Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; April 12, 2025)
With Baisakhi approaching, singer-composer Sukhwinder Singh reflects on the festival that shaped his early years. Known for chartbusters like Beedi, Taal Se Taal, Fashion Ka Jalwa, Haule Haule, Kar Har Maidan Fateh, Jai Ho, and more recently Doubtwa, Sukhwinder shares memories of celebrating Baisakhi in his village. In this exclusive conversation with BT, he speaks about his musical beginnings, the global rise of Punjabi music, and his hope for a drug-free, healthier Punjab.
What does Baisakhi mean to you?
Baisakhi is a celebration of all your efforts throughout the year. Farmers reap their harvest, sell their grains, earn so, it’s also the vaisakhee (or crutch), ek sahara hai jo aapko aane wale saal mein kaam aaye. Yeh poore Hindustan ka New Year hai, khaas taur par Punjabiyon ka. Baisakh pehla mahina hai, pehla season.
Is this just a festival, or does it go deeper than that for you?
I have beautiful, fond memories of Baisakhi from childhood. In Punjab, you’ll see one colour everywhere during Baisakhi, safed. White kurtas, white dhotis, white padgis. It represents purity, celebration, chamakta hai. Main bachpan mein bhi white libas, white chappal and padgi pehenta tha and I’d sing shabads at the gurdwara. I was just seven when people first heard my voice, and it was Gurbani. Guru Granth Sahib is the only scripture iss Brahmand mein where every hymn is based on a Raag. That’s the deep, divine connection between music and spirituality we have. Today I have worn a blue turban, signifying courage, patriotism and spiritual strength.
Any fond memories from your pind?
On Baisakhi, main gurdwara mein mattha tekta tha, and the whole town would be buzzing with rang-birangi Punjabi songs. I’d sing boliyan, rhythmic couplets that bring people together. Also, bhangra is huge during Baisakhi! The energy would be electric. There’d be competitions everywhere, and it’s said that on Baisakhi, more than sawa lakh dhols beat together across Punjab. Though it’s a farmers’ festival and marks a new year, Baisakhi belongs to everyone, every religion, every community.
You mentioned food plays a big role in Baisakhi. What’s your most memorable food tradition?
Kam se kam do kilo mithaiyan kha jaata tha, and not the kind you go out and buy! Mithaiyon ke langar lag jaate the. Jalebi was the star, followed by imartis, rasgullas the size of apples, and crunchy patisas, (similar to soan papdi). But our favourites were always from the langar, because they were free and full of love! I remember I used to get sweets from everyone in the village because I’d sing for them. Aur sabse zyada pasand tha crispy, garma-garam jalebiyan!
Apart from food and bhangra, what other Baisakhi rituals do you remember?
One big highlight used to be kushti! Every village would have a wrestling competition. And the prizes? Pure desi style! Winners would get 100 kg of ghee, a giant cannister of milk, 500 kg of almonds. I remember seeing wrestlers gulp down a kilo of ghee right after winning.
You speak about your village with such love. What do you miss the most?
The culture and purity. The air, the food, even the silence has healing in it. No pollution, no cement, no chaos. Pind di mitti is magical. I still apply Multani mitti to my face regularly. No makeup. Gaon ki mitti ka asar hi alag hota hai.
How are you celebrating Baisakhi this year?
Baisakhi ek din nahi hota for us, its like Diwali, the buzz is for a week. This year, I’m performing in Ras Al-Khaimah, and from there I’ll fly straight to Amritsar. I’ll have langar ki mithai there. Even though I can get sweets anywhere, there’s nothing like the taste of langar. Uska swad hi kuch aur hai. I’m also wearing a special seven-coloured turban this time, satrangi pagdi. Isse badi Taj Poshi kya hogi? On Baisakhi, I forget I’m a celebrity and sing wherever I feel like. I’ll eat jalebis, laal surkh gulab jamuns, and doodh-patti ki chai (tea without water, just milk).
When did you first realize music was your true calling?
Aadat pad gayi thi gaane ki bachpan se. I gave up kites and all those fun childhood games because music had taken over. I didn’t need much, just a harmonium, a percussionist. Back then, people around me, my mentors, believed that if a child was drawn to music, it meant he was straying from studies. But for me, music gave my soul peace and my heart joy. Itna energy aur sukoon milta tha, how to stay away from that? So I chose music and left everything else behind. I went go to Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and would sing bhajans and shabads. The aura there, wahi mera maata-pita ban gaya.
Punjabi music has exploded globally. Why do you think it connects so deeply across cultures?
Punjab ke log zindadil hote hain, they live life king-size, even while staying within limits, maryada mein. Dushman ke saamne bhi unki awaaz khuli hoti hai, and that same energy shows up in our celebrations, our music. That’s why our instruments are bold too, dhol baja toh dharti hile. Punjab’s spirit, its poetry, its raw power, people all over the world feel it in our beats. There’s no small-scale celebration in Punjab! I’ve added Punjabi flavour to Bollywood with Aaj Mera Jee Karda (Monsoon Wedding), Chaiyya Chaiyya (Dil Se), Layi Vi Na Gayee (Chalte Chalte) and more. The rhythm, the vibe, the energy, it’s infectious!
What’s your Baisakhi wish for Punjab?
I wish for a drug-free Punjab. Punjab ko isse bhaitareen Baisakhi ka tohfa koi nahi ho sakta. I want my Punjab to return to its original glory — strong, healthy, proud.
Punjab abhi duwidha mein hain. Paani tak ka problem hai. One of the oldest rivers there has become black with chemical pollution. Punjab ke safed libas mein dard ke dhabbe hain.
Baisakhi dish you can’t resist:
Jalebi! And in savoury, samosa with teekhi chatni.
One Punjabi phrase that always makes you smile:
Ki haal hai? So simple, yet full of warmth.
Your go-to Baisakhi songs to set the mood:
Aaj Mera Jee Karda, it captures the Baisakhi spirit perfectly. And of course, Jugni, Jugni!