Sikh Community Organises Vaisakhi Celebration In Canada After Two Pandemic Years

The 323rd Revelation Day of Khalsa!

Vaisakhi is the most important event in the Sikh calendar, celebrated by millions worldwide. For Sikhs it's on this day that the Khalsa was created. The Khalsa is the army of saint - soldiers that were created to bring peace, happiness and to protect the downtrodden.

It's usually celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year, which is also regarded as the start of the farming year in Punjab, where farmers harvest their crops and reap the benefits of a year of hard work. Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi by going to the Gurdwara (place of worship) and performing selfless service. They will sing praises of God in the form of 'Kirtan' and will listen to discourses of historical events relating to Vaisakhi. 

Vaisakhi observes major events in the history of Sikhism and the Indian subcontinent that happened in the Punjab region. Vaisakhi as a major Sikh festival marks the birth of the Khalsa order by Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism, on 13 April 1699. 

After the past two years were marred by the Covid - 19 pandemic, the Sikh community in Canada held in - person celebrations of Vaisakhi, ushering in the new year. 

Among the live events to be held this year was that observed by the Khalsa Diwan Society in Vancouver, which was established in 1906 and built the historic Ross Street Gurdwara two years later, among the first in the country. That gurdwara is now at another location, and it was the venue for the Vaisakhi celebrations this year, which witnessed nearly 10,000 members of the congregation, or sangat, visit on Saturday. 

Society president Malkiat Singh Dhami said, "We were very excited to organise Vaisakhi celebrations this year but because of the pandemic we were not able to plan ahead. It takes time to put together the parade so we couldn't do that because of shortage of time. But we felt we must still celebrate so we held it in the compound."

Among the highlights of the renewed celebration was the launch of a float featuring the Guru Granth Sahib, which formed the showpiece for the gathering. 

Among those attending the event was Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan, who tweeted, "After two years, it's great to finally be able to celebrate Vaisakhi in South Vancouver with our community today." 

Vaisakhi celebrations will also return to Toronto this month, with Khalsa Day 2022, organised by the Ontario Sikhs and Gurudwara Council (OSGC), scheduled for this Sunday. The event to mark the 323rd Revelation Day of Khalsa, when Guru Gobind Singh established the order, is the largest in the country and has, in the past, attracted nearly 50,000 persons to the venue in downtown Toronto. 

However, again due to pandemic, the accompanying parade will not take place this year. Vaisakhi celebration have been organised by OSGC in Toronto since 1986.