The festivals in Punjab
The festivals in Punjab have always been celebrated with much exuberance and fanfare. For the masses these festivals are popular occasions for social interaction and enjoyment. Punjab being a predominantly agricultural state that prides itself on its food grain production, it is little wonder that its most significant festival is Baisakhi, which marks the arrival of the harvesting season. For the Sikhs, Baisakhi has a special significance because on this day in 1699, their tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh organized the Order of the Khalsa.
The Gurpurab festival is celebrated by the Sikhs to express their reverence for their gurus. Two major Gurpurabs are celebrated during the year. The first in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) to celebrate the teachings of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, and the second in the month of Pausa (December-January) to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh. On all Gurpurabs, non-stop recital of the granth sahib and religious discourses are held. Langars (free meals) are served to all without distinction of caste or creed. A day after Holi, the Sikh community in Punjab observes Holla Mohalla with thousands of devout Sikhs gathering at Anandpur Sahib-where Guru Gobind Singh was baptized-to participate in the grand fair of Holla Mohalla. The whole place wears a festive look and processions are taken out and the people participate in the festivities with gaiety and fervor.
Guru Nanak Festival
The Guru was born amidst portents of greatness. Heavenly light played about the mud walls of the birthing room in his grandfather’s house.
The child was born to Kalyan Chand, the patwari of the small village of Talwandi. In that year of 1469, the family priest was called in to cast the infant’s horoscope, and he told Kalyan Chand that this was no ordinary child. “He will worship and acknowledge but One Formless God, and teach others to do so...Every creature, he will consider to be God’s own Creation.
Basant Panchami
Basant Panchami is the most famous of the seasonal fairs and marks the advent of spring. At the time of Basant Panchami, fields of mustard bloom all over rural Punjab, a spirit of gay abandon pervades the air and the heart and soul become one with nature. Basant Panchami held in many villages of Punjab presents a bright yellow scene as people put on yellow costumes maintaining the mood of the season. Kite-flying is the major attraction of Basant Panchami and an innumerable number of multi coloured kites dot the skies on this day.
Baisakhi
Baisakhi marks the jubilation of a bountiful harvest and is celebrated on the first day of the month of Baisakh (April/May). This is the New Year’s Day, going by the Saka calendar and corresponds to April 13th of the Gregorian calendar. Essentially, a North Indian harvest festival, it is the time for the reaping of the rabi (winter crop).
Joyful Punjabis perform Bhangra to dholak and enact the entire process of agriculture from the tilling of the soil through harvesting. For the Sikhs, the day has great religious meaning as Guru Gobind, the 10th guru of Sikhs, established Khalsa on this day at Anandpur in 1699 AD. The Sikhs were baptized to form the Elect. This baptism of the sword led to the creating of the Panj Pyare, the Beloved Five. Each Khalsa was to adopt the panch kakkas, (the five K’s), Kesh (unshorn hair), kanga (small boxwood comb in their hair), kaccha (a pair of shorts), kara (a steel bangle), and a kirpan (a short dagger), which have since become an integral part of the Sikh identity.
The Rauza Sharif 'Urs'
Rauza Sharif ‘Urs’ is celebrated in the memory of great Sufi Saint Sheikh Ahmad Farooqui Sirhindi on May 31 every year. Sheikh Ahmed was the most eminent of Khawaja Baqi Billah’s disciples. He was the fourth of the seven sons of Sheikh Abdul Ahmad Farooqi Naqshbandi and was born in Sirhind. People of all faiths pay their homage at the shrine of Rauza Sharif that is located on the Fatehgarh Saheb-Bassi Pathana road in the vicinity of Fatehgarh Sahib Gurudwara.
Diwali
The festival of lights, Diwali at the Golden Temple with rich decorations illuminations and fire works, creates an ambience which lingers in the minds of the onlookers for a long time. On this day Guru Hargobind Singh, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs reached Amritsar after his release from Gwalior during the reign of the Jehangir. The fair attracts lakhs of people.
