*BSF jawans leave border charged with dhol beats
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 14: Baisakhi, which marks the beginning of New Bikrami year, birth anniversary of Khalsa Panth and harvesting season was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety across the State today.
As the morning started, the beats of ‘dhols’ began resounding, the joyous performances of bhangra and elaborate feasts marked Baisakhi celebrations not only in Jammu region but also in Kashmir. Bhajan Kirtans were also performed at many Gurudwaras across Jammu region.
People started visiting temples and Gurdwaras and offered prayers for peace and prosperity in the State.
Although Baisakhi is celebrated in various other Northern States for a good harvest of Rabi crop, the Sikh community celebrated the festival to mark 316th year of the foundation of Khalsa Panth by 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
A Sikh leader said that on this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh baptized Panj Pyare with Amrit and foundation of Khalsa Panth was laid and wearing of Panj kakars (Kesh, Kada, Kangha, Kachera and Kripan) became significant.
In villages, performances of bhangra and gidda by men and women respectively marked the occasion. People also exchanged greetings with friends, neighbours and relatives as they relished the best of famous Punjabi cuisine. Men and women were seen visiting their fields to harvest the first crop of the season.
Colourful Baisakhi fairs were organized at several places with people going on shopping, eating and recreational spree. The markets also remained crowded with the shoppers throughout the day. Community feasts were also arranged at various places.
While religious congregations were held in various Gurudwaras to celebrate the Baisakhi festival, a grand Baisakhi mela was as usual held at Canal Road in which a large number of people including men, women and children drawn from different parts of the city participated.
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sukhnandan Chowdhary inaugurated the Baisakhi Mela at Canal Road. He greeted the people on the occasion and said that uninterrupted irrigation facilities will be provided during the growing season to ensure high yield of crops. He also eulogized the role of the Sikh community in socio-economic emancipation of the State.
The children dressed in colorful costumes were seen busy in purchasing toys and balloons, enjoying fun and fare, eatables, confectionary and other special cuisines. Women were also busy in purchasing cosmetics and hosiery and gift items from hawkers who had established stalls in the Mela.
Apart from people, the paramilitary personnel left the Indo-Pak border charged by dancing on the beats of dhols. They were accompanied by the residents of border villages including Suchetgarh. The Poonch Brigade also celebrated Baisakhi festival with joy and fervour. The jawans of the brigade danced to the tunes of Punjabi music and beats of dhols.
In North Kashmir, hundreds of devotees from Sikh community visited the Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi in Baramulla, Khawaja Bagh and Paranpila in Uri. Local Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit at Baramulla also celebrated Baisakhi with the people. Representatives of Civil Administration were also present on the occasion. Commanding Officer of the Battalion threw light on the importance of the day. The markets in the area remained crowded with the shoppers throughout the day. In South Kashmir, Baisakhi was celebrated at many places. People kept pouring in at Gurdwaras at Mattan, Singhpora, Hutbora, Kchenbal, and Palmpora.
Minister of State for Finance and Information Technology, Pawan Kumar Gupta accompanied by Additional District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Ajay Singh Jamwal today inaugurated 3-day Historic Devika Baisakhi Mela on the bank of holy Devika rivulet in Udhampur. Later, he had a round of stalls installed by various departments for general awareness of different schemes. Mela Officer (Tehsildar Udhampur), Sanjay Badyal, District Information Officer, Dr Ashwani Hansa, secretary District Red Cross Society , Dr VP Sharma, senior officers of various departments, President Mela Committee, Advocate Surinder Khajuria, Mela Committee members and large number of people were present on the occasion.
Minister of State for Education, Information and Culture, Priya Sethi inaugurated two-day Baisakhi festival at Ramnagar. MLA Ramnagar RS Pathania, senior BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi, SDM Ramnagar, Dharendra Sharma, sectoral officers besides large number of people were present on the occasion. Being organized by Management mela committee Ramnagar under the supervision of MLA Ramnagar after a long period, the fair is being celebrated with fervour and enthusiasm. A scintillating cultural programme was presented by the artists which was highly appreciated by the people.
Baisakhi festival also celebrated in Samba with fervor and gaiety. The main function was organized at historical and ancient Hari Temple. Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Prakash Ganga was the chief guest while MLA Samba Dr Davinder Kumar Manyal was guest of honour. During this mela, local singers mesmerized the audience with their melodious voice. Mahants Ram Charan Dass and Nanak Dass highlighted the importance of the festival.
MLA Chenani Dina Nath Bhagat today inaugurated Baisakhi Mela at Baisakhi Dabbar Barmeen. Hundreds of people from adjoining villages thronged the Mela. MLA announced that the track leading to Doodh Ganga would be constructed for which adequate funds would be arranged.
MLA Doda Shakti Parihar also inaugurated Baisakhi Mela at district Doda, in which thousands of people took part. Various stalls were established on the occasion.
In connection with celebration of Baisakhi festival, the main function was organized by District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee at Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Chand Nagar, in which thousands of Sikh devotees across Jammu city and other surrounding areas participated. On the occasion, a resolution regarding pending demands were unanimously adapted which include rehabilitation package for 1947 Pak refugees, minority commission, reservation quota of 2 per cent in all educational and technical institutions, promotion of Punjabi language and name of the road from Bikram Chowk to University as Guru Gobind Singh Marg and installation of idol of great saint soldier of Baba Banda Singh Bhadur at Kunjwani Chowk. Chairman of the committee Tarlochan Singh Wazir, Dr Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Chairman of the Committee, Manjit Singh, secretary, Attar Singh, cashier, besides many other members were present on the occasion.
On the eve of foundation day of the Khalsa Panth, impressive Kirtan Darbar was organized at Gurudwara Sri Sant Baba Chanda Singh Ji, Jain Bazar by the Management Committee Gurudwara Baba Chanda Singh Ji Sangat. People from surrounding areas of Jammu city reached Gurudawara Sahib for listening the Gurbani and Kirtan. Bhai Sahib Bhai Kanwaljeet Singh and Jatha, Bhai Sahib Bhai Sukhdev Singh, Bibi Nirmal Kour and Dr Tejinder Singh recited the kirtan. Community feast was also organized. Sukhbir Singh, President, Management Committee Gurudwara Baba Chanda Singh Ji along with other members of the committee were also present on the occasion.
Ware House, Gurudawara Parbandhak Committee celebrated 316th birth anniversary of Sikh Panth on the occasion of Baisakhi. Ashok Khajuria, National Executive Member, BJP and MLC and Rajesh Gupta, MLA Jammu East participated in the function as chief guests. President of Gurudawara Sahib Parlad Singh Khajuria, Kanchan Singh, Charanjeet Singh, Director Citizens Co-operative Bank, Harinder Singh, Sunil Dogra, general secretary, district Jammu, Gurucharan Singh, President Ward No.19, Shilpi Verma, State Executive Member and incharge Kashmiri Migrant Cell, BJP and large number of people attended the function.
To commemorate Baisakhi festival, a grand function was also organized at Gurdwara Nagali Sahib, Poonch, in which thousands of people from J&K and other states took part. Mahant Manjit Singh deliberated on the importance of the festival.
Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha celebrated Baisakhi festival at Mahajan Bhawan, Shalamar Road. Kavinder Gupta, Speaker Legislative Assembly presided over the function, whileas Minister for Social Welfare Bali Bhagat, Minister for Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, Minister of State for Finance Pawan Gupta, MLA East Rajesh Gupta, MLA West Sat Pal Sharma, Vibodh Gupta, MLC, Amar Chand Gupta, Patron of the Sabha, Chander Mohan Gupta, general secretary, Yash Paul Gupta, working president, Akhil Bharatiya Mahajan Shiromani Sabha, besides many other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Students from various educational institutions presented cultural items.
People in Border District Kargil celebrated the Day of Baisakhi along with the Indian Army and local minorities at Historical Gurduwara Charan Kamal Sahib at Bagh-e-Khomeni Kargil. Karan Singh, local priest of the Gurduwara threw light on the importance of the festival.
The members of Aditi Welfare India Charitable Trust (AWICT) led by its president Aditi Sharma celebrated Baisakhi festival with children of Balika Niketan, Ambphalla. On the occasion, gifts and sweets were distributed among the children. The AWICT team also interacted with inmates of Balika Niketan and apprised them about importance of Baisakhi festivals and contribution of Dr BR Ambedkar for drafting the Constitution of India. Leela Jamwal, member AWICT, warden of Balika Niketan, teachers and other staff of Niketan were also presented on the occasion.
Baisakhi festival was celebrated by Jammu Kashmir Gao Raksha Samiti. Principal Dr Ramanuj Dev Mathan and Dr Jagpura Dass were chief guest and special invitee respectively. Large number of people visited Gao Shala and offered prayers. Dr Surinder Kumar Sharma, president of the Samiti was also present.
Baisakhi Mela was also celebrated at Shakti Nagar also, where stalls of various items and confectionaries were established. Large number of people visited the Mela.
Baisakhi festival was celebrated at Astro Kids Play Way and Primary School, Sainik Colony. Students attired in colourful dresses presented various cultural items. Chairperson of the School Archana Sharma along with staff members also participated in the function and delivered speeches highlighting the importance of the day.
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