Baisakhi is dually important for the people of the Sikh community for the Sikh festival marks the Sikh New Year and the anniversary of the Khalsa founding in 1699 by the 10th Guru, Gobind Singh. Guru Gobind Singh chose Baisakhi Festival as the sacred occasion to transform Sikhs into a family of soldier saints, known as the Khalsa Panth. About 3,000 Sikhs from India visit Pakistan, especially Lahore, to celebrate Baisakhi Festival during the month of April. Sikhs from all over Pakistan throng to the Gurudwars of Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, and Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hassan Abdal. However it will be wrong to say that Baskhi Festival is solely celebrated by Sikhs in Pakistan. The festivities during Baisakhi Mela Festival are joined by people of all faith. There are a plethora of programs which take place during Baisakhi Mela Festival.
Baisakhi festival is festival of a golden harvest and good hope for the people of Punjab province in Pakistan especially those of Sikh faith. The festival itself is also about enjoyment with rural folk breaking into a bhangra or women having a 'Gidda' apart from paying obeisance to the almighty for better times. During the Baisakhi Mela Festival people, especially women get new dresses stitched - particularly in yellow colour - to mark the festival. The colorful Baisakhi Mela Festival is a time for celebration with good harvest. 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 and the frenzied celebration of Baisakhi Mela festival.
So if you plan to visit Pakistan it would be like an icing on the cake if you get to witness the flamboyant festivities of Baisakhi Mela Festival in Pakistan. On your tour to Pakistan don't forget to buy some exquisite gifts from the plethora of Pakistan gift stores.
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