Vaisakhi is an important Sikh celebration

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This article was published 12/03/2018 (2997 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 

Every year, in mid-April, Sikh communities worldwide celebrate Vaisakhi.

 

For centuries, Vaisakhi celebrations marked the spring harvest in the Punjab region of India. Farmers celebrate the occasion with community gatherings and festivals.

This year the Vaisakhi festival falls on April 14.

Northwest Winnipeg is home to the largest Punjabi community in Winnipeg. Just north of Amber Trails are the offices of the Sikh Society of Manitoba, located in the huge, beautiful Gurudwara (Sikh temple complex). On Vaisakhi day, the temple will host a series of religious, historical and cultural activities.

“As Sikhs, our faith, cultural activities and hard work are some of the features that hold our community together and Vaisakhi is a very important festival,” said Sukhdev Singh Brar, president of the Sikh Society of Manitoba.

In 1699, Vaisakhi took on a very special religious significance for the Sikh community. In that year, the 10th of the Sikh prophets, Guru Gobind Singh, invited his disciples to join him in the city of Anandpur Sahib. At that gathering, Guru Gobind Singh formally established the Khalsa Panth (the formal order of community of committed Sikhs) and he delegated leadership responsibilities to the members.

Additionally, Guru Gobind Singh standardized the core of discipline, practice, and identity by which the Sikh community continues to be guided. 

The modern era’s annual Vaisakhi (always vibrant and colourful) celebrations include Sikhs coming together to commemorate and reflect on the 1699 historic event. 

Vaisakhi is also an occasion for celebrating the progress of the community, the shared values and history.  

 

Derek Dabee is a community correspondent for The Maples. You can contact him at ddabee@mymts.net