|| BAISAKHI CELEBRATION WITH THE WESTERNERS ||

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Zoah

@xbeyondwordsx

Alumni

+ 5

Posted: 11 years ago

[Translation] Celebrating Indian Festival in Foreign Country]

Koeli kept the phone and her eyes became glassy. She was missing her home. Away from her parents in Canada, oh how she missed Punjab.

Zoah stormed into her room thumbing all the gifts she has brought for her friends.

Zoah: Koeli! Babes, where are you?

Koeli: I am in my bedroom (She said in a half muffled voice.)

Zoah: Happy Baisakhi, babes. (She burst in opening the bedroom door. And the moment she entered her heart skipped a beat). Koeli, you are crying?

Koeli: Nope (she smile which did not quite reach her eyes and wiped her tears).

Zoah went to her and gathered her in her arms.

Zoah: Ki gal hai, soniye? (What is it, dear?)

Koeli: (hugged her back and sobbed) I want to go home, Zoah. I want to celebrate Baisakhi with my parents. It's been so long since I've been to Punjab. I miss them so much.

Zoah: Aww Koeli!! I miss my parents too but we have each other, right?

Koeli sniffed silently and seeing her friend like that, Zoah felt sad too.

Zoah: Idea!! Why don't we celebrate Baisakhi here, just like you used to celebrate it in Punjab? Total desi ishtyle (traditional style) Besides, I don't know much about Baisakhi, so you can tell me all about it!!

Koeli: Really? (Her spirit lifting up slightly.)

Deepa: Of course, sweetheart! (she said as she appeared on the doorstep).

Seeing Deepa, Koeli rushed to her and both shared a warm hug.

Zoah: Hello, partner!! (she said and hugged Deepa). Where are the other two?

Deepa: Debo is parking the car, so I left her with it and rushed to see you two.

Happy Baisakhi, girls!!

Edited by xbeyondwordsx - 11 years ago

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Koeli

@Koeli

Channel Moderator

+ 15

Posted: 11 years ago

All girls were dressed in traditional clothing and were waiting for Koeli to come to the living room with the photo album. She wanted to show them the celebration pictures of the festival when she was in Punjab with her parents.

Koeli: Here we go!! These are the pictures of Baisakhi when I used to stay with my parents in Punjab.

Zoah: Wow! These are gorgeous, Koeli. What is Baisakhi though? I only know that it's a new year of Sikhs. Is that right?

Koeli: Yes, that's right. Baisakhi is the harvest festival mainly celebrated in Punjab and other parts of northern India. It marks a new beginning, the start of a new harvest season or the solar year. Baisakhi is a Sikh religious festival falling on the first day of the Baisakh month in the solar Nanakshahi calendar, which corresponds to April 13. This is one festival which common to the whole of India and to all the communities. It has a unique importance for the people of the Punjab.

Deepa: Exactly. According to the history, Baisakhi is the day when Khalsa (pure ones) were born and given their identity. The tenth Guru, Shri Gobind Singh, had organized the order of Khalsa on this particular day in 1699. This act unified the different communities of the time, raising them all to the same social status and essentially eliminating discrimination within the community. He gave all Sikhs the name Singh' and bestowed the unique Sikh identity of Kesh (long hair), Kangha (comb), Kripan (dagger), Kaccha (shorts) and Kara (bracelet). The birthplace of Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab is Gurudwara Shri Keshgarh Sahib. It is also known as Takhat Keshgarh Sahib as it one of the five Takhats or seats of authority of the Sikhs. Sahib also gave them the name Singh' (lion) to boys and Kaur' (princesses) to girls.

Edited by appy_indy-KD - 11 years ago

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Zoah

@xbeyondwordsx

Alumni

+ 5

Posted: 11 years ago

Koeli: You know in the villages of Punjab, the farmers wait for this time so much.

Zoah: Of course. It's like a new year celebration for them just like we celebrate Eid.

Koeli: Not only that Zoah. For the people in villages, this festival is a last opportunity for relaxing before they start harvesting of corn. Processions and feasting follow readings of the holy scripture of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib.

It is a day of celebration, particularly in the rural farming areas where the farmer rejoices at the sight of the fruits of his labour - the harvested crop. After 6 to 8 months of hard toil in the fields, this is the day any farmer would look forward to.

Zoah: How do common people celebrate this occasion?

Deepa: Baisakhi is celebrated with joyous music and dancing. It is New Year's Day in Punjab. It falls on April 13, though once in 36 years it occurs on 14th April. The Sikhs, celebrate this festival as a collective birthday as well.
They visit gurdwaras (Sikh temples) and listen to kirtans (religious songs) and discourses. After the prayer, kada prasad (sweetened semolina) is served to the congregation. The function ends with langar, the community lunch served by volunteers. With no particular religious nuance, Hindus and Sikhs celebrate in a community sort of way - folk dances, music and a feeling of camaraderie underline these celebrations.

Processions are taken out, at the head of which are the panj piaras. Mock duels and bands playing religious tunes are part of the processions. Schoolchildren also enthusiastically take part in them.

At home, the Punjabi prepares sweet dishes with the new grain to signify not only the harvest of new crops but also to celebrate the self-sufficiency, plenty and prosperity.

Edited by xbeyondwordsx - 11 years ago

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Koeli

@Koeli

Channel Moderator

+ 15

Posted: 11 years ago

Debo: You know guys, though Baisakhi is primarily a Punjabi festival, it is also celebrated all over the world

Debo: It is celebrated in Kolkata amongst the Bengalis. The festival also marks the first day of the solar New Year on the Hindu calendar. Some Hindus also celebrate the day as the descension of Ganga to earth, with devotees bathing on the banks of the Ganges River and conducting sacred rituals. Outside their homes, many plant poles wrapped in gold silk and adorn them with brass or silver pots. Known as Vishu in Kerala, fireworks light up the sky and arrangements of flowers and fruit are presented for a prosperous year.

Koeli: This day is also observed as the beginning of the Hindu solar new year celebrated by people across the Assam Valley, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, Uttrakhand and other regions of India. In Himachal Pradesh, the Hindu Goddess Jwalamukhi is worshipped on the day, while in Bihar, the Sun-god Surya is honoured.

This day is celebrated as Rongali Bihu in Assam, Naba Barsha or Pohela Boishakh in Bengal and Tripura, Vishu in Kerala, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bikhu or Bikhauti in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Maha Vishuva Sankranti (or Pana Sankranti) in Odisha, Sinhalese New Year festival in Sri Lanka, Navreh - The new year day in Kashmir.

It also celebrated out of India in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Edited by appy_indy-KD - 11 years ago

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Zoah

@xbeyondwordsx

Alumni

+ 5

Posted: 11 years ago

Nabila: And how can you forget the madness in our state on this day? (She breathed sighs and placed the sweet boxes on the table.

Everyone rushed to greet her.

Koeli: Where have you been, Nabz?

Nabila: Oh don't ask me! The road was blocked due to the procession.

Zoah: What do you mean by the road was blocked by the procession? What procession are you talking about, Nabz? Do you mean that Baisakhi is celebrated in foreign countries as well?

Nabila: In the United States, there is usually a parade commemorating the Baisakhi celebration. In Manhattan, New York City people come out to do "Seva" (selfless service) such as giving out free food, and completing any other labor that needs to be done.

In Los Angeles and California, the local Sikh community consisting of more than 20 Gurdwaras holds a full day Kirtan (spiritual music) program followed by a two mile parade in downtown Los Angeles with an estimated 15,000 participants. The local Sikh community in Vancouver, Abbotsford and Surrey, British Columbia, Canada holds its annual Vaisakhi celebrations in the April long weekend, which often includes a Nagar Kirtan (parade) which an estimated 200,000 people attend.

The United Kingdom has a large Sikh community. The largest concentrations of Sikhs in the UK are to be found in Birmingham in the West Midlands and Southall in west London. The Southall Nagar Kirtan is held on a Sunday a week or two before Baisakhi, and it attracts between 40,000 to 75,000 people to the streets . The Birmingham Nagar Kirtan is held in late April in association with Birmingham City Council, and it is an annual event attracting about 100,000 people which commences with two separate nagar kirtans setting off from gurdwaras in the city and culminating in the Baisakhi Mela at Handsworth Park.

Edited by xbeyondwordsx - 11 years ago

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Koeli

@Koeli

Channel Moderator

+ 15

Posted: 11 years ago

Nabila: Wow! Girls, you all are looking awesome in Punjabi outfits! So colourful and vibrant!!

Koeli: You are looking as gorgeous as ever, Nabz. Come, lets join our hands in front of Waheguru ji and start our celebration.

Zoah: And after this are we going to do Bhangra? It's my childhood dream to do Bhangra, you know!

Deepa: Zoah, are you for real? We all are discussing about the festival and all you care about is the Bhangra.

Zoah: Whatever!! Are we going to do it or not?

Koeli: Haha, what is a celebration without a Bhangra?

Nabila: And sweets couriered specially from PUnjab. My mom is a sweetheart. She never forgets to send me my favourite sweet.

Zoah: Come on, girls! Let's hit on the dance floor.

"Oye Balle Balle".

| Characters |

Koeli: appy_indy-KD
Zoah: xbeyondwordsx
Deepa: dj_arshifan
Debo: deboleena.manna
Nabila/Nabz: 18shabbo

Edited by appy_indy-KD - 11 years ago

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Zoah

@xbeyondwordsx

Alumni

+ 5

Posted: 11 years ago

concept: The team [appy_indy-KD , xbeyondwordsx , deboleena.manna , dj_arshifan]research: The team [appy_indy-KD , xbeyondwordsx , deboleena.manna , dj_arshifan]writeup: xbeyondwords , appy_indy-KD
banners and avis: appy_indy-KD
music selection: appy_indy-KD

Special Thanks: Angel-jot. [For helping us to select between Lohri and Baisakhi]

Edited by xbeyondwordsx - 11 years ago

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Koeli

@Koeli

Channel Moderator

+ 15

Posted: 11 years ago

^ thank you for coming here :). let us know how you guys celebrate Baisakhi

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None of Anyone's Business Dear Stalker ;)

@.Boss.

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 11 years ago

Vaisakhi with a 'v' rather than a 'b' (as many punjabis call it, actually it depends on your accent, and that varies from which part of punjab you are from! And where my parents are from, they call it with a 'v')

In canada, vaisakhi is widely celebrated. We have a 'nagar kirtan'. Its basically a lot of fun , free food, performances, dances in the city, on roads! (they block roads for one day celebrations) It starts from gurdwara, they decorate 'palki' on which 'Guru Granth Sahib ji ' (holy book) sits. We get to see a lot of orange that day, as it is associated with the religion! And everyone is recommended to wear an orange head scrafs. If you see form a helicopter, its all orange in the city!

We celebrate it at schools! We dress up in suits, and in the lunch hour, we all get together in cafeteria, and enjoy free samosas, and sweets. We dance, and have a lot of fun!

But its not vaisakhi season now! Its when crops are ready to harvest in punjab, in April! Its on 13/14 of the april!

But thanks for this thread!

Edited by .Boss. - 11 years ago