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Celebrating Vaisakhi In Mixed Times
Sikhs across
the globe re-engage with core values of Khalsa,
Diaspora takes the
lead
Priyaleen K
Renuka
 LOS ANGELES/VANCOUVER: In rather mixed times when Sikhs are
making a mark in the world, striving and protesting to get justice
in India, witnessing marginalisation of panthic concerns in Punjab
and engaging with the core values of their religion in tough
economic and political times across the world, the community marked
the 310th anniversary of the founding of Khalsa by celebrating
Vaisakhi with religious fervour.
Teeming millions thronged Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur
Sahib, thousands gathered at Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar, a small
jatha marked the day at Sri Nankana Sahib, every gurdwara organised
major Kirtan and katha programs while Sikh Diaspora around the world
tried to use the occasion to re-engage with the central message of
Khalsa's foundation and underline the Sikh identity.
More than a lakh Sikhs gathered in Vancouver and in suburban
Surrey last Saturday to celebrate Vaisakhi as a morning drizzle
instead of dampening spirits only added to the charm of colourfully-dressed
people from all faiths and cultures which streamed through
Vancouver’s Main Street and Surrey’s 128 Street.
In
Southern California,
thousands marked the event at Los Angeles Convention Center last
Sunday and with a colorful parade through the heart of downtown Los
Angeles.
Fremont Sahib gurdwara carried out a Meri dastar event.
In
Calgary,
Sikh youth organised Dastar competitions.
In
London,
a huge procession under the aegis of Gurdwara Singh Sabha Southall
started from havelock Road and ended at Gurdwara Park Avenue. In
Auckland,
New Zealand Sikhs gathered at Gurdwara Nanaksar Thhat Isher Darbar.
 In
Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reached himself
at a local gurdwara and spent considerable time with the Sikhs
there, partook of the langar and said he wanted to visit the
gurdwara like a humble person and not as a VIP.
In
India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sundry leaders
congratulated the Sikh community.
Almost everywhere in the western hemisphere, the Vaisakhi
celebrations had political overtones. In
Surrey, portraits
of Shaheed Beant Singh and Shaheed Satwant Singh, who avenged the
attack on Sri Darbar Sahib in 1984 were displayed outside the
Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar, notwithstanding the controversy that was
triggered last year. Most people from other religions now understand
that far from glorifying violence, these images represent an
awakening of human rights debate.
Local Canadian media quoted Indira Prahst, a sociology
instructor at
Langara
College,
as saying taht while she was named after Indira Gandhi, she does
undetrstand that "we have to understand different view points” and
it remained a fact that Gandhi was responsible for killing many
innocent Sikhs.
A cardboard cut out of Jagdish Tytler came in for special
shoe treatment, and many regretted that they were not in India or
would have buried Tytler under a mountain of old shoes. In
Vancouver, a plane
flew overhead with a banner that read “India
should stop genocide against minorities.”But amid all the politics,
the Sikh crowds did seem joyful as they recalled the tenth Sikh
master, Guru Gobind Singh's revolutionary act of founding the Khalsa
Panth in 1699 and creating a construct that defined a completely
different world view and relationship between a leader and the
people.
 Free langar, snacks, drinks flowed continuously as Gurbani
hymns wafted and many non-Sikhs participated. Impressed by the
spirit of Sikhi, ahead of the Vaisakhi parade in Vancouver,
politicians from all three levels gathered at the Khalsa Diwan
Society Gurdwara in
South Vancouver
where Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts also took part in the celebrations.
In
Ottawa,
Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and
Multiculturalism, said, "For all Canadians, Vaisakhi provides an
excellent opportunity to reflect on the tremendous contributions
that Sikhs have made to this country's rich and diverse heritage.
" He quoted Prime Minister Stephen Harper as saying that
'Pluralism is the principle that binds our diverse peoples
together.'
and offered best wishes to the community.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell took the opportunity to present
a framed copy of the Komagata Maru apology to the gurdwara. Last
year, the legislature unanimously passed a motion to apologize for
the racist treatment of Indian would-be immigrants who were denied
entry to Canada 95 years ago.
NDP leader Carole James was also present at the
Vancouver
celebrations.
15
April 2009
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