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Introduction 
Amritsar, the gateway for travellers coming to
India by land from Pakistan, is the holy city of the martial race of the Sikhs.
Known for its agricultural produce, woollens, spices and dry fruits. In the year
1579, Amritsar became home to the Golden Temple, the most significant of Sikh
shrines.
History
Founded in 1577 by Ram Das, the forth guru of Sikhs, Amritsar is both the center
of Sikh religion and the major city of Punjab state - where the majority of
Sikhs live. Amritsar, or pool of Nectar, is the name of the sacred pool by which
the Sikh's Golden Temple is built. The original site of the city was granted by
the Moghul emperor, Akbar, but in 1761, Ahmad Shah Durani sacked the town and
destroyed the temple. It was rebuilt in 1764, and in 1802 was roofed over with
copper-gilded plates by Ranjit Singh and became known as 'the Golden
Temple'. It is Amritsar where the smouldering surge
of Independence of our country burst into a full fledged "Flame of
Liberty" in the form of Jallianwala Bagh massacre in which about two
thousand people were killed. In December 1919 the All India Congress Committee
held its session at Goal Bagh in Amritsar, in which most of the National Leaders
participated. The Muslim League also held its session in Amritsar in 1919. Many
buildings were constructed during the British rule.
Festival
Baisakhi
Baisakhi, the festival of spring, is celebrated
here every year on 13th of April. It is all the more auspicious because it is on
this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa panth. Through out the city
the atmosphere is of gaiety and colour. The Guru Granth Sahib is read in all the
Gurdwaras and a procession is carried out in the city. People enjoy be dancing
the Punjabi folk dance bhangra. It is believed that wheat crop is also ready for
harvesting and on this day, farmers start reaping the harvest for which they
have waited patiently. So the occasion is of happiness.
Guru Nanak Jayanti
The festival falls in the month of October. The
day commemorates the birthday of Guru Nanak Devji Maharaj. The Guru Granth Sahib
is read and langars are organized in the Gurdwaras and at homes.
Gurupurabs
On the full moon of Kartik the birth
anniversary of Guru Nanak is celebrated by the devotees with great ardor. Two
days earlier a non-stop reading of the Adi Granth is started. At different
places religious congregations are held and hymns from the Granth Sahib are
chanted. Large processions and are taken out through the towns. At night
buildings are illuminated. The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh is also
celebrated in a similar manner. The third important Gurupurab is the one
associated with the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev.
Lohri
Lohri, which comes on the last day of Poh
(December-January), is another extremely popular festival. This is a special day
for making offerings to fire. When fire is lit up in the evening, orthodox men
and women go round it, pour offerings into it, and bow before it in reverence.
The first Lohri for a new bride, or a new-born babe, is enthusiastically
celebrated, and sweets are distributed.
Maghi
Next day after Lohri comes Maghi, also called
Makar Yonkranti (entry of the sun in the sign or Capricorn). It is very popular
with the punjabis. On this day fairs are held at many places. The people go out
for a holy dip and give away a lot of charity. The special dish of the day is
kheer cooked in sugarcane juice.
Holi
The most colorful and hilarious of all the
festivals, which are celebrated in, Punjab is Holi, celebrated on the full moon
day of Phagun. Holi is a festival of colors. The revelers embrace their friends
and relatives, and go out in groups, embrace their near one another with liquid
colors and gulal. A big fair known as Hola Mohala is held at Anandpur on the
next day after Holi. People come from far-off places to join it.
Best Season
Amritsar has an extreme climate with very hot
summers and very cold winters. Monsoon hits the city around the first week of
July and brings average rainfall. The best time to visit Amritsar is between
October and March.
Travel
Links of Amritsar
News
Papers
Links of Amritsar
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