Baisakhi, Baisakhi Festival, Baisakhi Festival India, Information On Baisakhi.

BAISAKHI—OF GURUDWARAS, BHANGRAS AND SARSON KA SAAG'S

Date of Baisakhi Celebrations: April 13, 2007

Place of Merriment: Punjab

Information on Baisakhi Festival

Baisakhi is perhaps one of the most vibrant and joyful festivals for the Punjabis and Sikhs. It is also known as 'Punjabi New Year' or 'Vaisakhi'. It falls during the first month of Punjab calendar 'Vaisakh', according to Nanakshahi—the Sikh Calendar. This day normally falls on April 13. Once in 36 years, it is celebrated on April 14.

BAISAKHI: A purely Indian Festival

For the Sikh community, it is the birthday of their tenth Guru—Guru Gobind Singh. On this day, in 1699, he founded the Panth Khalsa—the order of Pure ones. Sikhs visits gurdwaras and listen to kirtans (devotional songs). They listen to the recitations from the Guru Granth Sahib. After the prayers, they eat kada prasad (sweetened semolina) offered to the entire community. They sit down together for the traditional langar cooked and served by the volunteers—both young and old alike.

Thanksgiving Time By The Farmers

For the large farming community of Punjab, Baisakhi is the harvest time for rabi crops. On this day, farmers thank god for the bountiful crop and pray for good times ahead. They rejoice by organizing special bhangra and gidda performances.

A Time For Bhangra and Gidda

Punjabis are attired in their colorful best with salwar kameezes and colorful lungis and turbans. People make merry by singing, dancing and enjoying the best of festive food. They enjoy themselves to the fullest by dancing in a true "Bhangra' and 'Gidda' step to express their joy and happiness. Cries of "Jatta aai Baisakhi" rent the skies with the beating of drums and dhols. Punjabi delicacies like 'sarson ka saag' and makki ki roti are savored to the fullest.

BAISAKHI PROCESSIONS

On Baisakhi day, sacred Guru Granth Sahib is taken out in a procession. At the head of the procession are the Panj Piaras, symbolizing the journey made by the five fearless devotees from their homes to Anandpur. Men, women and children alike with faith and enthusiasm attend these processions. They move through major localities of the city and is welcomed by citizens and members of social and cultural societies.

Colourful bhangra and gidda dance apart from mock duels are performed during Baisakhi processions. The fascinating and colorful of this procession is marked by religious songs, dances and men swinging swords. Loud Sikh chants of 'Bole so nihal', 'Deg teg fateh' and rhythmic chants of 'Sat nam' and 'Wahe guru' ring out from the middle of the singing and drumming.

Baisakhi Fairs

Baisakhi Fairs are extremely popular. People come with their family and friends from far off places come to these fairs to witness bhangra and gidda dances, races, wrestling bouts, singing and acrobatics. They listen to the folk instruments, such as vanjli and algoza.