Jun 2 2011
Jalandhar Fairs and Festivals
Jalandhar fairs and festivals bear the aura of its inherent mixed culture and reflect the rich heritage it carries since years. Celebrates with lots of pomp and grandeur by those residing in the city, the festivals draw a clear synthesis of the various religions equally participating in the programs. In other way, the fairs and festivals organized at Jalandhar are also considered as the major exponents of music and art. Normally, Jalandhar is widely known for its three festivals – the Harballah Sangeet Mela, Baisakhi Festival and The fair of Baba Sodal.
The Harballabh Sangeet Mela is all about various kinds of cultural music of the area. It is an annual festival celebrated from 27th to 30th December with grandeur in abundance. A tribute, dedicated to the memory of the saint Swami Harballabh, a patron of music, this Sangeet Sammelan is organized on the sacred Devi Talab, where the Samadhi of the saint is built. It is believed that the saint renounced his rich family life to become a devotee of Swami Tulja Gir. During this time, he mastered the art of music propounded and introduced to him by his mentor. The fair is organized by the Sangeet Academy that is put to operation by the aegis of the Harbhallabh Sangeet Mahasabha. A musical soiree is organized with the maestros of music performing on the day of the fair. The Sammelan attracts a huge crowd every years from the neighboring cities as well as people from farthest corner of India and other countries.
Jalandhar is mainly known worldwide for its pompous Baisakhi festival. Celebrated with majestic opulence in abundance, the Baisakhi festival marks the foundation of the Khalsa or the brotherhood community of the Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh. As the name suggest, the festival is considered divine and it marks the beginning of the harvesting season in the villages. During this festival, a procession is organized in which five senior Sikh members or the Panj Pyaras, revered as the emblems of the earlier Gurus, carry the holy book of the Guru Granth Sahib. The harvesting season marked by the Baisakhi festival invigorates life force throughout the region. People from various parts of the country as well as the world come to visit the place during that time.
The fair of Baba Sodal is organised commemorating the death of the child deity, Sodal. According to the popilar belief, Baba Sofal is a divine incarnation and the fair is organized as an annual festival. It is organized on the death anniversary of this child god. The celebrations take place on the 14th of Shukal Paksh comes in the month of September. During the festival,many devotees offer their prayers to this God early in the morning on the day of the feast. This child God has worldwide devotees and pilgrims from the neighboring states flock on the venue together to receive the holy blessing from the deity. After the prayer, the pilgrims normally take a holy dip in the Baba Sodal-Da-Sarowar. On this occasion, the portrait of the deity is claded with garlands and rosaries.
If you have plans to visit Jalandhar during the opulent festivals, make sure to book hotels in advance because a large influx of crowd during the festival season makes it impossible to get proper accommodation.
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