Devotees visit Amritsar’s Golden Temple on Baisakhi

AMRITSAR - Thousands of devotees from across the country visited the Golden Temple at Amritasar, as festivities began for the harvest festival of Baisakhi. hey waited patiently to pay their respects at the shrine, while some took a dig in holy pond to purify themselves.

“Devotees celebrate this festival with great fervor. They come to Harvinder Sahib (Golden Temple) for holy dip. Farmers come here, take blessings and then they start harvesting,” said Manjinder Singh, a devotee.

“Baisakhi is a very holy festival. We celebrate it with great enthusiasm. Amritsar’s Baisakhi is very popular. It is peace all around. It is a very holy place,” said Prabjot Singh, another devotee.

Baisakhi marks the birth of the “Khalsa Panth” or the Sikh order. The Panth was established in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh on Baisakhi day.

Spread over seven days, the festival marks the beginning of the New Year for many Hindus, while villagers celebrate it with a variety of thrilling rural sports events.

The festival is celebrated across India on April 14, and goes by different name. While it is celebrated as “Baisakhi” by people of Punjab, in eastern India and north India, it is observed as “Bihu”. (ANI)