Vaisakhi or Baisakhi in Trafalgar Square, London
Vaisakhi will be celebrated in Trafalgar Square in London this year on the 5th May 2009 from 12:00 to 5:30pm. This year will be 300 years since the coconsecration of Guru Granth Sahib as an eternal Guru.
Time Event
12pm Shabad Kirtin (religious hymns) performed by groups from Gurdwaras in London
2.15pm Live music, dance, guest artists and DJs from Sunrise Radio
3 – 4pm Speeches and presentations
3.30pm More live music and dance
5.30pm Event ends
Categories: Religions, Sikh Tags: 4pm, baisakhi, dance, djs, guest artists, gurdwaras, guru granth sahib, hymn, london, music and dance, music dance, radio 3, religious hymns, speeches, sunrise radio, time event, trafalgar square
Vaisakhi or Baisakhi
Vaisakhi has very long history relating to harvesting in the Punjab before having a significant linked to the Sikh religion. In 1699 AD, Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Guru) chose the day of Vaisakhi at Anandpur Sahib to transform the Sikhs into ‘Khalsa Panth’ or soldier saints in the presents of thousands.
Guru Gobind Singh emerged from a tent with a sword and called out to the people if anyone would give their life away to come into the tent with him. A person came forward and went into the tent, some time later Guru Gobind Singh came out to the crowd with a blood stained sword, and asked if anyone else would come forward. Eventually, 5 people succesion came from the crowd went into the tent before Guru Gobind Singh came out with the five men, alive and well, now all wearing turbans. These five men became known as the ‘Panj Piare’ (i.e. the five beloved ones). The 5 were then baptised with holy water (or Amrit ~ immortalising nectar) by Guru Gobind Singh into the Khalsa brotherhood.
The Way it is Celebrated
Sikh temples or Gudwaras are decorated and visited. It a day were Sikh males chose to be part of the Khalsa. Singing and dancing and parades go on throughout the day
Categories: Festivals, Sikh Tags: baisakhi, beloved ones, crowd, five men, guru gobind singh, holy water, khalsa, khalsa brotherhood, nectar, panth, parades, punjab, sahib, saints, Sikh, sikh religion, sikhs, soldier, temples, tent, turbans, vaisakhi
