FESTIVAL OF PUNJAB
Hope divine grace brings joy to your heart and fulfills all your wishes on these auspicious occasion.
THE GREATNESS OF A CULTURE CAN BE FOUND IN ITS FESTIVAL
ABOUT
Punjab is known to the world for the exuberant spirit and grand lifestyle. Blessed with the best of natural resources that are complete with a fertile land, five rivers, mountains and enough greenery to make it one of the best places to live, Punjab represents opulence and prosperity in its best form. Festivals of Punjab are the best time to experience the vibrancy of their culture in its grandest manifestation. If you plan a trip to Punjab, make sure to check the calendar for one of the festivals so that you get to soak into the cultural richness of this state. Here is a ready list of festivals in Punjab that is celebrated all through the year. Make sure to include one of these in your travel itinerary. I bet that will make your trip all the more worthwhile.
Baisakhi – Harvest Festival Of Punjab
Baisakhi 2020: April 13th (May vary)
Indian has the custom to commemorate their occupational capacities through festivals simply because these occupations help us earn our bread and butter and Baisakhi, the harvest festival of Punjab exactly does that. Baisakhi festival that celebrates the occasion of harvesting the first crop. The entire state rejoices and celebrates the sweet fruits of the labor they have put in all through the winter.
Significance: Harvesting the first crop of the year. Marks the first day of the Sikh new year.
Key Attraction: On this famous Punjabi festival, each and every house are decorated, people are seen in traditional clothes, fairs are held in different parts of the state. People celebrate performing their popular dance form Bhangra. The sound of dhol and folk music fills the air. And the cherry on the pie is the authentic Punjabi food spread that is served. If you ever visit Punjab at this time of the year, you will find the place at its vibrant best.
When: It is celebrated during the middle of the month of April.
Hola Mohalla – Soak In Spiritual Vibes
Hola Mohalla 2020: 10th – 12th March (May Vary)
A day after the entire nation celebrates Holi, Hola Mohalla is one of the festivals celebrated in Punjab in Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib. Commemorating the day when Khalsa Panth was incepted by Guru Govind Singh. All the Gurdwaras are decorated, kirtan, path, and langar are arranged. The entire region gets soaked in the spiritual vibes and spends the festival remembering and reliving the art, acts, and philosophies of life as taught by the great Sikh Gurus.
Significance: The festival was founded by Guru Govind Singh and celebrates the chivalry and intellectual proficiency that is reflected by Khalsa Panth and the poetry composed by the Sikh poets.
Key attraction: Kirtan, religious programs, path and langar at the Gurdwaras; Gatka or the marshal art of Punjab, horse riding by Nihangs and cultural activities.
When: A day after Holi, the second day of the month of Chaitra, which fall on the month of March as per the Gregorian calendar.
Where: Punjab
Lohri – Winter Harvest Festival
Lohri 2020: 13th January
When the mist, fog, and cold waves cast its spell on earth on the longest winter night, the sacred fire of Lohri is lit to reach the skies. Sesame seeds, jaggery and all things that provide warmth to the human body are offered to the fire and the loud and exuberant folk music and dance of the people fill the air with festive spirit. Lohri celebration in Punjab takes places beacause it is believed that after Lohri, the days start to become longer and warmer.
Significance: It is the winter harvest festival. It is said that the Sun God is invoked through the Lohri songs seeking warmth. The lore also has it that the day is celebrated in remembrance of the benevolent Dulla Bhatti who saved Hindu girls from being abducted by the Mughals. One of the popular themes of Lohri songs includes the mention of two girls thus saved by Dulla Bhatti named Sundari & Mundri.
Key attraction: The main highlight of this important festivals of Punjab is the bonfire and the folk songs and danced that take place around the fire. People go around the fire and put all the produce of the winter harvest into the fire that includes gurh, gachak, sesame seeds and other dry fruits. The same is distributed among the people which further leads to a grand feast with a delectable table spread including traditional dishes such as Til Rice, Makki di roti and sarson da saag among others. When: On the day of winter solstice or the last day of the month when winter solstice takes place.
Karwa Chauth – Celebrate The Marital Bond
Karwa Chauth 2020: 4th November (May Vary)
The ever glamorized event in the year, all the more made to be famous by Bollywood, Karva Chauth is one famous festival of Punjab. It is celebrated on the fourth day of the waning moon fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Kartik when the married and engaged women keep fast from sunrise to moonrise for health and longevity of their husband. This is a festival that is celebrated to commemorate the marital bond between husband and wife.
Significance: A day when married women observe fast for the long lives and well being of their husband. Men of their lives being the biggest support for the women, the sole breadwinner and provider of all things good, were considered to be the be all and end all in a woman’s life. To be able to fast and pray for his well being was considered to be the utmost blessing in a woman’s life in earlier times.
Key attraction: Women beautify, adorn themselves and dress up just like they were decked up on their wedding day. The day begins with a special breakfast prepared by the mother-in-law called Sargi before the breaking of the dawn followed by a daylong fast, a special Puja and Paath performed by a group of married and soon to be married women. The fast is opened only after seeing the moon and some special ritual after which they take the first sip of water. When: It falls in the month of Kartik on the fourth day of the waning moon which falls on the last week of October as per the Gregorian calendar.
Basant Panchmi – Marks The Onset Of Spring
Basant Panchami 2020: 29th January
Basant Panchmi is a Hindu festival celebrated across the country, especially in Punjab with full zeal. The main festival of Punjab, this colourful festival is marks the onset of spring in India. The day of the festival is said to be extremely auspicious and goddess Saraswati is worshiped on that day. Basant Panchami is also considered auspicious for getting married, buying a house, or starting anything new.
Significance: The festival is celebrated in honor of Goddess Saraswati, who’s the goddess of learning and knowledge.
Key attraction: Colourful kites flying in the skies and people wearing yellow clothes make this festival absolutely vibrant.
Teeyan – Marks The Arrival Of Monsoon
Teeyan 2020: NA
Women’s dance festival, Teeyan is a festival celebrated to welcome the arrival of monsoon. Young Indian women wear shiny and colorful clothes, perform folk dance, and ride in swings tied to trees for Teej festival in Punjab. These Teej dances along with songs show that women don’t hesitate to sacrifice their lives for their lovers and offer prayers after dances for well being of their spouses.
Significance: Although the festival has gradually been modified according to the new generation, it is as significant as earlier for married women and men. Wives used to celebrate this festival at their paternal home while their husbands were away from home for work. They used to dance while praying for their husband’s safe homecoming.
Key attraction: The Geedha dance, music, and swings
Where: Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.
Chappar Mela – Cultural Fair
Chappar Mela 2020: September, fourth day of the month of Bhadas
Chappar Mela is one of the most popular and spectacular festivals of Punjab. Celebrated in the village of Chappar in Ludhiana district, it is held every year in September where people worship the Lord of snake. Started around 150 years ago, the fair is filed with music and dance apart from the various traditions. This cultural fair has seen participation of a large number of people in the recent years.
Significance: The festival is celebrated to worship snake, embodiment of Gugga Pir.
Key attraction: Music, dance and fun-filled activities
Where: Ludhiana
Tikka – Celebrating Sibling-hood
Tikks 2020: 16th November (May Vary)
Also known as Bhai Dooj, Tikka is celebrated in Punjab the day after Diwali. The festival celebrated the bond of brothers and sisters wherein the sister puts tikka on the forehead of the brother, praying for his long life. After this, gifts and sweets are engaged among each other. Everyone dresses up in new clothes to feel the festive vibe.
Significance: It is a celebration of bond of brothers and sisters wherein the sisters pray for the long life of her brother.
Key attraction: Sweets and Gifts
Where: Across India
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A journalism graduate with a love for reading, writing, and travel, Kiran has trekked through various offbeat paths in the Himalayas. She writes travel stories and indulges in landscape photography every now and then, which, considering where you’re reading this, makes perfect sense.