Months of the Year in Punjabi-Nanakshahi Calendar

The Nanakshahi calendar is a calendar used by the Sikhs to commemorate the birthdays of the Sikh Gurus and other important events in Sikh history. It was introduced as an alternative to the traditional Bikrami calendar, which is based on Hindu lunar calculations.

Nanakshahi Calendar-- Names of the month are taken from Gurbani 

First 5 months have 31 days

Last 7 months have 30 days

1          Chet                 ਚੇਤ     14 March – 13 April                    Basant (Spring)

2          Vaisakh            ਵੈਸਾਖ    14 April – 14 May                     Basant (Spring)

3          Jeth                  ਜੇਠ      15 May – 14 June                       Garikham (Summer)

4          Harh                ਹਾੜ      15 June – 15 July                       Garisham (Summer)

5          Sawan              ਸਾਵਣ   16 July – 15 August                    Rut Baras (Rainy season)

6          Bhadon            ਭਾਦੋਂ     16 August – 14 September         Rut Baras (Rainy season)

7          Assu                 ਅੱਸੂ     15 September – 14 October        Sard (Autumn)

8          Kattak              ਕੱਤਕ   15 October – 13 November         Sard (Autumn)

9          Maghar            ਮੱਘਰ   14 November – 13 December      Sisiar (Winter)

10        Poh                   ਪੋਹ     14 December – 12 January          Sisiar (Winter)

11        Magh                ਮਾਘ    13 January – 11 February            Himkar (late Winter/early Spring)

12        Phaggan           ਫੱਗਣ   12 February – 13 March              Himkar (late Winter/early Spring)

 (source:wikipedia)

 

Vaisakhi 2020

Wishes for a healthy and happy vaisakhi to all!

This year is the year that we are facing an unprecedented threat to humans-the COVID19 disease. This disease is  caused by a microscopic particle , smaller than the width of your hair but so powerful in its impact that it has brought the entire world to a screeching halt. Aeroplanes, schools, colleges, industries, entire economies are at a stand-still. Hundreds of thousands of people have been infected worldwide and a high cost has already been paid by the human race in terms of the lives that have been lost. It is a matter of time before we will get the better of this microorganism and  sooner or later we will have a vaccine for it (thankfully) that will help save millions of lives from it. But we should be aware that this is not the last virus to challenge our existence, as we continue to overwhelm nature and keep tilting the natural balance more and more in our favor, we will come across many more such challenges. We need to take this moment to roll back on our unhindered consumerism, our unending quest to fulfill our perceived needs, the empty showcasing of our economic status and proofs of our "coolness". Going forward, let's try to lead more meaningful lives in which we balance our acts, as much as possible, with nature, put less demands on natural resources, reconnect with our immediate surroundings, our families and neighbors. If you think about it, that's what we have been forced to do with the almost universal stay-at-home orders, let's learn our lessons while we still have time- stop mistreating our real home--"the earth" and our neighbors--"animals, birds, plants, microbes"  or soon enough we could face a virus or a disease in which we may not even be safe at home!

Be Positive

ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ ਕਿਸੇ ਨਾਲ ਮੁਕਾਬਲਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ, ਫੁੱਲਾਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਅਸੀਂ ਸਭ ਇੱਕ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਵਖਰੇ ਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ਼ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਹਾਂ

Translation: You don't need to compare yourself to anyone else, like flowers we are all different from each other and beautiful in our own way.

Image copyright-Sona@About Punjab (mostly)

Harmandir Sahib, Hussainiwala,Punjab 2018

Har boli sikho, sikhni vi chahidi, par pucci vekh ke kachi nahin dhahidi-Gurdas Maan

Such a great artist..reflects and focuses on all that is good about Punjabi culture- secularism; loyalty; importance of hard-work; humility; respect for parents, teachers , culture, women; love in all its forms and of course the awesome music! 

Here he is singing Challa and Heer during a live performance that I was lucky enough to get to attend. The first video is a little shaky in the beginning but stabilizes after that.

Challa:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rcG8UC1DDA

Heer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4OM0JB3MNw

Enjoy!

Dinanagar

Dawn of a sad and tragic day in Dinanagar/Punjab..hope that the hard wrought peace is not lost..

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33671593

Bhangra, Bhangra, Bhangra!!!!

Good to see our "jaddi" culture thriving so well and its mingling with our adopted culture...