Well, in the world of the Chat GPT and its latest edition/version, knowledge production and distribution have become an interesting industry. As a result, information is available in abundance. Want proof? The Punjabi festival, Baisakhi, has a Marathi and Kannada parallel, it seems, known as Mesadi and/or Vaisakhadi!
The common factor amongst all these fests is that all of them are agrarian festivals. It is the new phase, new beginning as per the solar new year. In a way, all 'the three states' celebrate it as as a harvest festival.
With the rabbi crop process finally over, it is the beginning of making the farmland ready for the next crop, the kharip. Hence would begin the preparation of the farmland that would include (hopefully not!) the stubble burning that begins as early as late October once the rice crop is ready, and the fallow land has to be readied for the wheat crop.
With environmental awareness seeping in surely though slowly, such crude methods may burn out hopefully, though not the enthusiasm for such local festivals that have a very regional, earthy, folksy feel.
As the Bollywood films made everything Punjabi pan-Indian, there is that Bhangra-Gidda rhythm to the Baisakhi celebration. Actually, this festival has a very Sikh slant to it. It seems the third Sikh Guru allowed the Hindu festivals to be part of the Sikh way of life this festival onwards.
It was, however, Guru Gobind Singh, the last and the tenth Sikh Guru who in 1699 used the occasion as the Foundation Day of the Khalsa Panth, and the exaltation of the 'Panj Piare'.
The Khalsa belief in the equality of all human beings is the need now of the hour, given the recent developments in that part of the world and its huge and well-off expatriate/emigrant community. Hope this Baisakhi helped such a message take root!
Pratima@ Festivals (should) bring out the best in mankind!
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