Baisakhi celebrated with traditional fervour, gaiety

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 13: 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 Jammu region today.
While religious congregations were held in various Gurudwaras to celebrate the Baisakhi festival, a grand Baisakhi mela was as usual held at Canal in which a large number of people including men, women and children drawn from different parts of the city participated.
The rush in Baisakhi Mela at Canal continued till late in the evening.
The children attired in colorful dresses were busy in purchasing toys and balloons, enjoying fun and fare, eatables, confectionary, fruit chat and other special dishes. There were countless stalls of eatables, toys, sports items, hosiery items, confectionery items etc.
Women were also busy in purchasing cosmetics and hosiery and gift items from hawkers who had established stalls on the either side of link roads at canal on the occasion of Baisakhi festival today.
However there was a resentment among the visitors for not opening the Rajinder Park for general public on the special occasion of Baisakhi mela today.
In connection with celebration of Baisakhi festival a mammoth gathering of Sikh Sangat was held at Gurdwara Chathi Pathshai Talab Tillo near here to celebrate the birth anniversary of Khalsa Panth.
During the function Ragi Jatha of Bhai Balbir Singh Ji Ludhiana Wale recited the Shabad Kirtan. Parcharak Bahi Harjinder Singh Ji also Ludhana Wale threw light on history of Khalsa Panth and sacrifices of 10th Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his four beloved sons for the cause of humanity and religion.
The local Ragi Jathas of District Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee namely Ragi Jatha Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji, Ragi Jatha Bhai Mohidner Singh Ji (Khalsa) also recited Shabad Kirtan during the function.
The Sikh Sangat also adopted a resolution, which was read out by S Dalip Singh president DGPC Jammu highlighting the demands and discrimination meted out to the Sikhs living in the State.
It demanded posting of Punjabi teachers in colleges and schools, due place to be given to Punjabi language in the State, the road leading from Bikram Chowk to Railway Station, Jammu via Jammu University be named as Guru Gobind Singh Ji Marg and a chair be established in JU in honour of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, package be given to displaced Sikhs of 1947 from PoK at par with migrants from Kashmir, implementation of Ansari Commission recommendations, five percent reservation be given to Sikhs in the State and establishment of Minority Commission in the State.
The Baisakhi festival was celebrated in other parts of Jammu region like Udhampur, R S Pura, Samba, Kathua, Hiranagar and Kathua with great pomp and show.
The three- day long celebrations in connection with Basakhi festival came to and end at 158 TA Army today. The function, was organized by Sikh LI and Brig Hari Om Arya was the chief guest on the occasion while the function was also attended by Commandant C V Sharma.
Large number of people attended the Baisakhi mela at Billawar in Kathua district today.