Kaushal Kotwal
Baisakhi is one of the major festivals celebrated in northern India with a lot of enthusiasm and gaiety especially in the states of Punjab, Haryana and our Jammu and Kashmir. Baisakhi festival marks the time for harvest of rabi crops and farmers celebrate the day by performing joyful bhangra, dance and thank Almighty for bountiful crops. Baisakhi festival falls on 14th of April and also marks the beginning of the solar year. Baisakhi festival is of major importance for people following Sikh faith as it was on Baisakhi day in the year 1699 that the 10th Guru of Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded Khalsa Panth or the order of pure ones and gave a unique identity to Sikhs. On this auspicious day, the guru administered Amrit(nectar) to his first batch of five disciples making them singhs, a martial community. Guru ji also gave the surname of Singh(lion) to every sikh. He also pronounced that all Sikh women embody royalty and gave them the surname(kaur) princess. Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi by participating in special prayers, meetings organised at Gurudwaras and also carry out joyful Baisakhi processions to mark the day. The day of Baisakhi is also of significance for Hindu community as it was on this day in 1875 that Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj a reformed sect. Of Hindus who are devoted to the Vedas for spiritual guidance. Baisakhi day is also of great relevance for the Buddhist community as on this auspicious day Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment and nirvana. Astrologically the date of Baisakhi is also significant as it marks Sun’s entry into Mesh Rashi. For this reason many people celebrate Baisakhi as mesha sankranti.
Baisakhi is celebrated all over India under different names and rituals. It is celebrated as Vaishakha in the state of Bihar, Naba Barsha in Bengal, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Ruthandu in Tamil nadu and pooram vishu in Kerela.
Festival of Baisakhi is celebrated as a thanksgiving day by the farmer. People wake up early on the day and take bath in rivers and pay visit to temples, gurudwaras, farmers thank God for bountiful harvest and pray for prosperity in future also. Many people also perform charity on the day as a custom. Major attractions of Baisakhi celebrations in villages are the performance of energetic bangra and gidda dance by men and women respectively. This very popular traditional folk dance is performed in groups on the fast beat of dhol. Dancers perform everyday farming scenes of sowing, harvesting, winnowing and gathering of crops through zestful movements of the body to the accompaniment of ballads. Later during the day people exchange greetings with friends, dear ones and relish best of mouth watering cuisines including sweets.
People following sikh faith early in the morning on Baisakhi Day visit the revered Golden Temple or Anandpur sahib where the Khalsa was pronounced and those who are unable to do so visit their nearby gurudwaras. Later during the Baisakhi day sacred guru granth sahib is taken out in a procession. At the head of the procession are the Panjpiaras, symbolising the journey made by the five fearless devotees from their homes to Anandpur, to be baptised by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Baisakhi processions are attended by men, women and children alike with faith and enthusiasm. The procession moves through major localities of the city and is welcomed by citizens and members of social and cultural societies.
Langar (community meal) is one of the main features of Sikh religion. Special langars are also prepared on the occasion of Baisakhi and everyone participates in it with great enthusiasm. Baisakhi is also celebrated across the world where Sikh population resides with great enthusiasm.
The auspicious festival of Baisakhi is also celebrated in our State. One of the rarest celebrations of Baisakhi festival in our state is celebrated in Chenab valley Bhaderwah. A Baisakhi mela locally called Bhaderwahi kodd is celebrated at village Gatha near the famous 2064 years old ancient temple of Lord Shri Vasuki Naag Ji. This auspicious day has religious significance. As per a legend, on this day Lord Vasuki Naag Ji returned from Naag Lok to prithvi lok at his native place, the famous Vasuki Naag Temple of Gatha after spending nearly three months in naaglok. During this period the faces of idols of Lord Vasuki remain covered. However, the devotees can have darshan of the Lord Vasuki on Baisakhi Day. They perform pooja on the first day of vaisakha. People celebrate and dance in a circle near the temple on the tune and beatings of drums and chant bhalle tusho nach ae o…. Colour is added to Baisakhi kodd by setting up of numerous stalls selling bangles, toys, local handicrafts and other items of domestic use. Food stalls are also a major crowd puller in Baisakhi mela kodd. Men and women dress themselves in their fancy clothes and participate in the fair.
People from far flung areas adjoining Chenab valley and other states visit this place to participate in Baisakhi.
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