- Home
- Jammu
Baisakhi celebrated with religious fervor
Subodh Bhasin. Dated: 4/15/2019 9:29:01 AM
SUBODH BHASIN Jammu, Apr 14 Baisakhi festival was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety with many prayer functions and fairs held across Jammu. Special prayers were offered by a large number of devotees at various places. Pertinently, the day also marks the birth of ‘Khalsa Panth’. People were seen visiting temples and gurdwaras, where langars (community feasts) were arranged as a part of charity on the day. Men and women, dressed in colourful outfits, moved to their fields for the first harvest of the season. Colourful Baisakhi fairs were organised at several places with people going on shopping, eating and recreational spree. In connection with the Baisakhi Festival, the famous annual Mela at Ranbir Canal, Rajinder Park, Jammu was also held. A large number of temporary shops and stalls had been raised in the form of impressive market. There were special attractions for the children including cart ride. Talking to Young Bites correspondent Sahil Kohli said that festivals like Baisakhi bring happiness and joy among the people. Such festive occasions provide a chance to the people of different communities to come close to each other while exchanging pleasantries. The festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of Vaisakh (April-May), giving the name of Vaisakhi. The festival marks starting of the harvest season in Northern India and is also considered auspicious for marriage. Baisakhi holds special importance for Sikhs as it represents the birth anniversary of their sect. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, founded the Panth Khalsa (sect) on the day of Baisakhi in the year 1699. Thousands of people from Jammu city and adjoining areas thronged the Mela. The local administration had made elaborate security arrangements. On the occasion as per old tradition, many people had dip in the Ranbir Canal, river Tawi, Chenab, Ravi, Basantar and Devak in Udhampur while many paid visit to religious shrines of Purmandal and Utterbehni. Huge rush of devotees was witnessed at Har-ki-Pauri, near Bahu Fort on the left bank of river Tawi early morning. Devotees were seen at various shrine and temples and started queing up since early morning, waiting for hours to pay obeisance.