Vaisakhi वैशाखी (13.04.2025)-Rohit Kumar Parmar
- rohitkparmar
- 1 day ago
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Vaisakhi वैशाखी (13.04.2025)
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
Picture from the internet
Vaisakhi marks the start of Vikram Samvat calendar, the first day of Vaisakha (वैशाख) month of the Solar New Year. Vikram Samvat calendar started 57 years before the Gregorian calendar. Vaisakhi is observed as a harvest, historical, religious and social festival by Punjabis (Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and Christians), in the land of five rivers. [2] The land of five rivers, in terms of today’s States/ Union territories/ Provinces includes Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab; parts of Pakistan (Punjab province); Dogri speaking areas of Jammu and Kashmir; parts of Rajasthan, Uttarkhand, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Vaisakhi is one of the few festivals, which falls and is celebrated around the same date every year. Vaisakhi coincides with the rabi (winter crop) harvest.
During 2025, the celebrations are
on 13th for Vaisakhi,
on 14th for Puthandu; Pana Sankranti, Mesha Sankranti; Bohag/ Rongali Bihu; Vishu; and
on 15th for Pohela Boishakh. [3]
Vaisakhi is celebrated as New Year in the neighbouring countries of South/ South-East Asia also, in Bangladesh as Poila Boisakh; in Nepal as Bikram Samvat; in Pakistan (Punjab province) as Vaisakhi; in Thailand as Songkron; and in Sri Lanka as Sinhalese New Year.
Rabi, the main cropping season, has wheat as the major crop, which is ripe, and farmers look forward to harvest it, [4] as fruits of labour. Vaisakhi welcomes the New Year and harvest for the largely farming community (then and also today).
On Vaisakhi day, British General Reginald Dyer, committed the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar genocide/ massacre, on a non-violent gathering, protesting against the colonial rule and exploitation in un-divided India.
Sikhs hold kirtans, visit local Gurdwaras, and melas/ community fairs. Kirtan processions are taken out, and people gather to socialize and share festive foods.
Sweetened Rice, Mithe Chowl, मीठे चावल, ਮਿੱਠੇ ਚੌਲ,
After harvesting wheat, ढोल (Dhol /Drum) is played and people recite Punjabi doha’s (couplets) like.
दुःख में सुमिरन सब करे सुख में करै न कोय।
जो सुख में सुमिरन करे दुःख काहे को होय ॥
इसका अर्थ
कबीर दास जी कहते हैं कि दुःख के समय सभी भगवान् को याद करते हैं पर सुख में कोई नहीं करता।
यदि सुख में भी भगवान् को याद किया जाए तो दुःख हो ही क्यों ॥
Indian festivals are incomplete without lavish dishes like Kadhi Chawal, Mithe Chowl (ਮਿੱਠੇ ਚੌਲ , sweetened rice), Seviyan, Kheer, Phirni on Vaisakhi.
Lyrics of a popular Punjabi folk song, describing an enthusiastic lady’s visit to a mela (fair) are given below:
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di [5]
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve...
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Pair Dho Ke Jhanjra Paundi Meldi Aundi
Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve...
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Pair Dho Ke Jhanjra Paundi Meldi Aundi
Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Utte Lai Ke Amb Rasiya x 2
Gal Pa Basket Kaali Murabbeya Wali
Ke Shokan Oye Hoye Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Ladduaan Da Bhaa Puchhdi x 2
Chan Chadeya Shehar Vich Saareke Chhup Gaye Taare
Ke Shokan Oye Hoye Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Ghaghraa Veeh Gajj Da x 2
Lakk Gori Da Marode Khaavepesh Na Jave
Ke Shokan Oye Hoye Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Kurti Cho Agg Simdi x 2
Ohde Laung Ch Chanan Damke Te Bijli Chamke
Ke Shokan Oye Hoye Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Raahiya Nu Raah Bhul Gaye x 2
Ohde Goreya Hatha Di Mehndi Bda Gal Paindi
Ke Shokan Oye Hoye Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
Chan Ve...
Chan Ve Ke Shokan Mele Di
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@rohitkparmar),
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/),
been writing/ sharing varied topics and
can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] The five rivers from south to north are Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum. These five rivers are tributaries of River Indus.
[3] Other write-ups on festivals can be seen on the website https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site.
[4] Traditionally, harvest commenced on/ around Vaisakhi. However, with the introduction of early sowing and early ripening variety, and mechanization of farm activities, most of the harvest is complete by Vaisakhi.
[5] Lyrics of `Chan Ve Shaukan Mele Di’ a Popular Punjabi folk Song. One of the earliest version was sung by sisters, Parkash Kaur and Surinder Kaur. It was recorded by Doordarshan in the voice of Nightingale of Punjab Surinder Kaur and her co-vocalist Narinder Kaur.
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