Celebrating Baisakhi, Puthandu, Vishu, Bihu, and Poila Boishakh through culture and cuisine

Pune: The city's diverse communities are gearing up to celebrate Baisakhi, Poila Boishakh, Vishu, Puthandu and Bihu through songs, dance, and lavish spreads.
The festivities kick off on April 13 as Punjabi households celebrate Baisakhi, the harvest festival that also marks the birth of Khalsa order. Gurudwaras in the city will serve festive langars on this day. Mohindev Singh Kandhari, the spokesperson of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar in Camp, said, "Every year, we organise charity activities such as health check-up camps, and so on. This year, too, we will do charity work."
The next day, April 14, brings a burst of parallel celebrations. Tamil families will mark Puthandu with home rituals, kolams at their doorsteps, and community feasts featuring mangai pachadi and payasam. Meanwhile, Malayali households will observe Vishu, welcoming the New Year with the ceremonial kani and comforting foods like avial, parippu, and golden fried banana chips.
For the Nair community, the celebration will culminate on April 20, when the Kendriya Pune Nair Service Society will host its Vishu event in Pune. "We've always celebrated Onam, but this year we wanted to bring the spirit of Vishu to the city as well," said general secretary Manoj Sadasivan Pillai. The day-long event will feature bharatanatyam, tiruvathira dance, and a skit with an eco-friendly message, followed by a traditional vishu sadhya served to over 2,000 members.
In another pocket of the city, ASOMI, an association of Assamese diaspora in Pune, will host Rangali Bihu celebration on April 12 at Baner's Mauli Garden. This year is especially significant as the group celebrates its 10th anniversary. The event's main attraction will be a live performance by Assamese music star Neel Akash, making his Pune debut. Visitors will be treated to Bihu dance, a fashion show, and food stalls offering masor tenga, tekeli pitha with gur, and more.
Meanwhile, Bengalis in Pune are gearing up for Poila Boishakh on April 15. The Aagomoni Prabasi Sangha will host Nabo Borsho Milan Utsav at The Poona Club. The event will feature Rabindrasangeet recitations by children, a kathak performance, and a singing competition, alongside stalls selling handloom sarees and mishti. "We'll end the evening with a sit-down dinner of rui macher kalia, chicken kasturi, and Kolkata-style street snacks like Russian cutlets and aloo chaat," says Rajesh Barman, the association's president.
Restaurants across Pune have also joined in, rolling out special menus celebrating these traditions and offering locals a chance to savour the festive flavours.
Pic credit: ASOMI
Pune: The city's diverse communities are gearing up to celebrate Baisakhi, Poila Boishakh, Vishu, Puthandu and Bihu through songs, dance, and lavish spreads.
The festivities kick off on April 13 as Punjabi households celebrate Baisakhi, the harvest festival that also marks the birth of Khalsa order. Gurudwaras in the city will serve festive langars on this day. Mohindev Singh Kandhari, the spokesperson of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar in Camp, said, "Every year, we organise charity activities such as health check-up camps, and so on. This year, too, we will do charity work."
The next day, April 14, brings a burst of parallel celebrations. Tamil families will mark Puthandu with home rituals, kolams at their doorsteps, and community feasts featuring mangai pachadi and payasam. Meanwhile, Malayali households will observe Vishu, welcoming the New Year with the ceremonial kani and comforting foods like avial, parippu, and golden fried banana chips.
For the Nair community, the celebration will culminate on April 20, when the Kendriya Pune Nair Service Society will host its Vishu event in Pune. "We've always celebrated Onam, but this year we wanted to bring the spirit of Vishu to the city as well," said general secretary Manoj Sadasivan Pillai. The day-long event will feature bharatanatyam, tiruvathira dance, and a skit with an eco-friendly message, followed by a traditional vishu sadhya served to over 2,000 members.
In another pocket of the city, ASOMI, an association of Assamese diaspora in Pune, will host Rangali Bihu celebration on April 12 at Baner's Mauli Garden. This year is especially significant as the group celebrates its 10th anniversary. The event's main attraction will be a live performance by Assamese music star Neel Akash, making his Pune debut. Visitors will be treated to Bihu dance, a fashion show, and food stalls offering masor tenga, tekeli pitha with gur, and more.
Meanwhile, Bengalis in Pune are gearing up for Poila Boishakh on April 15. The Aagomoni Prabasi Sangha will host Nabo Borsho Milan Utsav at The Poona Club. The event will feature Rabindrasangeet recitations by children, a kathak performance, and a singing competition, alongside stalls selling handloom sarees and mishti. "We'll end the evening with a sit-down dinner of rui macher kalia, chicken kasturi, and Kolkata-style street snacks like Russian cutlets and aloo chaat," says Rajesh Barman, the association's president.
Restaurants across Pune have also joined in, rolling out special menus celebrating these traditions and offering locals a chance to savour the festive flavours.
Pic credit: ASOMI