Dogra village showcased at Mubarak Mandi
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Apr 14: Baisakhi, marking the beginning of the New Year, birth of Khalsa Panth and signifying begining of harvesting season was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across Jammu and Kashmir today. The day also signifies beginning of Spring season.
In connection with Baisakhi celebration, colourful and glittering functions were held at various places across Jammu region in which thousands of people participated.
A three -day Baisakhi festival is underway at Mubarak Mandi here which started yesterday after a Shoba Yatra was taken out from Maharaja Hari Singh Park to Mubarak Mandi.
As usual, the Baisakhi Mela was held at Canal road, Jammu in which a large number of people drawn from different parts of the region participated.
The people attired in colourful costumes participated in the mela while children were seen busy in enjoying fun and frolic. To beat the scorching heat, the youth and children were seen taking a dip in the icy cold Ranbir canal waters. It was heyday for hawkers and vendors who had installed stalls of eatables including bakery and confectionary, besides fun and frolic items. The people were seen enjoying mela to the hilt making purchases and enjoying delicious lip smacking food items and wishing Baisakhi greetings to each other.
There was festivity all over at Canal road and Rajinder Park. The authorities had also made elaborate arrangements for the mela. The Jammu Municipality had taken cleanliness measure the venue of the mela while Tourism Department had made arrangements for different programmes.
The rush at Canal road mela continued late this evening which was inaugurated by Director Tourism, Vivekanandan Rai.
On the occasion of Baisakhi a colourful kite festival was also held at Maharaja Hari Singh Park today which was inaugurated by Vice Chairman JDA, Pankaj Sharma. A colourful cultural programme was also held on the occasion. The Park was fully decorated befitting the Baisakhi festivities.
At Mubarak Mandi where three -day Baisakhi festival celebrations are underway, Dogra village was showcased, the highlights of which was traditional Dogra foods and cuisine. The people visiting there could not remain without relishing the traditional Dogra dishes which were served by sitting on ground in a customary way.
The live performance of camel ride, Dogri songs etc were the other highlights of the celebrations. Mayor Jammu, Rajinder Sharma was the chief guest. The organisers, Tourism Department Jammu officials, said that holding of the festival and showcasing the traditional Dogri dishes and other items was to keep the ancient Dogra culture and tradition alive. A large number of people participated in the function till late night.
Baisakhi was also celebrated with traditional fervour in districts of Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch.
In Kathua, a large number of people thronged the famous Airwan temple near Nagri and also held special prayers on this special day. The Baisakhi Mela was held at Ramleela Ground Kathua where local artisans and other vendors have put up their stalls including local food and craft to mark successful harvest of Rabi crops.
Apart from religious congregations, various cultural programmes and events were also organised across the district to mark the occasion. Traditional folk dances, music performances and street plays were also held in different parts of the district showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region.
In Bhadarwah, thousands of devotees converged at ancient Nagni Mata temple on the occasion of Baisakhi today. The people as per legend, believe that Nagni Mata is a major symbol of the ancient culture.
Cutting across faiths and religious lines, the Army personnel stationed across Kashmir Valley also celebrated Baisakhi today.
Main celebrations were held at an Army Camp in HMT area on the outskirts of the city. General Officer Commanding of the Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps, or Chinar Corps, Lt Gen A D S Aujla and senior officers of the police and the Army were present on the occasion.
“Army personnel from all religions celebrate Baisakhi together. This also sends a strong message to the country that we should celebrate the festivals together, live together, and take the country forward on the path to prosperity,” Hawaldar Ajay Kumar told reporters.
He said Kashmiri locals also celebrate the festivals with the Army.
“We do not feel that we are far away from our families, because this is a family for us,” he added.
Another Army personnel Hawaldar Sarabjit Singh said Baisakhi is a very important day for them and “we all brothers together celebrate this festival”.
The festival also marks the opening of the famous Mughal gardens in the city.
The tourists were enthralled to see the Spring bloom in these gardens.
“I feel very good and lucky to be here on this day as officially Mughal gardens are thrown open for tourists and today I am here…I am very excited and enjoying this trip,” a tourist, Deepti, from Mumbai, said.
“I am feeling very nice to be here and today these Mughal gardens are open on occasion of Baisakhi. We are enjoying,” another tourist, Ravinder Kumar from Meerut, said.
A foreign tourist from Bangladesh Nasser-u-din was impressed by the beauty of the garden.
“I am very much happy to visit this garden, I am very happy to know that on first day of Baisakhi, Mughal gardens are open for tourists. I am very much impressed,” he said.
“It is a very very beautiful, colourful and a historical place also. We all are enjoying very much,” Ethal Mukhodapayi from Bangladesh said.
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