Students in Jalandhar schools celebrate Baisakhi with fun activities, cultural performances

Students of Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, and Apeejay School, Tanda Road, in Jalandhar, organised an enthralling programme to celebrate Baisakhi, a harvest festival of the Punjabis. The event was held in line with Apeejay’s mission of apprising children of the country’s rich cultural heritage through fun and engaging activities with their peers.

On the occasion, jubilant students donned their best ethnic festive attire. They enjoyed exciting rides, fun games and music and delicious food at the stalls set up for Baisakhi mela. Tiny tots made colourful crafts, from dhol to dancing stick figures. Even parents enthusiastically participated in various fun-filled activities.

Not only did the students enjoy themselves in a vibrant and colourful Baisakhi mela but also gave several magical and mesmerising performances.

Sangeeta Nistandra, principal, Apeejay School Mahavir Marg and Tanda Road, graced the occasion and extended heartfelt wishes to the students, parents and the teachers. She enlightened the students about the history and significance of the festival.

“As per the Hindu culture, this festival celebrates the solar new year, based on the Vikram Samvat calendar. It marks the first day of the month of Baisakha,” the principal said. “The day is celebrated as a spring harvest festival by Hindus and Sikhs. The main significance of this festival is that it marks the birth of the Sikh order which started after the persecution and execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur for refusing to convert to Islam under the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The coronation of the tenth Guru of Sikhism and the historic formation of Khalsa, both took place on this day.”

She added, “The other significance associated with this day is that Ranjit Singh was proclaimed as Maharaja of the Sikh Empire on 12 April 1801 (to coincide with Baisakhi), which created a unified political state. Sahib Singh Bedi, a descendant of Guru Nanak, conducted the coronation.”

The students also remembered the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that colonial British empire officials committed at a gathering during Baisakhi, an event influential to the Indian movement against colonial rule.

Overall, Apeejay students celebrated the festival with great fervour and went home with happy memories.