Farm fresh

Raise a toast to the harvesters; join in theu00a0Baisakhi celebrations with an upcoming festival of Sufi and traditional culture

While Farmville has kept the bosses fuming, at least it has taught its users what it takes to be a farmer. And now that each of us is a virtual cultivator, Baisakhiu00a0-- the festival which shows gratitudeu00a0 towards god for good harvest --u00a0has gained all the more importance. This weekend, a Baisakhi festival will take you closer to the meanings of the festival. Read on.



Dilli that's Punjab
Everything may not be going right with the Capital, be itu00a0 the ever rising crime rate or heavy traffic, but what's sou00a0 pleasantly true about the city is that it welcomes and accepts everyone who comes here looking for a better life.

Even then it wouldn't be wrong to say that there's a lot of Punjabi influence in food we eat, the songs we play and the way we behave. Every Delhiite is a bit of Punjabi. And it's this aspect that the festival this year will focus on.u00a0

The venue will be a replication of a traditional Punjabi village completed with stalls of teekha cuisines like sarson da saag and makke de roti, special papad wadiyan of Amritsar, exhibitions of handicrafts like phulkari work, Punjabi Patiala jooti, dupatta, paranda, handcrafted inlay wooden furniture from Hoshiarpur and musical shows with traditional instruments like bugdu, been, damru. The festival will also witness stunts by marshal arts professionals.u00a0 Dr Rawail Singh, the organiser of the festival says, "Various artists from Punjab have been called to perform at the festival. Unlike in 2009, when the show happened only in the evenings, this year, the festival will have events throughout the day.

Catch them young
Talking about the pulse of the festival, Dr Singh said: "In Delhi, Punjabi music is famous not only among the community, but in other sections as well. This festival will be as a platform for all the communities to come together. There is a performance by Sufi artist Zila Khan and duet singers Manak Ali-Nanak Ali. Pammi Bai and Sarabjeet Cheema will be performing on the second day of the event." Singh adds: "If you want to buyu00a0 showpieces for your home, visit the phulkari and furniture stalls."
Now you know why fun starts this weekend.

At: Salwan Public School, Pusa Road
When: April 10 and 11
Timings: 1 pm to 10 pm