Covid dampens Baisakhi spirit

Item

Title

Covid dampens Baisakhi spirit

Description

Amritsar, April 13The festival of Baisakhi not only has a religious meaning but also deep-routed cultural importance attached to it.It was on this day in 1699 that the tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, had established Khalsa. Though the event shaped the subsequent history of the region, the festival started being celebrated much before that day. For Punjabi peasants, it has always been a occasion for grand celebrations.However this year, due to the Covid crisis, the festive mood was dampened as the state has banned large gathering and has been advocating social distancing.Gurbachan Singh of Chabba village said: “Before the advent of paddy in the state, wheat was the major crop. The religious significance of the festival and the occasion being the time for farmers to harvest grains of the entire year made it an occasion for grand celebrations.” He said he was missing the razzmatazz associated with the festival. An elderly, Sukhchain Singh, said: “Around 50 years ago, Baisakhi marked the culmination of harvesting season and farmers would celebrate the festival after finishing all their works. Now with a change in cropping patterns, be it seed varieties or other factors, the harvesting begins after the festival.” He added that the festival still holds same significance for the rural population.Many farmers said earlier in these days, kadaddi matches and other rural sports on Baisakhi were much awaited annual events. “The decision taken by the government to impose curfew is in the interest of the people and we must abide by it,” said Kuljit Singh, another farmer, adding that his family cooked kheer at their home to celebrate the day.

Publisher

The Tribune

Date

2020-04-14