KO photo by Abid Bhat
Srinagar- Baisakhi, marking the beginning of the Sikh New Year, was on Friday celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in Jammu and Kashmir as devotees thronged different gurudwaras to offer prayers.
In Kashmir, the main function was held at Gurudwara Chati Patshahi in the Rainawari area of Srinagar, which was attended by a huge number of Sikh devotees.
The celebrations by the members of the Sikh community were also held in various districts of the valley.
The festival of Baisakhi, which is mainly celebrated in the north Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, marks the beginning of the Sikh new year. It is also a commemoration of the formation of the Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
Cutting across faiths and religious lines, the Army personnel stationed across Kashmir also celebrated Baisakhi.
The main celebrations were held at an Army camp in HMT area on the outskirts of Srinagar. General officer commanding of the Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps, or Chinar Corps, Lt Gen A D S Aujla and senior officers of the police and the Army were present on the occasion.
“Army personnel from all religions celebrate Baisakhi together. This also sends a strong message to the country that we should celebrate the festivals together, live together, and take the country forward on the path to prosperity,” Hawaldar Ajay Kumar told reporters.
He said Kashmiri locals also celebrate the festivals with the Army.
“We do not feel that we are far away from our families, because this is a family for us,” he added.
Another Army personnel Hawaldar Sarabjit Singh said Baisakhi was a very important day for them and “we all brothers together celebrate this festival”.
The festival also marks the opening of the famous Mughal gardens in Srinagar.
The tourists were enthralled to see the spring bloom in these gardens.
“I feel very good and lucky to be here on this day as officially Mughal gardens are thrown open for tourists and today I am here…I am very excited and enjoying this trip,” a tourist, Deepti, from Mumbai said.
“I am feeling very nice to be here and today these Mughal gardens are open on occasion of Baisakhi. We are enjoying,” another tourist, Ravinder Kumar from Meerut, said.
A foreign tourist from Bangladesh Nasser-u-din was impressed by the beauty of the garden.
“I am very much happy to visit this garden, I am very happy to know that on first day of Baisakhi, Mughal gardens are open for tourists. I am very much impressed,” he said.
“It is a very very beautiful, colourful and a historical place also. We all are enjoying very much,” Ethal Mukhodapayi from Bangladesh said.
Baisakhi Mela “Basoa” was organised across the Jammu division and encompassed all components of the traditional Dogra ethos like Dogra cuisines, costumes, art, craft, as well as narration of local folklores, among others.
Hundreds of people joined a mega walk en route Dogra Chowk, Vivekanand Chowk, Rajinder Bazaar, Kanak Mandi, Purani Mandi, Jain Bazaar Pacca Danga towards the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex in Jammu.
The participants including officers of the Tourism Department, prominent citizens, folk dancers as well as beautifully decorated elephants, horses, camels, and chariots were given a warm welcome by locals of the old city and showered with petals.
People from all sections of society participated in the procession in their traditional attires depicting the varied culture of Jammu.
Folk dances like Bhangra’, Haran’, Jattar’, Kud’ and as well as martial arts were the main attractions of the procession.
At Mubarak Mandi, a Dogra village and a Dogra exhibit “Mere Desae Da Shalaepa” was set up where live painting and live poetry sessions were held. Besides, items symbolising the Dogra art and culture were put on display. The exhibition will go on for three days.
Similarly, special events were held at Gulabgarh-Paddar in Kishtwar, Dera Baba Banda Bahadur in Reasi, Gurudwara Nangali Sahib in Poonch, Jia Pota Ghat in Akhnoor to celebrate Baisakhi.
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