Baisakhi Festivals - बैसाखी
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Baisakhi on April 13th, marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and is celebrated throughout India. Baisakhi celebrations in Punjab are spectacular, as this is a very special day for the Sikhs. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa. Farmers perform their own prayers and rejoice, and on this day, they commence cutting their harvest. Robust revelry and feasting mark the celebrations and dancers dressed in their traditional folk attire, perform the vigorous Bhangra to the rhythmic beat of the drums.
Is celebrated in Punjab with great fervour. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa (Sikh brotherhood). The holy book of the Sikhs, Granth Sahib is taken in a procession, led by the Panj Pyaras (five senior sikhs) who are symbolic of the original leaders. The occasion is marked by lot of feasting and merry making. All night revelries termed Baisakhi di Raat (Night of feasting) or Baisakhi da Mela (Baisakhi fairs) are held, where men and women dance to the rhythmic beat of drums.
In Kerala the festival is known as Vishu. A display of grain, fruits, flowers, gold, new cloth and money, is viewed early in the morning to ensure a prosperous year ahead. Known as Rangali Bihu in Assam, the festival is celebrated with lively dances, music and feasting.
In Kerala, the festival is known as Vishu. 'Vishu Kani' - a display of grain, fruits, gold, flowers, new cloth and money, is viewed early in the morning to ensure a prosperous year ahead. Firework displays and the buying of new clothes are a part of the festivities.
Known as Rangali Bihu in Assam, the festival is celebrated with lively dances, music and feasting.
A rural festival of North India, marking the beginning of the solar year (New year), especially celebrated in Punjab with great fervour. The word Baisakhi is derived from the month of Vaisakha (April-May).
For the Sikhs the day is a collective celebration of New year along with the commemoration of the founding of the 'Khalsa Panth' (Sikh brotherhood) by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth spiritual leader of Sikhs) in 1699.
It also signifies the end of harvest of the main crop rabi. During Baisakhi the farmers give 'thanks' to the Lord Almighty for their fortune and pray for a better crop the next year. The occasion is marked by a lot of feasting and merry making. All night revelries termed 'Baisakhi di Raat' (Night of feasting) or 'Baisakhi da Mela' (Baisakhi fairs) are held, where men and women dance to the rhythmic beat of drums wrestling bouts are also held. Early morning of Baiskhai, people take dip in holy rivers. Scores of devotees throngs the Golden Temple to offer special prayers and take a holy dip on the occasion. On these occasions, men and women adorn themselves with gay-coloured clothes and traditional jewellery. Baisakhi involves a lot of socialising where friends and relatives are invited and delicious meals are served.
The holy book of the Sikhs, 'Granth Sahib' is taken in a procession, led by the 'Panj Pyaras' (five senior Sikhs) who are symbolic of the original leaders. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh organised his first batch of five disciples making them Singhs, a martial community. Kirtans and recital of passages from the 'Granth Sahib' are also organized in gurdwaras, where people line up to receive the delicious Kada prasad (sweetened semolina) and perform kar sewa-that is, offering help in the daily chores of the gurdwaras. The occasion is celebrated with great gusto at Talwandi Sabo, where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the Guru Granth Sahib and in the Golden temple in Amritsar. On Baisakhi day, water is drawn from all the sacred rivers of India and poured in to the huge tank surrounding the golden temple.
Fairs are organized at various places in Punjab, where besides other recreational activities, wrestling bouts are also held.
Harvest festivals symbolize hope and celebration of hard work by farmers.
Is celebrated in Punjab with great fervour. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa (Sikh brotherhood). The holy book of the Sikhs, Granth Sahib is taken in a procession, led by the Panj Pyaras (five senior sikhs) who are symbolic of the original leaders. The occasion is marked by lot of feasting and merry making. All night revelries termed Baisakhi di Raat (Night of feasting) or Baisakhi da Mela (Baisakhi fairs) are held, where men and women dance to the rhythmic beat of drums.
In Kerala the festival is known as Vishu. A display of grain, fruits, flowers, gold, new cloth and money, is viewed early in the morning to ensure a prosperous year ahead. Known as Rangali Bihu in Assam, the festival is celebrated with lively dances, music and feasting.
In Kerala, the festival is known as Vishu. 'Vishu Kani' - a display of grain, fruits, gold, flowers, new cloth and money, is viewed early in the morning to ensure a prosperous year ahead. Firework displays and the buying of new clothes are a part of the festivities.
Known as Rangali Bihu in Assam, the festival is celebrated with lively dances, music and feasting.
A rural festival of North India, marking the beginning of the solar year (New year), especially celebrated in Punjab with great fervour. The word Baisakhi is derived from the month of Vaisakha (April-May).
For the Sikhs the day is a collective celebration of New year along with the commemoration of the founding of the 'Khalsa Panth' (Sikh brotherhood) by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth spiritual leader of Sikhs) in 1699.
It also signifies the end of harvest of the main crop rabi. During Baisakhi the farmers give 'thanks' to the Lord Almighty for their fortune and pray for a better crop the next year. The occasion is marked by a lot of feasting and merry making. All night revelries termed 'Baisakhi di Raat' (Night of feasting) or 'Baisakhi da Mela' (Baisakhi fairs) are held, where men and women dance to the rhythmic beat of drums wrestling bouts are also held. Early morning of Baiskhai, people take dip in holy rivers. Scores of devotees throngs the Golden Temple to offer special prayers and take a holy dip on the occasion. On these occasions, men and women adorn themselves with gay-coloured clothes and traditional jewellery. Baisakhi involves a lot of socialising where friends and relatives are invited and delicious meals are served.
The holy book of the Sikhs, 'Granth Sahib' is taken in a procession, led by the 'Panj Pyaras' (five senior Sikhs) who are symbolic of the original leaders. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh organised his first batch of five disciples making them Singhs, a martial community. Kirtans and recital of passages from the 'Granth Sahib' are also organized in gurdwaras, where people line up to receive the delicious Kada prasad (sweetened semolina) and perform kar sewa-that is, offering help in the daily chores of the gurdwaras. The occasion is celebrated with great gusto at Talwandi Sabo, where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the Guru Granth Sahib and in the Golden temple in Amritsar. On Baisakhi day, water is drawn from all the sacred rivers of India and poured in to the huge tank surrounding the golden temple.
Fairs are organized at various places in Punjab, where besides other recreational activities, wrestling bouts are also held.
Harvest festivals symbolize hope and celebration of hard work by farmers.
