Phaggan Explained
Phaggaṇ (Shahmukhi: Panjabi; Punjabi: {{nq|پھگݨ; Gurmukhi: Panjabi; Punjabi: ਫੱਗਣ, pronounced as /pa/) is the twelfth and last month of the Punjabi calendar as well as the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs activities within Sikhism.[1] The Nanakshahi solar month begins on February 12th, after Magh, and ends on March 14th, which marks the start of a new-year and beginning of Chet.[2] The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Magh full moon and ends on the Phaggan full moon.
This month coincides with Phalguna in the Hindu calendar and the Indian National calendar, and February and March of the Gregorian and Julian calendars and is 30 or 31 days long.
Important events during this month
February
- February 12 (1 Phaggaṇ) - The start of the month Phaggaṇ
- February 21 (10 Phaggaṇ) - Saka Nankana Sahib
- February 21 (10 Phaggaṇ) - Jaito Morcha
March
- March 14 (1 Chet) - The end of the month Phaggaṇ and the start of Chet
Hindu Festivals Based on Lunar Dates
- Phaggan 14: Maha Shivratri (ਸ਼ਿਵਰਾਤਰੀ) - A major Hindu festival celebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva and signifying the occasion of his marriage to Parvati. Devotees fast on this day, offer milk and water to Shivalingas, and attend night-long vigils called jagrans.
- Phaggan 23-29: Luhatak (ਲੁਹਾਟਕ) - The inauspicious seven or eight days preceding Holi when all auspicious tasks and ventures such as marriages, new beginnings, business openings, home purchases, and ceremonies are not performed. A wooden pole called the Holika Danda is placed to stand on the ground in a ceremonial ground or courtyard on the first day. For the remaining days, dry wood and cow dung cakes are collected and placed at the Holika Danda to make a large mound for the bonfire. This time is known as Holashtak in other parts of India.
- Phaggan 29: Choti Holi (ਛੋਟੀ\ ਹੋਲੀ) - The last day of Luhatak when devotees and families gather at the Holika Danda mounds to perform a puja, offer cow dung cakes for fuel, and throw wheat grains, mustard seeds, coconuts, and other items onto the mound. Devotees circumambulate around the mound, take one wooden stick out representing Prahlada and then set the mound on fire for protection against evil and harm. This day signifies the saving of Prahlada from Holika by Lord Vishnu.
- Phaggan 30: Holi (ਹੋਲੀ) - The festival of colours and spring dedicated to Radha and Krishna celebrated with the smearing and throwing of gulaal (coloured powders) and spraying of coloured water amongst families, friends, neighbours, and devotees. Sweets and delicacies such as shakkarpare and gujhia along with the intoxicating cannabis drink bhang are consumed on this day. This day marks the time when the young Krishna was teased and made to feel insecure about his dark complexion by his peers. Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about the teasing and the comparison of his dark skin to Radha's fair skin by his peers. To soothe the crying Krishna, Yashoda told him that the complexion and colour of one's skin does not matter and to go colour the faces of Radha, the gopis, and his peers with any colour he wants. Taking his mother's advice seriously, Krishna went and smeared the faces of Radha and his peers with vibrant coloured powders and sprayed them with coloured water.
See also
References
- Book: Mishra, Vinod K. . Calendars of India . Motilal Banarsidass . 2020 . 9788120842762 . 34–35 . 4.3 The Nanakshahi Calendar (Tropical-Solar) - Months of Nanakshahi Calendar.
- Book: Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations . Sep 13, 2011 . Greenwood Publishing Group . 9781598842067 . Melton . J. Gordon . 162–163 . The Nanakshahi Calendar of the Sikhs .
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