Bishu Festival: Keonthal Welcomes the New Year with Tradition and Togetherness

The Keonthal region came alive with colors, flavors, and age-old customs as locals celebrated the three-day-long Baisakhi festival, fondly known as Bishu. Considered the first festival of the year, Bishu is more than just a celebration—it’s a heartfelt prayer for happiness and prosperity, deeply rooted in tradition.

Despite changing times, the unique custom of making flour goats continues to thrive, symbolizing the community’s bond with its heritage. Elders recall that Bishu has always marked the arrival of the New Year, beginning two days before Sankranti. Families prepare special dishes each night: Siddu on the first, sweet flour goats the next, and Askaliya on the third. On Sankranti day, homes are filled with the aroma of Patanda and Kheer, while garlands of rhododendron flowers adorn doorways, believed to bring good fortune.

The festival is also a time for devotion, as families visit temples of their deities to seek blessings. Literary figure Sherjang Chauhan highlighted another cherished tradition—before Sankranti, families visit their married daughters and sisters, bringing gifts and festive cheer, a gesture eagerly awaited by the women.

For the people of Keonthal, Bishu is not just a festival; it is a living reminder of their cultural roots, celebrated with joy, food, and faith year after year.