. It is for them a religious festival, harvest festival as well as a New Year’s Day.
On this day people engage themselves in merry-making, dance and rejoice with all eagerness and enthusiasm. They take their bath early, wear new attire and visit the gurdwara, which is the Sikh place of worship. They offer prayers in the gurdwara and also participate in various prayer meet. After the religious songs and distribution of kada prasad, people sit down in a row to savor the lunch that is prepared by the community. A Baisakhi procession or nagar kirtan is held. Men, women and children from all walks of life participate in the procession, which passes through the city under the leadership of Panj Piaras. There are bands, religious songs, performance of bhangra and gidda dance, all through the procession, which makes it a colorful and lively affair. In the evening people visit the houses of friends and relatives, eat sweets and exchange gifts or sweet boxes.
Although, most of the major states in India celebrate Baisakhi however, the true spirit and color of the Baisakhi festival can be witnessed in Punjab. The traditional rituals of the festival, customs and dances can be experienced in all its elaborate manifestation in the state of Punjab alone.
Last Updated On: 2011/07/04
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