Baisakhi is celebrated in the grandest manner in Punjab especially by the Sikh community
Come April 13 and several parts of India would burst into celebrations on the occasion of Baisakhi. Celebrated as New Year in several states, Baisakhi also marks the beginning of harvest season in the predominantly agrarian parts of India.
It is celebrated as Poila Baisakh or Naba Barsha in Bengal, Vishu in Kerala, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Bishu in Karnataka, Rongali Bihu in Assam and Vaishakha in Bihar. While northern India celebrates Baisakhi on April 13, states like Kerala, West Bengal and Orissa celebrate a day later. In Assam, week-long festivities mark the festival.
Baisakhi coincides with the vernal equinox when the tilt of Earth’s axis is neither away nor inclined towards the Sun. On Baisakhi, night and day are exactly the same length; hence, it is called “equinox”, derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night).
The festival is significant for Hindus as it marks the entry of sun into the Mesh (Aries) zodiac sign. Aries is the first sign on the zodiac list and marked the beginning of the New Year in many cultures. Ritual baths, visits to the temple, wearing of new clothes, distribution of sweets and visiting friends and relatives are part of the festivities.
Hindus believe Goddess Ganga descended on earth on this day thousands of years ago
The festival also holds importance for Hindus as it is believed that Goddess Ganga descended on earth on this day thousands of years ago. Lakhs of Hindus gather on the banks of Ganga River to offer prayers to the Goddess and take a holy dip in the river.
Baisakhi is celebrated in the grandest manner in Punjab especially by the Sikh community. The festival holds importance for several reasons. Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth on Baisakhi day in 1699. The guru administered amrit (holy nectar) to his five carefully chosen disciples known as Panj Piaras and created a martial community. Since then, Baisakhi has been celebrated as the Sikh New Year.
After the ritual bath, devouts throng gurudwaras to offer prayers and take part in the rituals associated with Baisakhi. Special prayers are also offered to Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs. Amrit is prepared and distributed among devotees in a reenactment of the rituals that were held in 1699.
However, the high point of the festivities is the bhangra and gidda performances held later in the day. Men dressed up in traditional kurta, lungi and pagdi and women in colourful salwaar kameez gather to perform bhangra and gidda to the energetic beats of dhol. Baisakhi fairs are also held across Punjab.
Vishukkani consists of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles
In Kerala, Baisakhi is celebrated a day later as Vishu. The day starts with Vishukani (the first thing seen on the day of Vishu). An arrangement of lemon, fruits, betel leaf, flowers and image of Lord Krishna is kept along with a mirror. People enter the pooja room with their eyes closed in order to start the day with the sight of auspicious things.
Poila Baisakh is celebrated with great fanfare in West Bengal on April 14th. It is considered the most auspicious day in Bengali calendar. It is also the day when Bengali traders open new books of account. Various fairs and events like Bangla Sangit Mela are organised in
West Bengal.
Traditional feasts are an integral part of Poila Baisakh in West Bengal
‘Puthandu Vaztikal’ (New Year’s greetings) is how Tamilians greet each other on the auspicious day of Pothandu. Also the first day of the Tamil calendar, on the day of Pothandu, Tamilian Hindus throng temples to offer their prayers. Houses are elaborately decorated and kolams drawn outside homes. Farmers prefer the day to plough the field to mark the beginning of the new agricultural cycle. It is also considered an auspicious time to begin new ventures.
The New Year in Assam is celebrated as Rongali Bihu. The festival lasts for seven days with grand colourful celebrations taking place across the state.
Assamese New Year is celebrated on April 15th; however, Rongali Bihu celebration starts a day before that. The first day known as Goru Bihu is the day when cows are worshipped. The New Year day is celebrated as Manuh Bihu where people wear new clothes and seek blessings from elders for a healthy and prosperous new year.
In Orissa, it is celebrated as Vishuva Sankranti. On this day a small pot filled with panna or mishri is hung on tulsi plants. A small hole in the pot allowing water to fall out of it is representative of good rains befalling in the monsoon. People visit Devi temples to seek blessings.
Baisakhi is celebrated as Vaishakh in Bihar. The festival is celebrated to welcome the New Year. Prayers are offered to Surya (Sun God). Surajpur-Baragaon is the centre of Vaishakha celebration in the state as lakhs of people commemorate in the village to offer their prayers to Surya Devta.
Apart from Hindus and Sikhs, Baisakhi also holds significance to Buddhists as it is believed that Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment on the day.
High point of festivities in Punjab is the bhangra and gidda performances