April 13, 2007
Punjab's Baisakhi:
Of Golden Harvest, Good Hope
by
Jaideep Sarin
Chandigarh
Golden fields ready for a bumper harvest, spirited villagers heading
for their fields or to grain markets, a riot of colour even as the
sun unleashes its summer fury. Welcome to Baisakhi - Punjab's
festival of a golden harvest and good hope.
Like each year, Punjab kept its date with Baisakhi Friday.
The festival itself is not only about enjoyment with rural folk
breaking into a bhangra or women having a 'Gidda' but more
importantly to paying obeisance to the almighty for better times.
"People, especially women get new dresses stitched - particularly in
yellow colour - to mark the festival. It is a time for celebration
with good harvest," rural homemaker Karanjit Kaur told IANS from
Sahnewal near Ludhiana.
Gurudwaras - Sikh religious shrines - were duly decorated Friday for
this annual festivity with hundreds of devout thronging them all
over Punjab to seek blessings.
At the Golden Temple - the holiest of Sikh shrines - in Sikh holy
city Amritsar, thousands lined up since Friday morning to pay
obeisance.
Community kitchens - langars - were organized at several gurudwaras
and along highways to offer food to people.
"It is an occasion for all of us to show the community feeling. This
festival reflects the joy and good times of all, especially
farmers," said Gurnam Singh as he served langar on a highway near
Ropar, 45 km from here.
The festival also officially marks the harvesting season though
farmers in several areas start harvesting the wheat crop almost a
fortnight before it.
As a special gesture, the Punjab government announced remission of
sentence for several convicts.
A home affairs and justice department spokesman said that prisoners
sentenced to imprisonment between 10 to 20 years have been granted a
year's remission.
Other prisoners will lesser prison terms have been granted remission
ranging from three to nine months.
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