Joyous occasions brings the young and the old together in celebrations

Festivals

Baisakhi - The Spring Festival is celebrated with great pomp and show at Amritsar every year on April 13th. It is on this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth. The Guru Granth Sahib is recited in all the gurudwaras in the city and a procession is taken out on the city streets. Farmers also ready themselves for reaping the wheat crop with the coming of Baisakhi.

Diwali - The festival of lights gives more than enough reason for the people of Amritsar to be dressed in their finest and to enjoy sweets and other delicacies especially prepared for the occasion. It was on the eve of Diwali that Guru Hargobind Singh returned to Amritsar after having been imprisoned by Jehangir. The Golden Temple and the city were splendidly illuminated then on the occasion and the same tradition continues even today. The diwali festivities continue for 3 days in which a display of fireworks is the special attraction.

Guru Nanak Jayanti - The birthday of Guru Nanak Dev is celebrated as Guru Nanak Jayanti in the month of October. The Guru Granth Sahib is read in all the gurudwaras and community kitchen or langars are organized at gurudwaras and at homes.

Fairs and Other Events

Ram Tirath Fair - This ancient pilgrimage place dating back to the Ramayana falls about 11 km west of Amritsar. A big fair is held here every year, a fortnight after Diwali. The fair, which lasts for 5 days, sees an attendance of over a lakh. Pilgrims, devotees consider it very auspicious to have a holy dip in the tank at Sage Valmiki's hermitage. Lord Hanuman is believed to have dug the tank. Children can enjoy riding the merry-go-round, the ferris wheels, enjoy magic shows, acrobatic shows etc. A procession is taken out on the last day of the fair.