Prof. Dr. R.D. Gupta
Among the most popular festivals, enriching the varied culture of India, the festival of Baisakhi is considered to be the most auspicious, v ibrant and important for whole of the country. The Baisakhi festival always falls on ist Baisakh according to the Bikrami Era, which usually corresponds to 13th April in accordamnce with the Christan Era or sometimes on 14th April. Change in date is attributed to the fact that date of Baisakhi festival is reckoned according to the solar calendar. Astrologically, the date of Baisakhi festival signifies as a mark of sun’s entry into Mesha Rashi. Owing to this reason, many people of the country call Baisakhi as Mesha Sankranti-first day of the Baisakh month.
Legends
A number of legends are closely associated with the Baisakhi fair. The study of which reveals that the Baisakhi day is not only significant for brethren Sikhs but also for Hindus and Buddhists alike. Apart from this, it is remarkable to note that being a harvest festival, people of all religions celebrate a Baisakhi in a harmonious manner.
Foundation of Khalsa Panth: Baisakhi is of great importance for the people following Sikh religion. It is because on a Baisakhi day in the year 1699 that Tenth Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa Panth and gave a unique identity to Sikhs. On the same day, the Guru Gobind singh ji administered nectar (amrit) to his first batch of five disciples rendering Sikhs, a martial community. By resorting this, he eliminated the differences of high and low categories and thus, established that all humans are equal. Had Guru Gobind Singh ji not created Khalsa Panth, then the history of India would have been quite different. Creation of Khalsa Panth on Baisakhi day has rendered a wonder for the Indian society. Thus, Baisakhi is not only day of rejoicing for Khalsa, but it is a day of great significance for Indian society and also a day for introspection.
Martyr’s Day: The Baisakhi fair reminds us about the martyrs who had sacrified their lives at Jaillanwalla Bagh in Amritsar in 1919 for making India free from the British rulers.
Symbol of Ripening of Rabi Crops: For the agriculturally rich states, especially Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, Baisakhi marks the time for harvesting of Rabi crops and is, therefore, extremely significant for the farming community.
Realization of Enlightenment to Mahatma Gautam Budh: It is believed that it was on Baisakhi day, when Mahatma Gautam Budh realized enlightenment, and thereafter, he became the disciple of Budha, heralding a new year in Indian civilization.
New year’s Day for Traders: Baisakhi day is of much economic importance for the traders. It is because on this day they close their previous accounts of ledgers and commence the new ones from this day.
Decending of the River Ganga: There is a belief that Baisakhi festival signifies the day of the decending of the river Ganga to the mother earth. Hence, a large number of people (Hindus) take a holy dip in the river Ganga at Haridwar, Varanasi, Allahabad and its other ghats. Those who are unable to go there, they can take bath in water of different rivers across the country. Hindu legend tells that Haridwar was one of the place where nector of immortality fell to earth after spilling out of the pitcher during an epic battle for its possession between the Gods and Demons, and for most Hindus, a vist to the town is a must in their life time. “With a dip in the holy Ganga, they wash away their sins and other problems”.
Foundation of Arya Samaj: The day of Baisakhi is also of significance for the followers of Arya Sawaj it was on this day in 1875 that Swami Dayan and Sarwati founded the Arya Samaj-A reformed sect of Hindus, who are devoted to the Vedas for spiritual guidance and have discarded idol worship.
In many parts of Jammu region, the Baisakhi fair is called “Basoa”. In Jammu city it is held on the bank of the Ranbir canal. Hundreds of people visit the canal on this day and after taking a dip in the canal, they go to the nearby temples and mount water on Shivlingams. Some of the people sing hymns and the others worship through meditation. A number of hawkers can be seen selling fruits, sweets, channa bathuras, ballons etc. some people herald the traditional new year in the river Tawi known as Suraya Putri (Daughter of theSun). Some of the Jammuites go to Haridwar by arranging special vehicles to take bath in the river Ganga. Those who do not afford to go to Haridwar, they visit to the Devika (Udhampur, Parmandal Uttarbehni) or the river Chenab (Akhnoor).
It is remarkable to note that some of the families of Jammuites take their newly born babies either to the Ranbir canal or the river Chenab to get the first water tasted to them on the eve of Baisakhi day.
Followers of Sikh religion after waking up early in the morning on Baisakhi day visit to the Gurudwara for special prayer. Some of them visit the revered Golden Temple (Amritsar), Anandpur Sahib, Paunta Sahib, Money Karan, Kiratpur Sahib.
Baisakhi is celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour across Kashmir as this day marks the end of winter and on set of spring in the valley. Transcending all barriers of caste and religion, hundreds of people both locals and tourists pay a visit to world famous Mughal gardens which are opened for public this day. Sikhs in colourful dresses dance to the tune of famous Punjabi and Hindi songs at Mugal gardens, especially decked up for the Baisakhi day. People cutting across religious lines join with Sikhs in celebrating Khalsa Panth day (the Sikh brotherhood) founded in 1699.
The Baisakhi fair is also celebrated at Shromani Dera Nangali Sahib (poonch) with zeal and enthusiasm. This historic shrine plays a big role in preaching Sikhism in Jammu and Kashmir. The devotees come with families a week earlier on the eve of Baisakhi festival and enjoy the community langer, religious sermons, natural atmosphere and attractive scenic views from Dera Nangali Sahib.
A Baisakhi fair is held at Billawar town in Kathua district, whereunder an impressive cultural programme comprising of Dogra folk songs and dances, remains the key attraction of the fair. From the year 2012, the organising committee of Baisakhi fair is striving hard to make it up to the level of Minjar fair of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh.
The famous 3 days Baisakhi fair of Udhampur commences from 13th April on the bank of river Devika and culminates on 15th of April or 16th April if Baisakhi falls on 14th April. During 3 days fair, various departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal/Sheep Husbandry, Handlooms/Handicrafts, put up their stalls to create awareness among the people about different state and centrally sponsored schemes meant for socioeconomic transformation of the people. People also take bath in the Devika known as Gupt Ganga as its water mostly flows under the surface and significantly it appears at Udhampur, Jandrah, Uttar Behani and Parmandal.
Three days Baisakhi fair is also held at Mansar from 14th April to 16th April. In this fair ethnic food items, holding of cultural bonanza by various organizations, and folk dances are the attractive features of this fair in the vicinity of picturesque Mansar lake in Udhampur district.
The Baisakhi festival at Suchetgarh is organized by the Tourism Department in collaboration with J&K cultural Academy. In this fair, people participate in cultural programmes which are presented by local artists of Jammu region. The Kud dance, dogri folk songs, bhangras and Punjabi dances are performed.
Baisakhi Fair Before 1947 and upto 1960
About 5 to 6 decades back, a huge congregation of people used to occur at the Ranbir canal on Baisakhi. Apart from the people of Jammu city, the rural folk from various villages attired in colourful dresses with dancing groups (Bhangras) attended the congregation. Among such groups, the Bhangra of Nagbani village was considered to be the best. The author becomes thrilled and excited when he recalls those remarkable days, when a big fair used to be celebrated at Nagbani with a number of Bhangras, locally called “Ting Basoa”, fell next day of Baisakhi.
Akin to Ting Basoa, another Baisakhi fair used to be celebrated at the confluence of the rivers Tawi, Choe and Chenab known as Triveni, called Triveni mela. But it is Alas! With the passage of time and change in values, the enthusiasm of Baisakhi celebrations like previous years had declined. It is further added that hitherto the Jammuites began to celebrate Baisakhi with the onset of Chait or Chaitar month about month earlier than the Baisakhi day. During the period of this month the people of Jammu used to dance in groups at night with Dhols after making lovers and beloveds in the form of “Sasi-Punu” or “Heer-Ranja”. This dance used to take place in chowks of different bazaars like City Chowk, Chowk Chabutra, Raghunath bazaar, Jain bazaar.
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