Bihu, Baisakhi and Vishu 2022: How and why they are celebrated

India’s celebrating not one, but multiple festivals today. Bihu, Baisakhi and Vishu all ring in the spring harvest season. The festivals are celebrated across the length and breadth of the country according to different traditions.

Every year, around this time, Baisakhi, Vishu, and Bihu are celebrated with pomp and gusto. Streets are filled with joy and the vigour of the festivities. The festivals usually fall on April 13 and April 14 based on the Hindu or Sikh calendars.

Baisakhi - Punjab's Harvest Festival

This year, Baisakhi the harvest festival of Punjab falls on April 14. The festival holds significance for the Sikhs as it marks the beginning of the Sikh new year. On this day, members of the community visit Gurudwaras, hold kirtans and organise fairs. On this day in 1699, the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, is believed to have asked people to follow Sikhism leading to the birth of the Khalsa community.

The festival is celebrated with enthusiasm in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. People performing bhangra and gidda on the beats of dhol are a visual treat on this day. The Sikh community observes this day to express their gratitude for the abundant harvest and pray for prosperity in future.

Bihu - The Vibrance Of Assam
Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, is one of the key festivals in Assam which is also celebrated in several parts of Manipur and Bengal. People of Assam celebrate three kinds of Bihu - Bhogali Bihu in January, Rongali Bihu in April, and Kongali Bihu in October.

The harvest festival that celebrates the changing of seasons is marked by the unique Bihu dance and elaborate dinners shared with families. Rice, coconut, jaggery, sesame, and milk are the main ingredients that are used to prepare the Bihu delicacies. Mangsho, Chira, and Pitha are some of the prominent food items served on this day. Apart from music, dance and food, people also exchange gifts on this day. Wearing new clothes and seeking the blessings of elders at the start of the day is a usual practice.

Vishu - Every Malayali's Festival
Vishu, widely celebrated in Kerala, marks the new year. The festival is also celebrated in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Pondicherry. It is the welcoming of the first day of Medam, the ninth month in the solar calendar. A wide range of rituals and customs are observed on this day.

For every Malayali, Vishu holds a special place. The day begins with the Vishukkani - which has the idols of Lord Krishna along with a platter of fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables. The day is considered to bring prosperity as it is believed to be an auspicious occasion for new beginnings. The zeal and grandeur of the festival can be seen on the streets of Kerala with golden blossoms.

The day is marked by a special afternoon meal ‘Sadhya’ that features an assortment of vegetables, rice and sweets. Children seek blessings from the elders and Vishu Kaineetam, a gift that usually involves new clothes and money. Towards the evening families and children gather for fireworks.