As the vibrant festival of Baisakhi dawns, marking the Sikh New Year and the spring harvest festival, Arjun Kapoor takes a moment to reflect on its significance, drawing from childhood memories, personal values, and evolving traditions. He acknowledges that the way festivals, including Baisakhi, are celebrated today may differ from the past, but that doesn’t stop him from connecting deeply with the emotions they evoke — a bond rooted in family, food, and faith.
‘Gurdwara aur khaana form the core of my Baisakhi recollections’
Arjun’s early Baisakhi celebrations were shaped not just by the urban environment but also by his Punjabi roots. “My maternal grandparents were from Ambala and my daadi and dada are also Punjabis,” he shares, setting the cultural context. For his family, like many, festivals were synonymous with food. “They celebrate every festival with food,” he recalls. Back home, the celebration largely revolved around communal meals and gurudwara visits. “Toh ghar par jo khaana pakta tha, it was a mark of celebration for that particular festival, and Baisakhi was no different.”
His memories are filled with vivid sensory details. “I remember going to the gurudwara in flashes, because I was very young then. Aur langar lagte the wahaan par toh halwa khaane mein bohot mazaa aata tha. Halwa poori milti thi,” he reminisces. These two elements — gurudwara aur khaana — form the essence of his Baisakhi recollections. The rich halwa served during langar remains especially memorable. “Jo halwa hota tha, uska ghee chipak jaaye na toh poori plate mein shine dikhaayi deti thi. Mujhe woh bohot yaad hai.” That early connection to the gurudwara still resonates. “I find a lot of sukoon in visiting the gurudwara,” he adds.
‘Indian festivals are diverse and inclusive’
He believes festivals today are less about elaborate rituals and more about respecting their essence. He says, “We should celebrate with the awareness that it’s an auspicious day for a particular community. Today it’s Baisakhi for Sikhs, tomorrow it might be Ganpati for Maharashtrians or Durga Puja for Bengalis,” he says.
India’s beauty, he feels, lies in its inclusive spirit. “Aaj ek chhutti hai, jisme aap shaamil ho sakte ho. Agle din doosri community ki chhutti hai, jisme aap shaamil ho sakte hain — and that’s what I love about my country. You don’t need to celebrate it in your house or follow a ritual. It’s all around you.”
‘I wish in my profession we had that one day when we could celebrate our efforts’
Taking a cue from the same spirit of dedication and reward, Arjun wishes the film industry had its own version of Baisakhi. He shares, “I wish in my profession we had that one day in a year when we could celebrate our efforts without stress or agenda. Jab picture chal jaati hai, tab hum bolte hain ki Baisakhi ki tarah we, too, have reaped the benefits. But when things don’t work, one learns and moves on.”
‘Baisakhi is powerfully symbolic’
He also speaks about the deeper cultural and agricultural significance of Baisakhi. “Hindustan kisaano ka desh hai. For me, farmers define what our country is. We’ve always celebrated the fact that anna hum banaate hain and Baisakhi is an important time to reap that harvest.” He acknowledges the immense effort farmers put in over months, often battling nature’s unpredictability. “It’s a festival that shows how hard work finally bears fruit. It symbolises new beginnings, victory, and the ability to feed an entire country,” he adds.
‘Aap celebrate nahi bhi karo lekin festival ki izzat karo’
Commenting on how celebrations have evolved, he recalls the generational refrain: hamaare time mein. He says, “When I was growing up, our parents would say that festivals weren’t celebrated like this, and now we’ve reached that stage ourselves.” He recognises that change is inevitable, accelerated by technology and changing lifestyles. He notes, “Not everybody has the bandwidth to celebrate every function… But as long as there is respect and regard, as long as there’s an honest understanding of what the festivals mean — aap celebrate nahi bhi karo lekin festival ki izzat karo — that’s as respectful as it can be.”
