Devotees offer prayers at gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana on Baisakhi

Devotees across Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh thronged gurdwaras on Sunday to offer prayers on the occasion of Baisakhi festival.

Scores of people paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib in Bathinda, and Dukh Nivaran Sahib in Patiala, among other gurdwaras.

Baisakhi festival also marks the foundation day of the ‘Khalsa Panth’ (Sikh order) by Gobind Singh, the 10^th Sikh Guru. On this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the ‘Order of Khalsa’ in the holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib by baptising ‘Panj Pyaras’ (five beloved ones) belonging to different castes.

The festival also marks the onset of the harvest season.

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria extended his warm greetings on the occasion.

In his message, Kataria said Baisakhi has a multifaceted importance. It marks the ripening of the Rabi crop, a time of great joy for farmers as they reap the fruits of their hard labour, he said.

The governor said the occasion has a special significance in the glorious history of Sikhism, as on this day, Guru Gobind Singh founded the ‘Order of Khalsa’ at Sri Anandpur Sahib to fight against the tyranny of the Mughals and to protect human and secular ethos, and sacrificed his entire family for this cause.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann greeted people on ‘Khalsa Sajna Divas’ and Baisakhi.

He, along with his wife, paid obeisance at the Dukh Nivaran gurdwara in Patiala.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini also conveyed his wishes and offered prayers at the gurdwara in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab.