Governor, CM greet people on Baisakhi

by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 12

 The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Mr  Shivraj V. Patil today extended greetings to all Punjabis living in country and abroad on the eve of Baisakhi.

        In a message, Mr. Patil said that Baisakhi has a multi-faceted importance. It marks the ripening of the Rabi harvest, a time of great joy for the farmers to gather the fruits of their hard labour.

        The Governor further said that this auspicious occasion has a special significance in the glorious history of Sikhism, as on this day in 1699, the 10th Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh founded the ‘Order of Khalsa’ to fight against the tyranny of the Mughals and to preserve human and secular values, who sacrificed his entire family for this cause.

        Mr. Patil further said that this day also marked a watershed in our freedom movement in 1919 many known and un-known martyrs sacrificed their lives on this day, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, for attainment of freedom. This massacre gave a great impetus to the freedom movement.

        The Governor appealed to the people to celebrate this festival collectively rising above considerations of caste, creed and religion in a spirit of harmony, social cohesion and national unity of our Country.

 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the Punjabis across the globe on the sacred occasion of Vaisakhi that symbolize the spirit of Punjab, Punjabi & Punjabiat and unity in diversity.
In a message on the eve of Vaisakhi, Mr. Badal reminded the people of our centuries old rich and glorious cultural heritage and said that on this auspicious day in 1699 Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji - the Tenth Master of the Sikhs created ‘Order of Khalsa’ at the holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib by baptizing ‘Panj Pyaras (beloved ones) belonging to different castes thereby carving out an egalitarian society and preaching the wisdom of love and compassion for mankind besides
universal brotherhood and communal harmony. Mr. Badal also said that this festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and ripening of Rabi crops.
On the occasion, Mr. Badal called upon the people to celebrate this auspicious festival in unison with traditional fervour and gaiety to strengthen the secular and social fabric of our country.

The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Bada, felicitated the people of the Punjab on the eve of Baisakhi.

          In a message Mr. Badal said that this festival has a great significance for the farmers of Punjab as this day traditionally marks the beginning of harvest of Rabi crops, on a joyous note. This harvest festival is indeed an occasion for them to rejoice over their fruits of toil and for all of us also to acknowledge Punjabi farmers' significant contribution in making our country self-sufficient on the front of food security.

          Mr. Badal said that this festival has also a great religious significance for Sikhs as on this day  in the year 1699 at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh ji established Khalsa Panth,  a body of people dedicated to the principles of truth, justice, and equality; the cardinal principles of Sikh faith.

          He reminded that the massacre of hundreds of innocent Punjabis by the British at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on this day in the year 1919 proved as the last nail in the coffin of British rule in India.

          The Deputy Chief Minister exhorted the people to celebrate this festival collectively and utilize this day to pay our gratitude to all those freedom fighters, who laid their lives so that we all can breathe in freedom. Let us also acknowledge the contribution of humble farmers who are working day and night to feed the nation, he added.