Celebrating Vaisakhi with the entire community

Vaisakhi is a Sikh holiday that celebrates the creation of the Khalsa order dating back to a harvest festival born in the Punjabi region of northern India.

Sikh communities around the world celebrate Vaisakhi in April.

“It’s open to all ages, everyone from different faiths and backgrounds is welcome to come and enjoy,” said Pav Gill, Kamloops Sikh Cultural Society member and spokesman.

At the Kamloops-based event this weekend — Saturday, April 29 —the Kamloops Sikh Cultural Society is inviting everyone from the Kamloops area to join in the celebration, which promotes justice and equality in society.

“Locally for the community, since we have a large Sikh population, it’s a celebration of the creation of Khalsa and the five beloved ones,” Gill said.

“It’s a time of everybody coming together to celebrate, also people who are non-Sikhs to come out and celebrate, as well.”

The day-long celebration, which began in 1869 with Guru Gobind Singh Ji, will begin with a flag ceremony on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Sikh Cultural Society Gurudwara in Brocklehurst, at 700 Cambridge Cres.

The holy flag — known as Nishan Sahib — is taken down and replaced with a new flag during this process, which includes washing the flag pole in milk and yogurt, then in water to symbolize cleanliness and purity.

The community — Sikh and non-Sikh alike — are welcome to meet outside the Gurudwara to witness the event.

“We just keep getting bigger and bigger every year,” Gill said, noting about 1,000 people attend annually in Kamloops.

“What I’m seeing is that people who are not necessarily part of the Sikh community are coming out to meet people to learn what the faith is about.:

Afterwards, there will be a parade, known as Nagar Kirtan, with participants singing religious hymns and walking a route that starts at the Gurudwara and winds its way through Nicolani Drive, Lethbridge Avenue, Ollek Street, 14th Street and 13th Street, with a break behind A.E. Perry elementary, where food stalls will be operating.

“This parade is open to everyone and that’s basically what our faith preaches,” Gill said. “Everyone is equal. We belong to one race, which is the human race.”

For more information about the event, contact Kamloops Sikh Cultural Society president Ranjiv Mattu at 250-879-0067 or event planner Inder Heer at 250-5749611.

An integral part of Vaisakhi is the replacement of the holy flag — known as Nishan Sahib — with a new banner, followed by the washing of the flag pole in milk and yogurt, then in water to symbolize cleanliness and purity.

Saturday, April 29