By Balwant Sanghera
April is a very important month for the South Asian community in general and Sikhs in particular. For Sikhs, Vaisakhi is a festive and holy celebration. In India, it is the beginning of the harvesting season. Before starting the season, people celebrate in various ways. According to the Punjabi calendar, the harvesting season begins in the month of Vaisakh.As such, the festival is named Vaisakhi. For the Sikhs, Vaisakhi marks the birth of the Khalsa (the Pure One). Throughout the month of April, Vaisakhi and the birth of the Khalsa is being celebrated around the globe.
What took place on the Vaisakhi Day (April 13) in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib in the Punjab, changed history forever. By bringing to-gether thousands of people from every part of India, tenth and last guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh ji had set in motion very unique phenomena. By creating the Khalsa, Guru ji gave a distinct identity to the Sikhs. It was a clarion call for universal brotherhood and standing up not only for one’s own rights but also for those who are unable to defend themselves. This process had been under way since the advent of Guru Nanak Dev ji, founder of the Sikh religion. Our tenth Guru reinforced Guru Nanak Dev’s vision of a society free of caste, inequality, discrimination, prejudice and superstition. Sikhs around the globe celebrate Vaisakhi and the birth of the Khalsa with great enthusiasm. In Vancouver, it has been going on since 1979.
Like every other year, this year’s celebration under the auspices of Khalsa Diwan Society, Vancouver will take place on April 13. Close to 150,000 participants are expected to attend this celebration in the form of a Nagar Kirtan. . This year also marks the centenary of the Jalianwala Bagh massacre whereby a large number of innocent men, women and children were ruthlessly murdered and injured on April 13, 1919 at Jalianwala Bagh gathering place in Amritsar by British colonial authorities at that time.
The Nagar Kirtan in Surrey will be held on the following Saturday, April 20. Approximately 500,000 devotees are expected to attend this celebration. Like every year there will be plenty of free food, delicacies, tea and drinks along the entire route both in Vancouver and Surrey.
India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, 8600#5 Road in Richmond will be celebrating Vaisakhi on Sunday, April 14. A large number of dignitaries are expected to attend the celebration beginning at 10 AM. To commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Richmond RCMP has prepared a special pin for this occasion. Superintendent Will Ng along with his officers will be presenting this pin to the Gurdwara Management Committee. Public is cordially invited to this celebration.
This celebration of the birth of the Khalsa is a celebration of our Gurus’ vision of a society free of caste, inequality, discrimination, prejudice and superstition. However, at the same time, this is also an impressive display of this country’s proud policy of inclusion and multiculturalism.
More than thirty million Sikhs worldwide, including more than 700,000 in Canada, take great pride in celebrating this historic occasion. By all accounts, these celebrations in Canada are a great credit not only to the Sikhs but also to this beautiful and wonderful country of ours. Happy Vaisakhi!
Balwant Sanghera is a retired School Psychologist and Community Activist.
