Punjab's Baisakhi: Of golden harvest, good hope
Apr 13, 2007 - 4:13:27 PM
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A home affairs and justice department spokesman said that prisoners sentenced to imprisonment between 10 to 20 years have been granted a year's remission.
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By Jaideep Sarin, IANS,
[RxPG] Chandigarh, April 13 - Golden fields ready for a bumper harvest, spirited villagers heading for their fields or to grain markets, a riot of colour even as the sun unleashes its summer fury. Welcome to Baisakhi - Punjab's festival of a golden harvest and good hope.
Like each year, Punjab kept its date with Baisakhi Friday.
The festival itself is not only about enjoyment with rural folk breaking into a bhangra or women having a 'Gidda' but more importantly to paying obeisance to the almighty for better times.
'People, especially women get new dresses stitched - particularly in yellow colour - to mark the festival. It is a time for celebration with good harvest,' rural homemaker Karanjit Kaur told IANS from Sahnewal near Ludhiana.
Gurudwaras - Sikh religious shrines - were duly decorated Friday for this annual festivity with hundreds of devout thronging them all over Punjab to seek blessings.
At the Golden Temple - the holiest of Sikh shrines - in Sikh holy city Amritsar, thousands lined up since Friday morning to pay obeisance.
Community kitchens - langars - were organized at several gurudwaras and along highways to offer food to people.
'It is an occasion for all of us to show the community feeling. This festival reflects the joy and good times of all, especially farmers,' said Gurnam Singh as he served langar on a highway near Ropar, 45 km from here.
The festival also officially marks the harvesting season though farmers in several areas start harvesting the wheat crop almost a fortnight before it.
As a special gesture, the Punjab government announced remission of sentence for several convicts.
A home affairs and justice department spokesman said that prisoners sentenced to imprisonment between 10 to 20 years have been granted a year's remission.
Other prisoners will lesser prison terms have been granted remission ranging from three to nine months.
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