No longer in sync with crop harvest, Baisakhi retains its joie de vivre
Baisakhi, the vibrant festival of harvest, is just around the corner, but presently, it seems to be out of sync with the traditional rhythm of the agricultural cycle. The festival, which is typically celebrated after the wheat harvesting, is only two days away, yet farmers are still waiting for their crops to ripen.
With no harvest as yet, the farmers said that it would take another seven to 10 days for the crop to be ready for harvest.
The Punjab Mandi Board had announced the start of wheat procurement from April 1, but so far, not even a single farmer has arrived with the harvest. This delay is not a new phenomenon, according to farmers.
“It is not just this season. Harvesting has been getting delayed for years due to late sowing,” said Harnam Singh, a farmer from Jhabal. He said that in their childhood, farmers used to start harvesting before Baisakhi. “Times have changed now,” he observed.
The shift to machine harvesters has also changed the way farmers approach harvesting. “Earlier, we used to harvest crops by hand, and the grain would dry while waiting for threshing,” said Balwant Singh, another farmer.
“Now, with machine harvesters, the harvesting season gets over within a week,” he added.
However, despite the change in farming practices, the essence of Baisakhi remains the same – a celebration of the harvest season. However, it is now celebrated before the actual harvesting takes place. “Farming has become easier with machines. Even the seeds have changed. Moreover, due to paddy cultivation, sowing of wheat gets delayed,” said Mandeep Singh of Shukar Chak village in Tarn Taran.
As farmers await the ripening of their crops, they look forward to celebrating Baisakhi with the same fervour and enthusiasm that has been passed down through generations. The festival may not get synchronised with the harvest this year, but its significance remains unchanged – a time to rejoice over the bounty of nature and the hard work of farmers.
Amritsar