With a “Rang De Basanti” Baisakhi party to welcome spring and an outdoor picnic in summer, United India Association celebrates the ever changing New England seasons.

“We had picked yellow as the theme of our Baisakhi party and we were pleased that most people came dressed in that color” says Pravin Khetrapal who is on the UIA committee. Baisakhi, derived from the month of Vaisakh, is New Year's Day in Punjab. It falls on April 13, though once in 36 years it occurs on 14th April. On this day the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa in 1699. He organized the Sikhs into Khalsa or the pure ones. By doing so, he eliminated the differences of high and low and established that all human beings were equal. The Sikhs, therefore, celebrate this festival as a collective birthday. The bhangra is also performed on Baisakhi with great vigor and enthusiasm. Women, too, break into revelry of dances, principally the Gidda dance, executed with fervor and rhythmic exactitude. On these occasions, men and women adorn themselves with gay-colored clothes and traditional jewelry. For people in villages this festival is a last opportunity for relaxing before they start harvesting of corn.

“Each year we do a Holi party. Since Holi falls in March when the weather is rather unpredictable I proposed that we do a Baisakhi party instead. The committee liked the idea and it was a success” says Shobha Khetrapal. Over 150 people, many of them newcomers, attended the event which was held on the twenty-ninth  of April at the Hibernian Hall in Watertown. The food was catered by India Paradise and the event featured an excellent DJ. The cost was also reasonable. “It was a wonderful way to celebrate the end of the cold New England winter and the beginning of spring” says Khetrapal.


“Now that spring is coming to an end we will celebrate summer with a picnic. We have scheduled a picnic for at  Larz Anderson Park, Brookline on July 30 at  3pm.  We usually provide barbecued chicken, watermelon and corn. People bring some food to share and we have a great time” says Khetrapal.

To learn more about the activities of this association please check out their website at http://www.unitedindia.net.

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