It’s pure Punjabi tashan at this year’s Vaisakhi Mela

especially the traditional makki di rotti and sarson da saag

BY KOMAL JAGAD

The traditional crop festival of Punjab, Vaisakhi has grown over the years to become one of the Punjabi people’s most keenly celebrated events. Far they may be from the fields of agrarian Punjab, but the Punjabis of Australia party anyway on this occasion. The leafy green fields of Blacktown Showground played host to the Vaisakhi Mela (Fair) this year. What better way to mark the New Year of the Sikh community, than to have a day in the sun with music, fun, food and jollity.

Sydney’s Panjabi Sangeet Centre has been organising the Fair for the last 24 years. This time round, it was merriment everywhere as nearly 10,000 people, all from mixed backgrounds, hailed the cultural fiesta, the food stalls, the dance performances, the congregation of communities and much more.

A hearty invocation to God with beautiful Sikh prayers initiated the ceremony at 10am. The event was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, reflecting the importance of multiculturalism and celebrating Australia’s cultural diversity. President Harkirat Sandhar and Director Devinder Dharia from the Panjabi Sangeet Centre were instrumental in organising the festival with a prime focus to promote Punjab’s rich culture.

With dhols playing in the background, the mood was set for the party. A series of performances and songs entertained the crowd soon after. 400 participants with 50 different performances filled the day’s schedule. Bubbling dancers like the Aakriti Group, Hasrat Sandhar and Raunak were encouraged for their Bhangra, Gidda and Bollywood dances and so were the singers like Sonu, Bablu, Gurmail Singh, Saleem and Sukh Dharia. It was Jhoom Barabar Jhoom time when Bollywood chartbusters such as Ishq Shava from Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Chammak Chalo from RaOne, Radha from Student Of The Year got everyone to go shaava shaava.

The food stalls serving Indian delicacies had taste buds twirling

Donning sequined Anarkali styled suits and colourful kurtis, the venue turned into a reflection of vibrant rainbowed hues.

The kids were kept suitably occupied with a jumping castle, a dashing car arena and a merrygo-round, as parents got involved in a bit of their own play: musical chairs, tug-o-war and Chatti Race (a ladies’ race while balancing an earthen pot on the head). Traditional touches like Chatti Race are the key to such congregations. The Chatti Race was a novel event for the kids, who have not had a chance to witness Indian festivals at their origin, although they would know about Quidditch from the Harry Potter world. Unraveling our tradition to the little ones is an integral part of these cultural fairs.

A lot of community support was extended to emphasize this.

Attending the celebrations were Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism Senator Matt Thistlewaite; Members of Parliament including Michelle Rowland, Ed Husic, Nathan Rees, Julie Owens and David Elliott; first Punjabi minister in Canada Parm Dhaliwal; and others including Harish Velji, Karnail Singh, Ejaz Khan, Amarinder Bajwa, Mansoor and Pravez.

A big pat on the back for the Panjabi Sangeet Centre for their continued efforts in promoting the best of Punjabi culture here.