Baisakhi festival being celebrated at Hasanabdal

When you mention Hasanabdal to expatriates living in Islamabad as a place to visit, they look at you in surprise since it’s not mentioned as frequently as other places in the vicinity. While Taxila is well known for its centuries old civilization and archaeological sites, Hasanabdal is, more or less, not projected as an attraction. But it has its own significance and is a heritage site.
These days the spring festival of ‘Baisakhi’ is being celebrated in Hasanabdal where the magnificent Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib, one of the most sacred sites in Sikhism, is located. Hundreds of Sikhs from around the world congregate here on the eve of Baisakhi every year as it is one of the major festivals of Sikhs. For the large farming community of Punjab, Baisakhi marks the time for harvest of rabi crops and they celebrate it enthusiastically. For the Sikh community, the festival has tremendous religious significance as it was on Baisakhi in 1699, that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru laid the foundation of Panth Khalsa - the Order of the Pure Ones.
Baisakhi Festival falls on the first day of Vaisakh month (April-May) according to Nanakshahi or the Sikh calendar, and this is why the festival is also popularly known as ‘Vaisakhi.’ According to the Gregorian calendar, the date of Baisakhi is April 13th every year and April 14th once in every 36 years, as it has this year. The festival lasts for three days, turning the town from its everyday, mundane mode to that of a joyful, celebratory one. Even the locals are excited as it gives them a chance to meet and extend hospitality to the visitors.
These days Hasanabdal is wearing a festive look with Gurdwara Panja Sahib being the focus of attention as the festival has tremendous importance in the Sikh religion and major activities of the day are organized in Gurdwaras. After the rituals, devotees receive specially prepared Kara prasad or sweetened semolina. This is followed by a ‘guru ka langar’ or community lunch.
There used to be a time when later in the day a Baisakhi procession under the leadership of Panj piaras was taken out passing through the major localities of the city amidst the rendition of devotional songs by the participating men, women and children, with a number of traditional activities and dance performances making the event a colourful, joyful occasion. These days because of security concerns it is believed that these have been somewhat restricted but still take place on a smaller scale.
So here’s wishing those who are celebrating it, a happy and peaceful ‘Baisakhi’ and also a safe journey home for those who are visiting.