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Baisakhi celebration is one of the popular national festivals in India. It marks the beginning of the harvesting season in some parts of the country, in some parts of the country this day is celebrated as the beginning of the new accounting period. Thus, Baisakhi is celebrated in different parts of the country in different ways and under different connotation. Rongali Bihu in Assam, Naba Barsha in West Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and 'Pooram Vishu' in Kerala, Baisakhi celebration is one of the leading Indian celebrations.
Baisakhi celebrations in Punjab are quite popular. Punjab is a land of merrymaking and gaiety. Rich in agriculture, Baisakhi festival is one of the leading celebrations among Punjabis. So to the people of Punjab, the Baisakhi festival is very important. They feel that with the advent of Baisakhi, the harvesting season becomes productive. The word Baisakhi is derived from the word Vaisakh (April to May). This is the time when a farmer comes back home with his crop and it is the result of his year long hard labor. Local Punjabis chant 'Jatta aai Baisakhi' rendering a different appeal to the people of Punjab as they wear neat clothes to participate in Bhangra Dance to celebrate Baisakhi as a token of joy and mirth. The dance by the farmer never ends. The dancers continue the dance in a challenging mood with the drummers. The farmers display their joy of harvesting through different rhythmic movements of the body.
On account of the Baisakhi festival in Punjab, local fairs are organized in different urban and rural belt of Punjab. Apart from this, wrestling bouts are held to give the festivity a new look. The day is celebrated with solemnity at Talwandi Sabo. This place has a historical significance for Guru Gobind Singh stayed here for nine months to complete the re-editing of works of Guru Granth Sahib. The Sikh community in Punjab, West Bengal and other parts of the country celebrate the day by visiting different gurduwaras and distribute Prasadams.
In West Bengal, the festival is celebrated as 'Nababarsho'. On this day, the traders change their books of account and offers Puja at the altar of Goddess Lakshmi. Everybody prays that the next year gets successful and fruitful for everybody. Sweets are distributed to the close relatives. Younger generations seek the blessings from elders so that the Bengali New Year becomes successful and prosperous for all of us. Nababarsha is also celebrated in Bangladesh, on the eastern fringes of India. Apart from West Bengal, the day is celebrated as Vaisakhi in Bihar.
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