April is the time the season changes- it is the beginning of the new spring. This is celebrated on the first day of the Vaisakh month ( April-May)as an agriculture/harvest based festival, marking the end of harvest. This is also Mesh Sankranti and the Chaitra Navratri- the festival of Baisakhi- when the sun moves into Mesh Rashi.
On this day, the farmers express gratitude for the harvest and the beginning of a new season. It is usually celebrated on 13 April every year, but once in 36 years, it falls on 14 April. Like many other festivals of India, the festival is named differently and celebrated with different rituals across parts of India.
Here is another update from #IgnorantHindu. All about Baishaki. Earlier, I have shared information on Balipratipada, Gowardhan Puja, Bhai-Dooj and Vishwakarma Puja, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, SHRADH and PITRA SHRADH, AATM SHRADH, Adhik Mass, Navratri, Dussehra, Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Diwali, Makar Sankranti , Mahashivratri and Holi.
BAISKHI PUNJAB SPECIAL.
Baisakhi takes on special significance in Punjab – and Haryana- with a large Sikh population. They have an additional reason to celebrate Baishaki as Punjab new year.
Sikhs visit Gurudwaras to offer prayers( Ardas). Post prayers, Karah Prasad, is distributed, followed by community lunch- Langur. There is a lot of dancing as part of the celebration. Special celebrations are held at Talwandi Sabo; Guru Gobind Singh re-stated Granth Sahib here, Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara- the birthplace of Khalsa, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
In 1699, Mughals publicly beheaded the 9th Sikh Guru, GURU TEG BAHADUR. As he was unwilling to convert to Islam and was working to protect the cultural Identity of Hindus and Sikhs. On Baisakhi, Guru Gobind Rai, son of Guru Teg Bahadur, inspired Sikhs by giving them and taking on the title of Singh or lion. Thus he became Guru Gobind Singh and laid the foundation of the Khalsa Panth. It is said that this was the day when Sikhs adopted the 5-Ks of Sikhism, the Guru system stopped, and Sikhs accepting the Granth Sahib as the eternal guide.
JALLIANWALA BAGH AND BAISHAKI.
As the civil unrest was taking new forms in the Indian Freedom Movement, Colonel Reginald Dyer announced curfew throughout Amritsar. He banned all processions and prohibited assembly in a group of 4 or more.
Meanwhile, on 13 April 1919, thousands of people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate Baisakhi. Jallainwala Bagh had a narrow entrance and closed by all sides with some 10 feet walls.
At about 12:40 PM, on that Baisakhi day, Colonel Dyer was informed of a meeting taking place at Jallianwala Bagh. It was hinted that it could result in riots and protests.
4:30 PM, General Dyer arrived there with armed troops. The main was locked, and armed soldiers guarded it. On Dyer’s orders, troops fired on the crowd. It is said that there were more than 25,000 people present that day. Many tried to escape, and many others to escape jumped in well. The firing ceased after 10 minutes when the ammunition ran out. The firing continued for about 10 minutes; it was Colonel Dyer way to punish the Indians for disobeying orders.
GUDHI PADWA – Baisakhi the MAHARASHTRA way
Marking the traditional new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus.
Padava or Padavo comes from the Pratipada ( Sanskrit), meaning the first day of a lunar fortnight. Families make colourful rangoli on the floor and raise a Gudhi flag. Gudhi Flag is a bright, colourful silk scarf-like cloth tied at the top of long bamboo. One or more boughs of neem leaves and mango leaves are attached, along with a garland of flowers on top of it. This arrangement is capped with a silver, bronze or copper pot (handi or Kalash), signifying victory or achievement. The whole structure is hoisted outside each household, typically to the right or through a window or terrace. This is the first day of the bright phase of the moon.
LORD RAMA ASSOCIATION
Historically, the Gudhi symbolises Lord Rama’s victory and happiness on returning to Ayodhya after slaying Ravana. Since a symbol of victory is always held high, so is the Gudhi (flag). It is believed that this festival is celebrated to commemorate the coronation of Rama post his return to Ayodhya after completing 14 years of exile.
VISHU – KERALA
The Baisakhi of Kerala, falling on the first day of Medam, the Malayali month. It is a family-centric festival. People prepare colourful items that are considered auspicious and start their Vishu day by seeing them the first thing in the morning. Things like golden blossoms of the Indian laburnum (Kani Konna), money or silver items (Vishukkaineetam), and rice. New clothes (Puthukodi) are worn, and Sadya, a mix of salty, sweet, sour and bitter things, is eaten. The revere Lord Vishnu- mostly in his Krishna Avatar.
Bohag Bihu- Baisakhi the ASSAM way
There are three primary types of Bihu.
RONGALI BIHU OR BOHAG BIHU is celebrated in April-May- this is also considered the Assamese new year. Bohag Bihu is a sowing festival after the harvest. It is the time to pray for crop protection and yield. Bohag Bihu or Rangali Bihu marks Assamese New Year on 13 April.
Bohag Bihu is celebrated across seven days of the Vishuva Sankranti (Mesha Sankranti) of Vaisakh month, called ‘Bohag month ‘ as per the Bhaskar Calendar in Assam.
Rangali Bihu has 7 phases. Raati Bihu- starts on the first night of the month of Sot (the month before Bohag) and last till Sot Bihu. People light torches under an ancient tree or open field. Sot Bihu- urkara or formal start of Bihu. ‘Goru Bihu- for reverence of cattle, celebrated on the last day of Sot month, ‘Manuh Bihu; first date of the Bohag month. Offering for elders and ancestral spirits and seeking their blessings. ‘Kutum Bihu- the second date of the Bohag month – symbolising Kin. People visit relatives and friends- and collective dinner- lunch is part of the process. ‘Mela Bihu- the third day of Bohagi month. It is a joint celebration, and fairs are held. ‘Chera Bihu- also called Sera Bihu- Bohagi Bidai- the fourth and the final day- it is a day of completion of celebration and making resolutions for the following year.
KATI BIHU OR KONGALI BIHU. Celebrated on the first day of the ‘Kati’ (October- November)month of the Assamese calendar. It is called Kati or Kangali a- meaning poor- as there s not much to eat during that time of the year. Evening time earthen lamps with mustard oil are lit in the fields or next to the Tulsi plant worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. A particular type of lams, Akaxh Banti ( Sky Candle), is lit in paddy fields. This is lit of the tip of the tall bamboo- praying for the good crop.
BHOGALI BIHU– celebrated on the first day of the Magh month; January-Feb. This is a harvest festival.
MAHA VISHUBA SANKRANTI – ORISSA
Maha Vishuba Sankranti usually falls on 13 April. It is the first day of the Magh month when the sun god enters Mesh Rashi. It is celebrated in Orissa as the new year. The day is marked with celebrations that include folk and classical dance. For good health, people hang Neem leaves and branches in front of their house. Pana, a liquid mix of jaggery, mango, pepper etc., is prepared and served. Many people place earthen pots filled with water with a small hole on the bottom to allow continuous water dripping over the Tulsi plant. Tulsi is a sacred plant, and this act helps in protecting it from the harsh summer.
POYLA BAISHAKH- BENGAL
Also known as Nobo Barsho – the first day of the Bengali month of Bongabdo. Fairs are organised to celebrate the event, which provides entertainment, including the presentation of folk songs.
PUTHANDU- TAMIL NEW YEAR
Also known as Puthuvarusham – the Tamil New Year. The first day of the month Chithirai on the Tamil calendar. The greeting is “Puttāṇṭu vāḻttukkaḷ!” or “Iṉiya puttāṇṭu nalvāḻttukkaḷ!”, roughly translating to “Happy new year”.
JUR SITAL – BIHAR AND NEPAL
People use lotus leaves to serve Sattu, a powdered mix made from red gram and jau (Hordeum vulgare) to the family members.
CHETI CHAND-SINDHI
The new year for the Sindhi community is also the day of the emergence of Lord Jhulelaal. Prayers are offered and delicacies like Tehri (sweet rice) and Saai Bhaaja (Palak made in dal).
Sindh was ruled by the Sumras in the tenth century. A tyrant named Mirkshah was threatening Sindhi Hindus to either convert to Islam or face death. Sindhi prayed to the Water God for mercy. The water God promised that a divine child would be born in Nasarpur who will save them from the tortures of Mirkshah. The divine child took birth in the womb of Mata Devaki in the family of Rattan Rao Luhana of Nasarpur as “Uderolal“ – meaning the one who has sprung from the waters. The child an incarnation of God Varun was Saint Jhulelal the saviour God of Sindhis, whose birth anniversary is celebrated on Cheti Chand by the Sindhi as Jhulelal Jayanti. ( as in https://www.apnisanskriti.com/)
NAVREH-KASHMIRI PANDITS
the Kashmiri Hindu or Pundit community celebrate it as Navreh, the start of the New Lunar Year. Uncooked rice is placed on a large eating plate made of brass, and the new Punchang is placed in it. In tiny cups / Katori, cooked rice, curds, salt, crisp currency note, coin, a pen, flowers, a golden bangle, a silver ornament, 3 or 5 walnuts are placed on this plate. Traditionally one should see this first thing in the morning. Typically, the eldest in the family sees it first and then brings it for all others to see.
BLOG/025/2021/17/#IgnorantHindu
To connect send an email or connect on Twitter S_kotnala.
To subscribe to the weekly update click here.
