Baisakhi was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday to mark the beginning of the Sikh New Year with devotees paying obeisance at various gurudwaras. The main function was held at Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi in Rainwadi area of the city, which was attended by a large number of Sikh devotees.
Celebrations were also organized in various districts of the Valley by members of the Sikh community. The festival of Baisakhi marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year and is mainly celebrated in the North Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. It also commemorates the formation of the Khalsa sect of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
Rising above faith and religious beliefs, army personnel deployed across Kashmir also celebrated Baisakhi. The main function was held at an army camp in the HMT area on the outskirts of the city. On this occasion, General Officer Commanding of Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps or Chinar Corps, Lt. Gen. A.D.S. Aujla and senior police and army officers were present.
Havildar Ajay Kumar told reporters, “Army personnel from all religions celebrate Baisakhi together. This also sends a strong message to the country that we should celebrate festivals together, live together and take the country forward on the path of prosperity.
He said that the local people also celebrate the festival with the army. “We don’t feel that we are far away from our families, because this is a family to us,” he said. Havildar Sarabjit Singh, another army personnel, said that Baisakhi is a very important day for them and “we all brothers celebrate this festival together”.
The festival also marks the inauguration of the famous Mughal Gardens in the city. Baisakhi fair “Basoa” was organized in Jammu division and included all components of traditional Dogra ethos, such as Dogra cuisine, costumes, arts, crafts as well as narration of local folklore.
Hundreds of people participated in the padyatra on the way from Dogra Chowk, Vivekanand Chowk, Rajinder Bazar, Kanak Mandi, Purani Mandi, Jain Bazar Pakka Danga to ‘Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex’ in Jammu.
The participants, including tourism department officials, dignitaries, folk dancers as well as beautifully decorated elephants, horses, camels and chariots, were warmly welcomed and showered with flower petals by the local people of the old city.
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