North, where two crops ( Rabi and Kharif) is the norm, different festivals are meant for heralding different crops. No wonder, from Baisakhi in the entire North, Sonth in Kashmir, Bhogali Bihu in Assam to Pongal in the South, our industrial and e- governed society still loves to celebrate what its ancestors revered the most, harvesting. Though, the time of these festivals differ, depending upon the season of the particular geographical region for harvest, the festivals are celebrated with gusto across the land.

To give these festivals a stamp of permanence, our ancestors associated some or the other myth to the harvesting celebrations that gave them a religious flavour and hence could never be wiped out of the cultural heritage. Even, a relatively new religion like Sikhism has a lot of association with the Panth( the path of the Sikh) for Baisakhi. Baisakhi, derived from the word Vaishakh, falls in an auspicious period. Based on the Indian solar calendar, this festival falls on April 13 every year and on April 14 once every 36 years. Though, a lot has changed in the manner of celebrations, in Punjab DJs are called for Bhangra competitions, like garba has become all discoised in Gujrat, the underlying fact still remains- the harvest.

The time of the Panj Pyaras: In Punjab, April 13 cannot be written off the Sikh history. The day of the creation of the Khalsa order in the Sikh Panth also coincides with the very painful memories of Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. The central place for Baisakhi celebrations, the Golden temple in Amritsar is situated next to Jallianwala, where thousands assembled to celebrate Baisakhiwere massacred by General Dyer. Baisakhi has a special meaning for the Sikhs. Guru Amar Das had first institutionalized Baisakhi in 1567 as one of the special days when all Sikhs would gather to receive the guru’s blessings at Goindwal, where major festivities are organsied till date. On this day in 1699, their tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, organized the order of the Khalsa. He discontinued the tradition of Gurus in Sikhism by declaring the Granth Sahib to be the eternal Guru of all Sikhs. To form the Khalsa Panth he asked his followers to be ready to lay down their lives to save others. Five volunteers of five different castes were made the Panj Piaras, who would lead the rest. In the entire North, and in the rest of the world wherever Sikhs are present in a sizeable number, the colourful processions lead by the ochre clad Panj Pyaras are a common sight. All Sikhs go to the gurudwaras and distributing kada, Prasad, kirtans and recital of passages from the Granth Sahib are also organized in gurdwaras, where people line up to receive the delicious prasad. This day is also meant to performkar sewa – that is, offering help in the daily chores of the gurdwara. Obviously, no Sikh festival would be complete without a langar, the community kitchen that serves food to all and sundry, as a token of seva (service), and not charity.

Oh ! The Bhangra bash: When the wheat crop is ready, no one can stop the vivacious Punjabi. The beat of the dhol makes adrenalin run in his veins and a full throated kacchi pakki na vekh, jatta aai baisakhi ( don’t mind if your crop is still not ripe, dance , it is baisakhi) rents the air, while the jatta (Punjabi young man) bursts naturally into Bhangra, responding to the rhythm of the beats of dhol. Many gestures in Bhagra, Gidda, Jhhummar and Ghoomar convey the skills and chores involved in the entire process of farming, that leads to the day of happy harvesting. Dressed in their colourful best, the farming community, the dancers and drummers challenge each other to continue the dance. The scenes of sowing, harvesting, winnowing and gathering of crops are expressed in zestful movements of the body to the accompaniment of ballads. Fairs are organized at almost all towns in Punjab, where besides other recreational activities, wrestling bouts are also held. Though, Baisakhi is celebrated in the entire North, where it is observed more as a beginning of the solar new year, it is only in Punjab that it has grown beyond a ritual of the agricultural.

Kashmir celebrates Baisakhi from the last Sunday of March and stretch it till April

choice and the newly-wed ask for happiness and prosperity. The holy Markandaya fair is held near Bilaspur and the Rohru Jatra is held in honour of the deity Shikhru. This is also the time when fishing and low altitude trekking raise their winter barriers, while the Spring Festival is celebrated in Kullu from April 28 to April30.

Chamba’s famous Minjar fair, though, celebrated sometime in August celebrates the bounty of nature and prays for a good harvest. In this very special festival that was promoted by the erstwhile kings of Chamba in a classic fashion to promote and preserve special culture of Chamba, Minjars or what we call maize shoots or silken strands, are cast on the waters of the river Ravi by the denizens of Chamba who come attired in their very best and the town immerses itself in a week long celebration. Girls married outside Chamba return to their town so as not to miss out on the festivities, so close to the hearts of the residents of Chamba.

Gangaur of Rajasthan and Haryana: Gangaur is the most spectacular festival of Rajasthan, now, known worldwide, thanks to a growing tourist industry of the state. Though, the festival is celebrated by the maidens, held about a fortnight after Holi in honor of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, the festival also heralds harvesting season. The festival ends in rejoicing, with the arrival of Shiva to escort his bride Gauri home, accompanied by horses and elephants. The girls do ghoomar, a traditional dance of Rajasthan, wherein group of balles sing and dance in full abandon.