Festivals in Punjab

Baba Bakala

Introduction to the Baba Bakala

Baba Bakala were the last words of Guru Harbhajan Singh and his last words indicated the next would-be Guru. This was an amazing incident; and the Sikhs remember this with pride and affection.

Description of the Baba Bakala

After the demise of the Guru Hargobind Singh utter confusion prevailed. This was regarding the selection of the next Guru. But God wanted to show them the way and so, Makhan Shah’s ship was caught in a storm. In this circumstance everyone prayed to God and Makahan Shah also vowed to donate 500 Dinars to the Guru after he was rescued from the danger.

After his return, Makar Singh went to Bakala and offered 200 Dinars to each one opting to be a Guru. As he expected, no one except the son of Guru Hargobind Singh recognized the exact amount and asked why he was giving just 200 Dinars while he had pledged for 500. Instantly everyone understood the true Guru Teg Bahadur who is said to be the 10th or the last Sikh Guru.

Thus Bakala came to be the sacred place for the Sikhs and a place for the holy pilgrimage. Since only a person with an insight may discover the truth, Teg Bahadur became the next Guru. “The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it." It was a difficult task but since Teg Bahadur succeeded he made his power known to all.

Time for the celebration of the Festival

Each year in the month of March people gather at Bakala to pay homage to the holy Guru Teg Bahadur and offer sacrifices for him. It is a festive time for the Sikhs.

Baisakhi National Fair

Introduction to the Baisakhi National Fair in Punjab

In the light of the fair day the Punjabis rejoice one of the opulently hued festival also known as Baisakhi Festival, and along with that they also enjoy the Baisakhi Mela. The event is in agreement with the 10th Guru of the Sikhs also known as Guru Gobind Singh. He actually envisaged the path of truth or Order of the pure ones known as the Paanth Khalsa, on this date.

Moreover the golden Ravi Crop is harvested at this time of the year so it is a very blissful time for the farmers who celebrate the Baisakhi Festival with much zeal and fervor. A grand fiesta is held during that time, and is known as the Baisakhi Mela. People wear new clothes and have a chance to eat free of cost from the road side Langars. The Punjabis let their hair fall loose and dip in the cheerful arcade.

Description of the Baisakhi National Fair

With near and dear ones the Punjabi man enters the scenario of absolute happiness; a paradise of the ground can be no less joyous than this fiesta. In the Baisakhi Mela we can come across the wrestling sessions, races, singing and aerobatics. There are also performances such as the Vanjli and Algoza.

There are abundant stalls that are replete with bangles of various kinds. There are toys or the Children, local handicrafts ad other utensils for the daily usage. At the Baisakhi Fair the Guru Gobind Sahib stayed for almost 9 months for the completion of the sacred book of the Sikhs also known as the Guru Granth Sahib.

The prominent feature of this festival is that the Baisakhi Sahib is not held in the villages of Punjab alone it is also held in the other parts of the country and metropolitan cities; but the colorful impact of the Baisakhi Fair reaches the abroad and is celebrated with equal zeal and enthusiasm over there too, like New York, Jersey and Toronto. These festivals are also accompanied by dancing and amusement. The dances are Bhangra and Gidda.

Time of Celebration of the Baisakhi Festival

The Baisakhi Festival is usually held during the months of April and May. It has been observed that the hymn of the rich golden harvest mingles with the cheerful cry of the people and produces an echo of self expression at this Festival. 

Chhapaar Mela

"Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead."

Life would seem the bowl for eternal entertainment for you when you visit the Chhapaar Mela Village Chhapaar (Ludhiana), and the dancing girls would make your evening all the more vibrant and bright. The organizers call this Dance Festival as Zinda Dance, and people from across the country comes in to witness this extravagant Ceremony.

In the month of September the Snake God also known as Guja or Goja is worshipped with the tremendous zeal and fervor. He is called the Zahir Pir. It is said that by his grace the venom of poisonous snakes are neutralized and barren women becomes mother. Thousands of aficionados gather at this place to get the blessings of the Lord Guja people irrespective of class, caste and creed joins the pageant in reverence to the Lord. It works as a unifying force of all religious creeds.

Girls, who are blessed with gorgeous looks, much like dolls, are allowed for a live performance; so the epithet Zinda which means alive. People eagerly wait for the Grand Dance Carnival where women dance to the tune of music onstage; it is a gorgeous show that lures humanity from across the continent.

The fantastic and rhythmic body sway of the dancers rocks the audience and men after a hearty gratification wait for the next occurrence of the impressive fiesta. The Zinda Dance of the Chhapaar Mela Village Chhapaar (Ludhiana), is a creative implementation of some artistic cerebrum.

This dance is sure to take you to the land of the Lotos Eaters where the mariners who “sat them down upon the yellow sand,/Between the sun and the moon upon the shore;/And sweet it was to dream of Fatherland,/ Of child, and wife and slave but evermore/ Most weary seem’d the sea, weary the oar,/Weary the wandering fields of wandering foam/ Then some one said we will return no more”.
 

Guru Gobind Singhs Birthday

 

Introduction to the Guru Govind Singh's Birthday
India is a land of numerous festivals, in pace with the cycle of the seasons. These proceed with sowings and harvesting and around them have grown legends, most of them portraying the victory of good over evil. Some festivals are mainly of religious nature, and others are related more to, change of season and harvesting. They have a retentive past and many have gone through major alterations. Though, the zeal for some of the festivals also seems to be vanishing, yet they are capable of bringing about a change in the lifestyle of the people. Some festivals and fasts are specific protocols of religion which aims towards communication with the Almighty. The vivacity of the people is reflected in the colorful liveliness of the fairs and festivals. Processions, prayers, new attires, dance, music etc. are essentials related to any of such celebration. These fairs and festivals impart color and gaiety to life of the Indians. The Indian calendar is marked by overabundance of such big and small occasions.
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, the tenth Nanak was born at Patna Sahib on 22nd December 1666, (Poh Sudi Saptmi). His birthday generally falls in December or January or sometimes twice within a year as it is calculated according to Hindu Bikrami Calendar based on moon-year. Celebrated by the Sikhs, the birthday of their tenth and last guru, this day witnesses' large processions and special prayer gatherings at all Gurudwaras.


Time for celebrating the Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday in Punjab
The Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday According to Nanakshahi calendar the birth-day of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib falls only once in a year i.e. on 5th January (every year). It gives you the wonderful opportunity to be a part of a religious festival and fair and also be witness to the extravagant carnival.



Description of the Guru Govind Singh's Birthday in Punjab
Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Nanak or, Sikh Guru, was born at Patna Sahib on December 22, 1666, (Poh Sudi Saptmi). His birthday generally falls in December or January or sometimes twice within a year as it is estimated according to Hindu Bikrami Calendar, which is based on the lunar calendar. According to the Nanakshahi Calendar, the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib falls yearly on January 5th.
Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708 C.E.) lived during an extremely dangerous time. His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, had given his life to defend the freedom of worship by Hindus, who were being threatened with conversion or death by obsessive Muslim rulers. Seizure of women and plunder of goods were uncontrolled, but the people were too fearful and terrified to resist. In the midst of this political state of affairs, Guru Gobind Singh attained great importance as both Saint and soldier, a leader of stiff spiritual principles and extreme devotion to God, and at the same time, valiant devotion to protect all people from repression and inequality through the practice of Kshatradharma.
In 1699, he spectacularly led up 5 men from the lower castes as His Five Beloveds, blessing them with great courage as well as nearness to God. They became good examples for the Khalsa, the Order of the Pure, which Guru Gobind Singh shaped to stand on the front line against discrimination. The Khalsa were held to a very strict moral and spiritual discipline and under Guru Gobind Singh's courageous inspiration, helped to turn the wave against Mughal repression in India.
The prasad of Ugadi/Gudi Padwa is the bitter leaves of the neem tree with jaggery. There are special foods prepared for this festival.

Gurudwara Manji Sahib Alamgir

Introduction to the Gurudwara Manji Sahib Alamgir 

Gurudwara Manji Sahib is one of the renowned Gurdwaras in Punjab and is reputed for the 10th Guru of the Sikhs also known as Guru Gobind Singh. There is a nice story behind this Gurudwara. When Guru Gobind Singh was pursued by the Mughal army he took shelter in the Gurudwara Manji Sahib and thereby the place was consecrated by his holy presence.

Description of the Gurudwara Manji Sahib Alamgir

At the time of Guru Gobind Singh the Mughals were gaining power under the leadership of Aurangzeb and Guru Gobind Singh realized that he would have to fight out the evil and so, after the Battle of Anandpur Sahib where his family was put to death, he went to Macchiwara.

Two Pathans named Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan knowing that they would be put to death, helped Guru Gobind Singh to escape and he escaped while in disguise. Then he came to Gurudwara Manji Sahib where he stayed for a stretch of 3 days.

Here a Gurudwara was constructed in his memory. After Guru reached Alamgir and asked for drinking water his men found that since the boundary line has fallen into the well the water has become tainted and so, unfit for drinking purposes.

Miraculously, Gobind Singh shot an arrow and made water gush out from the stony ground. Afterwards this was changed into a tank and is called Tirsar or Arrow Lake. It was also prophesized that “…whoever visits the holy tank with full faith, all his pains and worries would be cured".

The palanquin that Guru Gobind Singh has used to escape has been preserved with care so that the aficionados can observe it; whoever visits the Gurudwara Manji Sahib has his desires fulfilled. Faith is that hope which burns in the heart of the devotees and it helps them to solve their problems. This is because "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Gurudwara Thumb Sahib of Maghi,Kartarpur

Introduction 

Guru Nanak had been a famous person in the history of Indian Sikhism and a renowned prophet and philosopher. To him no religion was greater than humanity and he stressed on the requirement for nuptial bonds and also made it clear to his devotees that without leading a family life it is very difficult to abstain from the worldly desires. To Nanak it was faith that mattered;

"Let’s have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."

After the demise of the Guru, there had been a great conflict regarding the dead body; the Muslim wanted to bury it while the Hindus wanted to cremate the same. So, there is a Muslim Grave for the Great Guru at Kartarpur and also a Hindu Tomb for Nanak on the either side of the River Ravi.

Guru Nanak stressed on the ideal of life rather than following any particular religion; to him every religion was the same and one must follow it with utmost zeal and fervor. Therefore the Muslims treated him like a Peer and the Hindu aficionados treated him like a Guru. A Gurudwara was raised to commemorate the Guru and this is Gurudwara Thumb Sahib of Maghi in Kartarpur.

But the situation became tight when Sir Radcliff drew a boundary line between the two countries, India and Pakistan. The plan was to divide the entire region of Gurudaspur and so the plan did not succeed.

But ultimately a line was drawn through Kartarpur so the tomb went to Pakistan and the grave fell into the Indian side. Still now the region of Kartarpur stands to the amazement of people; although grass had overgrown the entire stretch of land, it is one of the most revered places for the Gurudwara Thumb Sahib of Maghi in Kartarpur.

Hola Mohalla,Anandpur Sahib

Introduction to the Hola Mohalla, Anand Sahib 

The words Hola Mohalla symbolizes mock fight. It is generally held at the historic town of Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib. The Hola Mohalla, Anand Sahib has gained the prestige of an International Festival and now is imitated in the Gurdwaras all round the world. The gallantry display of the knights at the mock war reminds the people of the tremendous valor of the Indian men in the field of warfare. It also indicates the will of the Sikhs to move in a path shown by the 10th Guru Govind Singh.

Description of the Hola Mohalla, Anand Sahib

Hola Mohalla, Anand Sahib is actually a grand fiesta of the Sikhs in which marital art is displayed in the fields and this is in accordance to the commandments of the 10th Guru of the Sikhs also known as Guru Govind Singh. It is the masculine form of the colorful carnival Holi. Actually the Hola Mohalla, Anand Sahib is a pageant that consists of the structured parade like a militia.

In the former people spray colors but in the latter display of skill is something that matters. Men in uniforms display their abilities and since "Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment”; the chivalrous men are adored and respected.

The 10th Guru of the Sikhs was a person with a great insight. He foresaw the need for an organized army that would be required any day due to the turmoil that prevailed during his time. So, he encouraged the Sikhs to learn the art of Archery so that they are prepared to confront any sort of challenge that comes their way. In his memory, every year a mock fight is held and this has achieved the stature of an International Event.

It is a 3-day event that involves display of weapons, skills in battle, show of bravery; Kirtan, music and poetry follows the majestic fête. The main skills that the participants display are the tent pegging, standing erect on two speeding horses, bareback horse riding, and Gatka. Gatka is a mock meeting with genuine artillery and is the most daring fete.

At the end of the festival there is a long procession that is followed by the Panj Pyaras and it starts from the Takhat Keshgarh Sahib and passes through all the important Gurdwaras. Traditional culinary is served at the end of the carnival and Hola Mohalla is thus an enjoyable event.

Time for the celebration of the Hola Mohalla, Anand Sahib

The time for the celebration is usually February and during the winter air Sikhs display their skills that dare to challenge any great warrior of the world.

Ludhiana Jarag Mela

Introduction to the Ludhiana Jarag Mela

Ludhiana Jarag Mela is usually celebrated in the Pail Village for the Mother Goddess Seetala and is one of the most reputed Fair in Punjab. It attracts tourists from across the country and is exhibited with incredible ardor and passion.

Description to the Ludhiana Jarag Mela

The Ludhiana Mela is also known as the Beheria Mela. To create the shrine of the goddess Seetala the people gather around the pond and shovel out earth. It seems that faith is the only thing that matters, and if you have faith even the clot of earth would become the shrine for worship.

“What can that faith do for him in his need? It teaches him to bear adversity.”

To this hand made shrine the people offer their worship, and usually gurugulas or jaggery is the most preferred item. Then this jaggery is offered to a donkey which is her Vahana. The overwhelmingly hued donkeys in a pageant are something worth an observation. The multitudinous colors reflect the rich and gorgeous tint of the Indian Heritage as well.

Time for the celebration of the Ludhiana Jarag Mela

Generally the Ludhiana Jarag Mela is held in the month of March and April. In the Indian calendar it is the month of Chaitra.

Mukatsar Maghi Fair

Introduction to the Mukatsar Maghi Festival in Punjab

This festival called the Mukatsar Maghi Fair is much like Holi and Lohra Festival in Punjab and is celebrated with tremendous zeal and fervor. A local fair is arranged since this fiesta has a historical significance. Mukatsar Maghi Fair attracts millions of crowds that last for two or three days.

Description of the Mukatsar Maghi Fair

The name Mukatsar Maghi Fair has been derived from the Muktsar which the name of the 40 liberated Mukhtas who died a valiant death in the Battle of Khidrana. They showed tremendous loyalty to the religion and so, they are adored by the people still now.

"Loyalty is still the same, Whether it win or lose the game;
True as a dial to the sun, Although it be not shined upon."


They generally commemorate the life of the 10th Prophet. Khidrana was a beautiful pool and the bodies of the dead were cremated on the 1st day of Magh Month, and 13th January is still memorable for the incident. At Mukatsar a massive mob accumulates to commemorate the incident. This is also known as the Mukatsar Maghi Fair. The aficionado march in the form of a pageant from the Main Shrine to the holy Tibbi Sahib; this is sacred for Guru Gobind Singh.

Time for the celebration of the Mukatsar Maghi Fair

The festival of Mukatsar Maghi is held in the month of January every year at Muktsar Town.

Kila Raipur Sports Festival

Introduction to the Rural Sports at National Fair (February) in Kila Raipur

Fairs and Festivals form an integral part of Punjab’s Culture and Rural Sports, National Fair (February), Kila Raipur is no exception to that. It envisages a spirit of affability among the Punjabis and they celebrate this Fair with a great deal of pomp and grandeur. Rural Sports, National Fair (February), Kila Raipur is thus a widely visited carnival at Punjab.

Description to the Rural Sports, National Fair (February), Kila Raipur

Since Rural Sports, National Fair (February), Kila Raipur is a National Carnival, enthusiastic people from all over the country gather here to succumb to the pleasure that the Fair with all its accessories provides. It is a splendid pageant that derives its origin from the sad fate of the sons of Guru Govind Singh who were bricked to death by Wazir Khan, under the instructions of Aurangzeb. This Mughal ruler followed the policy of Religious Conversion to please his Lord, Allah. But his policy proved fatal to the two innocent children of the Sikh Guru, Govind Singh. In the commemoration of the two youngsters every year a Fair is held on the grounds of Kila Raipur. People enjoy and remember that all their entertainment is accredited to the two beautiful children who embraced death rather than Islam.

In the Rural Sports, National Fair (February), Kila Raipur there are such incidents like Bullock Carts and Animal Races, Cock Fighting and Kabaddi. Since “variety is the spice of life” you can also witness other events such as display of strength, races are also important and worth mention. All these sports are followed by the pulsating Bhangra and Gidda Dances.

Time for the celebration of the Rural Sports, National Fair (February), Kila Raipur

February is the month when the Rural Sports, National Fair (February), Kila Raipur takes place and full fledged entertainment is provided to the people. If you are bored of your daily lives just come here, so that you may feel the pulse of Punjab in you, vivacious and merry.

Rose Festival in Chandigarh

“Fair flower, that dost so comely grow,
Hid in this silent, dull retreat,
Untouched thy honied blossoms blow,
Unseen thy little branches greet;
...No roving foot shall crush thee here,
...No busy hand provoke a tear.”

Rose Festival is one of the prime events in Chandigarh. Chandigarh is a centre of commerce or various Botanical products and the Rose Garden is specially the most reputed for the exquisite varieties of Roses that are on exhibition. 30 acres of land is allotted for the Rose Garden and every year festivals are held at this place for the exhibition of the Roses that bloom in the garden of Chandigarh.

The idea of the Rose Festival was actually planned by M.S Randhwa thereby reflecting his interest in Horticulture and Gardening. Every year at the end of February and the beginning of March a festival is held there; it is also known as the Rose Festival and is visited by 20,000 people from across the country. Not only the Roe Festival but also the other festivals such as the Cultural Events are also held there.

So, pack up for the next gala event at Chandigarh and make sure to visit the Rose Carnival so that like Emerson you would say, “The roses under my window make no reference to former roses or better ones; they are what they are; they exist with God today. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence."

Baisakhi 2008

 

Introduction to the Baisakhi Festival

In the year 1699, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh established the Panth Khalsa or the Order of Pure ones for the Sikhs. The Baisakhi Festival is usually held on that day in Punjab. Punjab is an agricultural Land and the main occupation of the people is agriculture.

So, the people celebrate the Baisakhi Festival at time of harvest of the Ravi Crops when the golden harvest mesmerizes the onlooker. It is celebrated with much zeal and cadence. Punjab as we all know is a land of the five famous rivers namely the Jhelum, Chenub, Ravi Beas and Sutlej. The land consists of fertile soil and some lively people ho would make you feel welcome in any circumstance.

Description of the Baisakhi Festival

Baisakhi Festival is also known as the Vaisakhi Festival. In the morning the Punjabi men and women get up from their bed early in the morning and take a holy dip in the sacred river. After that they go to an adjacent Gurdwara and pray for the well being of their near and dear ones.

In the afternoon they participate in a long parade that follows the Paanj Piaras. This pageant is accompanied with much merrymaking like mock duets, Bhangra and Gidda dances. The farmers also enjoy full fledged in the time of the festivals.

They buy new clothes and dance to the tune of the rich golden harvest. At the end of the day sweet dishes are distributed among the people like the Kara Prasad and Sweetened Semolina. The celebration is made all the more charming by the free lunch at the Langars, where anyone can have lunch on that auspicious day completely without charge.

Cries of “Jatti aayi Baisakhi” envelop the sky and even the God seems to hear the cry of men; it is a sort of avowing respect and gratitude to the benevolent Lord. Fairs are held to add more colors to the exorbitant fiesta.

Time of celebration of the Baisakhi Festival

This Baisakhi Festival is usually held in the month of April and May in agreement to the Sikh Calendar. It corresponds to 13th April each year and 14th April once in 36 years. It also coincides with the Bihu fête in Assam and the Naba Barsha celebration in Bengal.

Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib

Introduction to Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib 




India is known for its many hued fairs and festivals that form an integral part of the attraction of India. Each state, race and culture comes up with different fairs and festivals that are different from each other, each with different origin and each has a different way of celebration. The Indian calendar gives you a long list of fairs and festivals- in all corners of the country. Some festivals are famous celebrated by all over India while others are nondescript affairs.
Fairs and festivals in Punjab are celebrated with enthusiasm and much gaiety. They have one common objective and that is to bring together all the people of Punjab together. The sense of unity as well as religious bearing is very strong amongst the Punjabis.
Anniversaries associated with the lives of Sikh Gurus are known as Gurupurbs in Punjab. The Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib is one of the most important occasions for the Punjabis who swear by his teachings. Guru Nanak is considered to be the founder of Sikh Faith. He was born in a village in Punjab which now falls under Pakistan.
Guru Nanak Jayanti falls in the month of October- November. The three day festival starts with Akhand Path during which the Granth Sahib is read continuously and the conclusion of the reading coincides with the day of the festival.



Time for Celebrating Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib  
Guru Nanak Jayanti falls in the month of October- November. The three day festival starts with Akhand Path during which the Granth Sahib is read continuously and the conclusion of the reading coincides with the day of the festival.



Description of Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib
Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib starts with the early morning religious procession that goes around the localities singing shabads or hymns. The onlookers offer tea and sweets to the members of the procession as a gesture of good will.
The Granth Sahib or the holy book of the Sikhs is carried carefully. The book is placed in a van which is strewn with flowers. Local bands are hired for playing religious songs. Five armed guards follow the procession. Sikh visit Gurudwaras to pray and distribute sweets. Langar or community lunches are also arranged for the benefit of all the people.

Dera Baba Nanak, Gurudaspur

Introduction to Dera Baba Nanak of Gurudaspur

Dera Baba Nanak of Gurudaspur is a place where the Holy Guru of the Sikhs known as Guru Nanak settled down at the near end of his life. It is the city of Kartarpur on the banks of the river Ravi. The further side of the river is now in Pakistan and Guru Nanak passed out at this place. So, this is the sacrosanct place for the Sikhs.

Description of Dera Baba Nanak of Gurudaspur

At Dera Baba Nanak of Gurudaspur, Guru Nanak discarded his sacred clothes and became a devoted householder and he earnestly believed that original renunciation can only be attained leading a family life along with practice for renunciation; this helps a person to get rid of all the worldly obligations. To Nanak duty was of supreme importance because it is said that,

“I slept and dreamed that life was beauty. I awoke -- and found that life was duty."

Guru Nanak also stressed the requirement for an honest livelihood. Guru Nanak spent his mornings and evenings in prayer and spent his days in farming at the fields, at Dera Baba Nanak of Gurudaspur. This is one side of the River Ravi and still now the land exists on the other side of the River in Pakistan. It is known as the Dera Baba Nanak of Gurudaspur.

Gurudwara Nanaksar Jagraon

Introduction

The Gurudwara Nanaksar Jagraon is located just 38 kilometers from Ludhiana and is the most reputed place where one can offer worship; it commemorates Guru Govind Singh.

He was actually engaged in a massive war against the Mughal guerrillas. Guru Govind Singh died while fighting; he was regarded as the most revered 10th Guru of the Sikhs who laid the foundation stone for the Guru Granth Sahib. This is known as the Holy Book of the Tenth Emperor.

He was the first among the Gurus that laid primary importance to the learning of Archery amongst the Sikhs for self defense. At that time, the Mughals under the able leadership of Aurangzeb gained tremendous power; the expansion of the Empire was at its zenith.

But people were tortured tremendously and those who denied embracing Muslim Religion were put to death instantly. Conversion became a part and parcel of Aurangzeb’s political strategy and so, there was impending chaos and disorder in the entire Nation.

The Sikhs were also persuaded to embrace Muslim religion; and since they denied the two innocent children of Guru Govind Singh were taken as prisoners and were bricked alive.

Therefore, Guru Govind Singh stressed the need self defense and so instructed his aficionados to learn the art of warfare very well. He preferred not to remain neutral because it is often said that

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”

After his demise a Gurudwara was constructed at the place where he fell and this place is known as Gurudwara Nanaksar Jagraon.

Lohri Festival

Introduction to the Lohri Festival in Punjab

Lohri is a very popular carnival at Punjab and is celebrate with maximum zeal and enthusiasm in the state. Mainly celebrated to mark the departure of the Winter it is synonymous with the Pongal of Tamil Nadu, Sankranti of UP, Bihar and Karnataka, Bhogi of Andra Pradesh and Bihu of Assam. Although it is related with the harvest season and gathering of grains, in Punjab it is celebrated as a matrimonial fete of the newly married couple to strengthen the marital bondage.

Description of the Lohri Festival in Punjab

The Lohri Festival signifies the Exodus of Winter. Fêted with tremendous zeal and enthusiasm, this festival involves lighting of a bonfire and throwing of grains, sweets, puffed rice and pop-corn into the fire as an offering to the Lord. Aside there is a live Puja performance where six indispensable materials are a must- til, gazak, moongphali, gur, phuliya and popcorn.

Children go from door to door and ask or the Prasad. Actually the Fire-God is venerated by the aficionados. He is worshipped and begged for plentiful crops, and wealth. People know that the blessings of God are indispensable for the continuance of life.

“If I accept the fact that a god is absolute and beyond all human experiences, he leaves me cold. I do not affect him, nor does he affect me. But if I know that a god is a powerful impulse in my soul, at once I must concern myself with him, for then he can become important… like everything belonging to the sphere of reality.”

The new born child of a couple, especially the first child is also made to participate in the Puja, because it is regarded as auspicious for the child. The dinner after the Puja consists of the famous makri ki roti and sarson ki saag.

Along with continuous offering to the bonfire, men and women sing and dance and circumvent the bonfire. This is also known as Parikrama. With colorful costumes and heartfelt devotion they intone the traditional songs and the Parikrama persists. After the Puja, Prasad is distributed among the friends and relatives. Since the harvest is over by this time, people are free and enjoy the colorful fiesta.

Time for the celebration of the Lohri Festival

This fete is generally celebrated in the month of January and 13th January is the due date. It falls in the month of Pausha or Magha. It is a day before the Makar Sankranti Festival. So, this fiesta is very much linked to the Solar Movement, and marks the recess of the winter. Lohri is a colorful panorama worth a visit.