Baisakhi Festival (Mela) Celebrated at Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal

by MJK on April 12, 2009

The three day Baisakhi Festival has begun in Gurdawara Panja Sahib in tehsil Hassan Abdal in Attock district of Pakistan. The Sikh yatris are arriving from all corners of the country as well as from other countries in the world to spend the day at one of their holiest sites in Panja Sahib. For this purpose, the government of Pakistan has provided strict security measures so that the external enemies of Pakistan may not exploit this occasion to further malign Pakistan.

We the people and team of Pro-Pakistan welcome all our guests and wish them a very happy stay in Pakistan.

About Baisakhi Mela:
Baisakhi Mela or Baisakhi Fair is one of the most colourful aspects of Baisakhi celebrations in the state of Punjab. One can find vivid and vibrant colours of life in rural Punjab in such fairs. Happy with the harvest and the ensuing prosperity, men and women dress themselves in their fanciest clothes and participate in the Baisakhi fair with joy and gusto. Various activities have been incorporated in Baisakhi fairs to give people a chance to let their hair loose and enjoy the spirit of life and inner freedom. Most fascinating features of Baisakhi Mela are bhangra and gidda performances. Other activities that enthrall people are races, wrestling bouts, singing and acrobatics. Performance of folk instruments, such as vanjli and algoza is also quite popular. More colours are added to Baisakhi Fairs by the numerous stalls selling bangles, toys, local handicrafts and other trinkets of domestic use. Food stalls are also a major crowd-puller in a Baisakhi Mela. Baisakhi Fairs is marked of Talwandi Sabo. Here, Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the Guru Granth Sahib.

About Gurdwara Panja Sahib:

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji along with Bhai Mardana Ji reached Hasan Abdal in Baisakh Samwat 1578 B.K. corresponding to 1521 ACE in the summer season. Under a shady cool tree, Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana started reciting Kirtan and their devotees gathered around. This annoyed Wali Qandhari but he was helpless.

According to legend, Bhai Mardana was sent three times to Wali Qandhari by (Guru Nanak) so that he would provide him with some water to quench his thirst. Wali Qandhari refused his request and was rude to him. In spite of this, Mardana still very politely stuck to his demand. The Wali ironically remarked : Why don’t you ask your Master whom you serve? Mardana went back to the Guru in a miserable state and said “Oh lord ! I prefer death to thirst but will not approach Wali the egoist.”
The Guru replied ” Oh Bhai Mardana ! Repeat the Name of God, the Almighty; and drink the water to your heart’s content.” The Guru put aside a big rock lying nearby and a pure fountain of water sprang up and began to flow endlessly. Bhai Mardana quenched his thirst and felt grateful to the Guru.

On the other hand, the fountain of Wali Qandhari dried up. On witnessing this, the Wali in his rage threw a part of a mountain towards the Guru from the top of the hill.

The Guru stopped the hurled rock with his hand leaving his hand print in the rock. Observing that miracle, Wali became the Guru’s devotee. This holy and revered place was named Panja Sahib by Hari Singh Nalwa, the most famous general of the Kingdom of the Sikhs.

He is credited with having built the first gurdwara at this place. Gurudwara Panja Sahib is situated at Hasan Abdal, 48 km from Rawalpindi in Pakistan. This is one of the most holy places of Sikhism because of the presence of a rock believed to have the hand print of Guru Nanak imprinted on it. Twice a year, Sikhs visit this Gurdwara from all over the world.

Source: Wikipedia and Baisakhi Festival