We would like to wish all our residents that follow the Sikh faith a happy Vaisakhi!
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is celebrated by Sikhs around the world. This year it falls on Saturday 13 April, marking the start of the Sikh new year and the birth of the Sikh religion.
On this day in 1699, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, created the Khalsa Panth (the community of committed Sikhs), which shaped the faith as it is practised today.
Five volunteers were initiated and given a new surname, Singh, meaning lion. They came to be known as the Panj Pyare (the five beloved). Women are given the surname Kaur, meaning princess or lioness. These surnames represent equality within all humanity. By having the same surname, all people are shown to be equal before God.
The Khalsa was founded to create a group of committed Sikhs who would dedicate their lives to uphold the values and teachings of the Sikh Gurus. The Khalsa were prepared to stand up to injustice and oppression, to protect innocent people from all forms of persecution, to promote and foster spiritual observance, and to promote honesty and equality.
Sikhs are initiated into the Khalsa through the Amrit Sanchar ceremony, a Sikh initiation ceremony, which is why Khalsa Sikhs are referred to as Amritdhari. Amrit (nectar) is prepared from a mixture of sugar, symbolising sweetness, and water, symbolising purity, stirred by a double-edged sword, which symbolises strength. Amrit is sprinkled onto the eyes and hair and then drunk by the person being initiated.
On Vaisakhi, Gurdwaras hold Akhand Path Sahib, Nagar Kirtan, and raise the Nishan Sahib flag. Sikh families come together to pray, socialise and share festive foods.
Other religions which celebrate Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi is also a festival in Hinduism. For Hindus, Vaisakhi marks an ancient harvest festival and the solar new year. Hindus mark this day by taking the ritual dip in the Holy waters of the Ganga and offer flowers and worship to the Goddess River.
This festival is also celebrated as the New Year amongst many Indian communities following the Solar calendar, including the Tamil community which celebrates the Tamil Puthandu or the Tamil New Year on Vaisakhi day.
Vaisakhi, also known as Vesakha, is an important day for Buddhists as well. Celebrated throughout the Buddhist community as Buddha Purnima, it commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. On this day, various temples hoist the Buddhist flag before dawn and sing hymns in praise of the holy triple gem: The Buddha (Guru), The Dharma (his teachings) and The Sangha (his disciples).
