SATURDAY - April 15, 2017
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Vaisakhi Special
Vol 16 Issue 11 Saturday, April 15, 2017
Vaisakhi is an ancient Hindu festival marking the Solar New Year and also celebrating the spring harvest. It is one of the three Hindu festivals chosen by Guru Amar Das to be celebrated by Sikhs (other being Basant Panchami and Diwali). The Khalsa calendar (New Year) also starts from creation of Khalsa Panth on Vaisakh 1, 1756 Bikrami ( 30 March 1699). History of Vaisakhi, in relation to the Sikhism, traces its origin when on March 30, 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth in succession called a congregation ceremony of his followers across the country at Keshgarh Sahib near Anandpur Sahib to instill courage and strength to sacrifice against the tyranny of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb was con-
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verting the Hindus and the Sikhs to Islam at the point of sword. At the ceremony the Guru selected Five Volunteers who were ready to give their heads to fight against injustice. In today’s parlance this c on g re g a tion can be called the first national integration council because followers gathered from four corners of India breaking all the
barriers of caste and creed. Those Five volunteers ( who were baptized as Panj Piarias – five belovedby the Guru were: Bhai Daya Singh (shopkeeper from Lahore), Bhai Dharam Singh ( farmer from Meerut), Bhai Himmat Singh ( water- carrier from Ja g an n at h Puri, Oddisha), Bhai Muhkam Singh ( tailor from Dwarka
– Gujarat), Bhai Sahib Singh ( barber from Bidar, Karnataka). By this event the foundation of Khalsa Panth ( Order of the Pure Ones) was laid. From then onward all the followers of the Guru were given surname ‘Singh’ and ‘Kaur’ for male and female respectively. They were also commanded to bear the following articles of faith : Kesh ( hairs), Kanga (wooden comb), Kachhera (loose undergarment), Kirpan (short curved sword) and Kara (iron or steel bangle). They were required to refrain from: Hukka (intoxication), Hajjamat ( shaving of hairs), Halaal ( meat made in Muslim way), and Haraam (adultery). Sikhism is the fifth largest religion of the world. It is a distinct monotheistic religion with its own unique divine scripture and beliefs.
ï Happy Vaisakhi ï From Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Caucus
Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau Papineau
John Aldag Cloverdale–Langley City 604.575.6595
Hon. Carla Qualtrough Delta 778.593.4007
Terry Beech Burnaby North–Seymour 604.718.8870
Dan Ruimy Pitt Meadows–Maple Ridge 604.466.2761
Sukh Dhaliwal Surrey–Newton 604.598.2200
Hon. Harjit Sajjan Vancouver South 604.775.5323
Ken Hardie Fleetwood–Port Kells 604.501.5900
Randeep Sarai Surrey Centre 604.589.2441
Ron McKinnon Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam 604.927.1080
Jati Sidhu Mission–Matsqui–Fraser Canyon
604.814.5710