– David Binder

Baisakhi also known as Vaisakhi is the festival of hope and we are all set to start afresh. Every year on the 13th of April, Baisakhi is celebrated which is a historical and religious festival in Sikhism. This day commemorates the formation of The Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It marks the beginning of the Khalsa. Apart from this, another history of this day is that it is considered as a spring harvest festival for Hindus as well as for Sikhs.

The festival was celebrated with great pomp and show in The Kindergarten and Middle Blocks, of St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Chandigarh. Though virtually, but students participated in assorted activities with high zeal and enthusiasm. There was no end to the ecstasy while performing bhangra/gidda on various folk songs. Their traditional attires made the students look vibrant while singing and dancing. Many came up with beautifully composed poems on the same. The tiny tots showed their creative skills also by making ‘dhol’ with their thumb prints amidst the flourishing crop drawn by them on craft sheets. And last but not the least, some shared their valuable views on the importance of this occasion.

Teachers while delivering the lecture to the students on importance of Baisakhi, also shared their grief over The Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, that took place on the same day and encouraged the students to always follow the path of peace and non-violence. While adjourning the event, Principal, Ms Monica Chawla, asked the students to celebrate the festival with lot of fun and merriment. Also, she encouraged the students to value our rich and varied culture and heritage.