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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Special Supplement: Vaisakhi News India Times (April 12, 2025 - April 18, 2025) April 18, 2025 14 Memories Of New Years Past E very April, when the Punjabi NewYear—Bai- sakhi—arrives, I find myself craving two things: the rhythmic beats of a dhol and a plate of piping hot jalebis. I didn’t grow up in Punjab, surrounded by endless fields of golden wheat swaying under the sun. Instead, I lived in Delhi, where traffic jams replaced fields, and the closest thing to a rural landscape was the neighborhood park, occasionally visited by a stray cow. But that never stopped us from celebrating Baisakhi with all the excitement of a true Punjabi village fair—just with- out the village itself. My earliest Baisakhi memories involve being woken up at an ungodly hour by my parents, who insisted that the day had to start with a trip to the gurdwara. Half- asleep and stumbling, I followed the scent of sweet wheat pudding, the ultimate motivation for any child to sit through an hour of devotional hymns. The gurdwara was a sight to behold—adorned with fresh flowers, glowing divas, and a never-ending queue at the community meal. The beauty of it all? No matter how crowded it got, there was always space for one more person at the table, and always an extra ladle of lentil stew if you asked nicely (or just looked really hungry). Once our prayers were done, the real festivities began. Delhi may not have the vast village squares of Punjab, but our community fairs transformed even the smallest parks into vibrant festival hubs. Rows of stalls sold every- thing from colorful bangles to handcrafted scarves, while the air filled with the mouthwatering scent of sizzling fritters and sweets. Men in brightly colored turbans and long tunics performed energetic Bhangra routines, their movements fueled by an unspoken competition to see who could last the longest. But nothing fascinated me more than the Gatka per- formances. I would watch in awe as martial artists spun swords and sticks with incredible speed and precision, their expressions calm and focused. The clash of metal and the swift, fluid movements were mesmerizing. In- spired, I once considered learning Gatka myself—until I remembered that I could barely swing a cricket bat with- out nearly injuring myself. I decided I was much better suited to being an enthusiastic spectator. Baisakhi wasn’t just about the performances or the fun—it was a day of gratitude. In Punjab, farmers cel- ebrated the end of the harvest season, thanking the land for its bounty. In Delhi, we celebrated in our own way— by treating ourselves to extra helpings of spiced cheese dishes and giving up on any plans to eat healthy for the day. Walking past the food stalls, it was impossible to resist the sight of golden, crispy jalebis being pulled from the fryer or the temptation of hot, flaky pastries stuffed with spiced potatoes. As evening fell, the streets came alive with processions carrying the Guru Granth Sahib in beautifully decorated palanquins, led by groups of devoted volunteers sweep- ing the road ahead—a symbol of devotion and service. The rhythmic chants of prayers blended with the usual honking of Delhi traffic, creating a uniquely urban ver- sion of spirituality. Elders sat in circles, sharing stories of Sikh history and the significance of Baisakhi, their words adding depth to the day’s celebrations. By nightfall, my feet ached from hours of running around, my stomach was full to the brim, and my heart felt light with festive joy. Yet, as I sat with my family under the open sky, listening to the distant echoes of dhol beats still playing somewhere, I realized something. Baisakhi wasn’t just a festival; it was a feeling—one of belonging, cel- ebration, and warmth. And no matter where I go in life, that feeling will always stay with me, as long as there’s music in the air and laughter in the crowd. (Devansh Malhotra, 14, is a high school sophomore 10th grader at the West Windsor Plainsboro High School South) By Devansh Malhotra Sikh Coalition’s Children’s Book In Honor Of Vaisakhi W ith Vaisakhi around the corner, the Sikh Coalition is highlighting a new children’s book, AVaisakhi to Remem- ber, that was released on March 11, 2025, written by Sikh Coalition Senior Fellow Sim- ran Jeet Singh. The picture book is illustrated by Japneet Kaur and is accompanied by a lesson plan that was created by the Sikh Coalition’s education team. The book tells the story of a young girl who moves with her Sikh family from their village in India to a city on the other side of the world. She deeply misses her life before the move but learns to find connection in preparation and celebra- tion of the joyous Sikh spring harvest holiday of Vaisakhi, a press release from Sikh Coalition said. In partnership with Singh and Penguin Random House, the Sikh Coalition created a lesson plan where students will have the opportunity to learn about Punjabi terms, the role of community, and how traditions are formed and sustained, even when immigrating to a new home. The Sikh Coalition urged parents to reach out to their children’s teachers and suggest books like A Vaisakhi to Remember to read aloud in class along with using the lesson plan for students to engage with the material. “Stories with strong messages about com- munity and connection are vital,” Upneet Kaur is quoted saying in the press release. “It is also heartening for children to see themselves reflected in the stories they hear. The visibility from books like AVaisakhi to Remember benefits not just Sikh students, but their classmates as well.” By a StaffWriter PHOTO:CourtesyVikram Malhotra Vaisakhi: Celebrating Harvest And New Year W ith the arrival of the month of Chaitra come all the new years and harvest festivals tumbling over each other. With the first day of Chaitra bringing Goodi Padwa, the Maharashtrian New Year, and Ugadi, the Southern Indian NewYear which both co-incide with Chaitra Navratri which also began on the first day of Chaitra, Baisakhi or Vaisakhi (used interchangeably) could not be far away. However, Vaisakhi also wants a lot of company as did Chaitra Navratri. So it brings in its friends the Nepalese NewYear and the Bengali NewYear in tow on Monday, April 14, 2025. Baisakhi is the harvesting of the Robi Crop of winter and is widely celebrated in Punjab, Hary- ana, and Jammu and Kashmir as the NewYear. But for Sikhs, Vaisakhi comes as the day the Khalsa was consecrated. Story has it that Sikh Guru Gobind Singh could pick five volunteers when he asked his followers to be prepared to give up their lives. Instead of killing them as the crowd expected, Guru bap- tized them with Amrit and formed 5-member group of saint-soldiers he named ‘Khalsa’. The five men of Khalsa were known as the five Ks, representing Kesh, Katchera, Kangha, Kirpan and the Kara. Since then, Sikhs celebrate the day of Baisakhi commemorating the ‘Khalsa’ baptism day, and spray amrit. Nagar Kirtan, a singing procession of five Khalsa, holding a picture of Guru Gobind Singh is also part of the Sikh celebration of Baisakhi, while Gurudwaras are decorated in light and hold kirtans. Vaisakhi day is the NewYear’s day for the Sikhs also, who follow the Nanakshahi calendar. It is a festive holi- day for them, with businesses remaining closed for the day or open for only half a day. Schools and colleges are also closed. Sikhs bathe early in the morning on Baisakhi day, dress in new clothes and visit the Gurudwaras for a special prayer. The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, is bathed in milk. The highlight of the Bai- sakhi day and special prayer is the ‘Khada Prasad’ that is distributed and a communal meal ‘langar’ specially pre- pared for the day by volunteers. The Guru Granth Sahib is then taken out in a procession in the afternoon. Baisakhi is celebrated by the rest as a joyous day with cultural events, Bhangra dances, local fairs, good food and sweets. Many people also bathe in the holy rivers near them including the Ganga. People dress up in new clothes and visit temples and Gurud- waras, friends and family members. New busi- nesses begin on Baisakhi day. Schools and colleges hold open air events the whole day with cultural dance and music. The Golden Temple at Amritsar is considered the holiest place to visit on Baisakhi. It was at the temple that Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa. Special prayers are held throughout the day of Bai- sakhi there which is visited by thousands of people each year. In Punjab, Baisakhi is celebrated traditionally with dance and song concerts, and festive commu- nity meals. Haryana celebrates it with their historic huge fair with song and dance competitions. Many people travel specially to see Baisakhi at Chandi- garh to visit Gurudwaras, and the song and dance concerts. Jalandhar is famous for their mixed group Bhangras and singing. Baisakhi or Vaisakhi is celebrated more city style in Delhi with various cultural events through the day. Delhi is well known for its Baisakhi community parties. The Bengali NewYear, Pohela Boishakh is celebrated by all Bengalis of any faith. It falls on Baisakhi day in West Bengal, Tripura, Jharkhand and Assam. Pohela Boishakh is also a harvest festival and is celebrated with cultural and religious activities through the day, with processions and fairs, visiting family and friends and eating traditional Bengali cuisine. The Nepalese New Year which also falls on Baisakhi day is a day celebrated traditionally with visits to the temples, family get-to- gethers, processions and fairs, and good. From News Dispatches PHOTO:Heena Sandhu,@https://commons.wikimedia.org/