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Baisakhi is the time to share laughter, cheer and a lot of lassi. The day commemorating the new year in the punjabi culture, Baisakhi is celebrated with full gusto in the northern state of Punjab. Now that a vast majority of our television industry consists of Punjabi actors, Maharastra has been joining in on the action. Here’s what some of your favorite actors have to say about the holiday:
Dhruv Singh : Baisakhi brings with it the flavor of Punjab. Once I attended a grand celebration of the festival in at my friend’s place in Punjab. It was so much fun. This year, I will be working on Baisakhi, but nevertheless I’d like wish everyone a Happy Baisakhi.
Sandeep Anand : In 1699, guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of the Sikhs, created Khalsa on this day, so the Sikh community celebrate this as their New Year. Baisakhi, for us, signifies unity, new beginnings and the respect towards elders for the things they have done for us. When I was in school we used to go to every gurudwara to have langar and kachchi lassi. This Baisakhi, however, will be a working day as I’ll be mostly shooting. But I will go to gurudwara and pay my respects.I’ll also get kachhi lassi (the traditional drink of the day) for all my co-actor. I will also will pray for all the people who lost their lives at the Jalianwala Bagh incident that took place on Baisakhi in 1919. I was seven, when I first saw Gurdas Maan (legendary Punjabi singer) the punjabi music legend) on the occasion. Ever since, I’ve been wanting to meet him, but got to do so only last Baisakhi.
Shivin Narang : As I am a Punjabi, Baisakhi, for us, is the new year. It is also the time when Khalsa was established. So, it’s an auspicious day in every way.I don’t celebrate it, but I wish my family and friends. And as Baisakhi is also an important day for harvesting, we pray to god and thank him for providing food to us. I try to contribute for our farmers well-being in whatever capacity I can as they work really hard , they give us food but are not given their due and are facing bad times and committing suicides. As for memories, for my last show Veera, a Baisakhi mela was set up on the sets, with food and other entertainment stalls. There was a lot of bhangra and dance that happened there. We all really enjoyed shooting in that set up.
Meghna Malik : Sikhs celebrate their New Year as Baisakhi on 13 April; it’s also a harvesting festival for the farming community of Punjab and Haryana. I remember one such celebration years ago, when I visited a Punjab village. It was celebrated with gusto and gaiety amidst gidda and bhangra. The whole experience was transcendental because ofsurroundings,festivity and simplicity of the villagers. This Baisakhi, I will be shooting for the serial Dahleez. I shall try to get the boys to do a bhangra and the girls, a bit of gidda.
Mohammad Nazim: For anyone who’s from Punjab, they can’t miss out on the new year celebration of Baisakhi. While it’s auspicious for the Sikhs as it is also the birth of Khalsa, for the farmers, it’s time to celebrate harvesting. I’ve attended a couple of close friends Baisakhi celebrations – and it has been very grand with some bhangra dancing, gidda and food. I have not seen it being celebrated on that scale in Mumbai. I hope to catch up on it again, in the near future.
Vishal Singh: Baisakhi, as I know, is the Punjabi’s New Year. It’s also a harvesting festival celebrated by farmers. Together, the images that crop up in front of being robust dancing and golden fields. I have attended some Baisakhi celebrations at my friends’ places – it’s high on energy, masti, dancing and food. It’s around this time that I first attempted to learn bhangra. It’s fun.
Sargun Mehta: How can I not know Baisakhi? I have vivid memories of Baisakhi celebrations in Punjab. It was a huge family affair as it was the New Year. And since it is Punjab, even the neighbourhood buzzed in a celebration, including colour and food. There was a lot of dancing and festivity in the area. I loved to take part in the bhangra and gidda that took place that day. We even gulped down glassed of kachhi lassi to our heart’s content. Baisakhi in Mumbai is very subdued.
Shradha Sharma: The celebrations of Baisakhi is hard to ignore, it’s all over in our movies. Since some of my close friends are Punjabis, I have been to their house. They are so full of life – so much dancing, colour and food. I am definitely looking to having a good time this year too.
