Punjabis, Tamilians welcome their New Year

INDORE: The aroma of traditional mango "pachdi" wafted up from Vijayalakshmi Iyengar's home. Her Tamilian family celebrated their new year - Puthandu- on Monday in a traditional way with scrumptious delicacies like "pachadi" - a mixture of sweet, sour and bitter tasting ingredients such as mango, jaggery and neem leaves which symbolize the different flavors and colors of life.
Punjabi community, at the same time, had gala time with celebrations of Baisakhi, their harvest festival.
"Pachadi is one of the most important dishes we Tamilians prepare on the New Year," said Vijayalakshmi. Another reveler Padmini Khajanchi said any festival is incomplete without the blessings of elders. "Children are given gifts and money by parents. Families visit temples and also seek blessings of elders for a prosperous year ahead," Padmini said.
Meanwhile, the Punjabi community from the city thronged gurudwaras and celebrated Baisakhi with religious fervour. "Guru Gobind Singh, the last Sikh guru, founded a new sect Khalsa in 1699 on this day," said industrialist Gurmeet Singh Narang.
"The celebrations were completed with 'akhand paath'. Following this, 'kirtan darbaar' was held. Gurbani was recited on the occasion," Guru Singh sabha president Manjeet Singh Bhatia said. The "ragis" singers came from Amritsar and 'atoot langar' (community kitchen) was also organized. Around 10,000 people from different religions attended the langar.
"The magnificent 'nagar kirtan' (procession), one of the main celebrations, began on Saturday," Khalsa Academy president Ranveer Singh Hora said.