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>Barring the last decade Punjab has always been
known and identified as a land of celebrations. Similarly Haryana,
once part of Punjab, has also imbibed the same exuberant
characteristics. With the region’s return to normalcy after a
long period of disturbances it is time once again for the gregarious
people of these two States to rejoice.
Festivals in Punjab and
Haryana have always been celebrated with much exuberance and fanfare.
The same sturdy north Indians who, since time immemorial, have
bravely faced the invaders of India from across the borders, have
also believed in celebrating festivals and rejoicing to the fullest.
For the masses these
festivals are popular occasions for social intercourse 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.
The word Baisakhi is derived from the month of Vaisakha
(April-May) in which the festival is celebrated. Inevitably falling
on the 13th of April every year – a time when the
farmer returns home with his bumper crop, the fruit of his whole
year’s hard labour – cries of jatta aai baisakhi
rent the skies as the people of Punjab attired in t heir best clothes
break into the Bhangra dance to express their joy. The dancers and
drummers challenge each other to continue the dance. The scenes of
sowing, harvesting, winnowing and gathering of crops are expressed
through zestful movements of the body to the accompaniment of
ballads.
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. On this
day he administered amrit (nectar) to his first batch of five
disciples making them Singhs, a martial community. Fairs are
organized at various places in Punjab, where besides other
recreational activities, wrestling bouts are also held. The occasion
is celebrated with great gusto at Talwandi Sabo, where Guru Gobind
Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the
Guru Granth Sahib.
Baisakhi celebrations in
Haryana are also vibrant and joyous. Baisakhi marks the end of
religious austerity of nine holy days of fasting. As in Punjab, here,
too, people bathe in some nearby river, canal, tank or well and
thereafter go to temples or gurudwaras for offering prayers, followed
by song, dance and merry-making.
The Gurparb
festival is celebrated by the Sikhs to commemorate their gurus. Two
major Gurparbs are held during the year. The first in the month of
Kartikai (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
Singhji. On the Gurparb day. The Granth Sahib is taken out in a
procession through the streets of all the cities and towns and
prayers are offered at the gurudwaras, and prasada is
distributed to the devotees. For two days and nights the Granth Sahib
and the Japji Sahib are recited continuously from beginning to the
end. The second Gurparb is also celebrated with great zeal and
fervour by the Sikh community, especially at Patna Sahib, the
birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. The martydom of Guru Arjun Dev and
Guru Teg Bahadur are also observed as Gurparbs. On all Gurparbs
non-stop recital of the granths 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 place and the people partake of the festivities with zealous
fervour.
Tika is celebrated
in the month of Kartika (Oct-Nov.) on the day following
Diwali. Women put a tika of saffron and rice grains on the
foreheads of their brothers, to protect them from evil. The women
dress up in finery to perform the ceremony. While they feed their
brothers sweets on this auspicious occasion they also sing and pray
for their longevity and prosperity. The brothers in turn give some
gifts or money as a token of their affection. Tika is celebrated with
equal zeal in Punjab and Haryana.
Like most other festivals
of Punjab and Haryana, Lohri too is a festival related
to the seasons. Celebrated in the month of Pausa
(December-January), it marks the end of the winter season. On this
occasion, children go from home to home, singing popular Lohri folk
songs and collect money. In the evening people gather together and
light bonfires. They throw in sweets made from sugar and til,
crispies etc. and sing songs. The joyous festivities assume a greater
fervour on the birth of a child. Lohri is celebrated both in Punjab
and Haryana.
Teej
heralds the onset of Sawan (monsoon), which is essential for
the agricultural prosperity of the state. Dressed in all their
finery, with mehndi on their hands, the womenfolk converge to
welcome the rains. The festive occasion has them on their feet with
gidda and kikli (two folk dances). Makeshift swings are
hung from trees and the women frolic on them, singing the traditional
bojeeyan and tappe. Songs are also sung in praise of
Goddess Parvati, as it was on this auspicious day that Parvati, the
consort of Lord Shiva, won him after much penance. This festival too,
is celebrated in both Punjab and Haryana.
A festival particular to
women in rural Haryana, Sanjhi is a day for rituals,
prayers and celebrations. It is celebrated in the month of October.
Sanjhi is the name given to images of the Mother Goddess designed by
the rural women. Made of cowdung paste, the form of the Goddess is a
symbol of health, wealth and prosperity. According to folklore, the
Goddess of wealth only enters those houses the walls of which are
decorated with the form of Sanjhi. The image is designed on the first
day of the nine days of Durga Puja. And with the prayers everyday the
Goddess on the front wall of the house is also offered food.
A modern festival
celebrated at Kurukshetra in Haryana. Gita Jayanti, has
its roots in the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. To commemorate the holy Gita
and Lord Krishna, festivities go on the ten days. The arti and
deep daan at the Brahma Sarovar, where lit diyas
(lamps) are set afloat in the sarovar (lake) to the chant of
devotional songs, are an exercise in spiritual rejuvenation. A series
of events take place during these ten days, which include the
recitation of the Gita, a pageant depicting scenes from the
Mahabharata, seminars and discussions on the Gita, and recitals of
bhajans (devotional songs). A colourful celebration of the
ethos and culture of the place where the historical battle of the
Mahabharata is said to have been fought between the Kauravas and
Pandavas.
Many other festivals like
Basant Panchmi, Karva Chauth, Holi, Diwali and Dussehra
are celebrated with gay abandonment and joyousness, traits that are
intrinsic to the culture of the north Indian States of Punjab and
Haryana.
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