Baisakhi celebrated in region

Chandigarh, Apr 14 (UNI) Baisakhi, the vibrant harvest festival and birthday of Khalsa panth, was celebrated with traditional zeal and gaiety in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh Union Territory today.

Thousands of people thronged religious places and took a dip in the holy tanks, sarovars and rivers at various places in the region on ''Diwans'' and free kitchens were organised at places of worship to mark the festivities.

A large number of people visited the Golden temple and the Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar and took a dip in the holy tanks there.

People thronged the historic gurdwaras at Muktsar and other places, including Anandpur Sahib, the birth place of 'Khalsa' and paid obeisance.

A big baisakhi fair was held at Talwandi Sabo in Bhatinda district where Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal paid obeisance at Gurdwara Takth Damdama Sahib..

In Haryana, people thronged the holy Brahamsarovar at Kurukshetra and took dip there. A large number of people also visited Kapal Mochan temple in Yamunanagar district and took a dip at the holy sarovar there.

In Himachal Pradesh, thousands of people took dips at various places in the Beas, Sutlej, Ravi and Yamuna rivers and sacred tanks attatched to temples and lakes. Special congregations were held at various gurdwaras in Chandigarh Union Territory on the occasion.

Reports of enthusiastic ''baisakhi'' celebrations also came in from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Ropar, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Karnal, Panipat, Ambala, Poanta Sahib, Nahan, Solan, Mandi, Hamirpur, Kangra and Chamba.

UNI