Vaisakhi at Westminster
We were invited to the House of Commons on the 24th April 2012 to celebrate Vaisakhi. The event is organised by MP Pat McFadden and supported by a large number of MP’s across the political spectrum. The evening focuses on Sikh engagements and political life.
Vaisakhi is a celebration significant to Sikhs. Originally established as a harvest festival in Punjab, on 14th April 1699, it gained an additional importance. The Khalsa was born.
The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji stood in front of thousands of people at Anandpur Sahib when he founded the Khalsa. The Guru addressed the congregants with a speech on his mission to restore their faith and upholding the Sikh religion. He then held up his sword and said that every great deed was preceded by an equally great sacrifice. “My sword is hungry for a head”, The Guru said and challenged the crowd. One person offered himself for the Guru’s ‘great sacrifice’. They both entered a tent. After a while, The Guru emerged with blood dripping from his sword and requested for another head. One by one four more devotees offered their lives.
We were invited to the House of Commons on the 24th April 2012 to celebrate Vaisakhi. The event is organised by MP Pat McFadden and supported by a large number of MP’s across the political spectrum. The evening focuses on Sikh engagements and political life.
Vaisakhi is a celebration significant to Sikhs. Originally established as a harvest festival in Punjab, on 14th April 1699, it gained an additional importance. The Khalsa was born.
The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji stood in front of thousands of people at Anandpur Sahib when he founded the Khalsa. The Guru addressed the congregants with a speech on his mission to restore their faith and upholding the Sikh religion. He then held up his sword and said that every great deed was preceded by an equally great sacrifice. “My sword is hungry for a head”, The Guru said and challenged the crowd. One person offered himself for the Guru’s ‘great sacrifice’. They both entered a tent. After a while, The Guru emerged with blood dripping from his sword and requested for another head. One by one four more devotees offered their lives.
Not
knowing what exactly was happening, the crowd began to disperse when suddenly
the Guru emerged with all five men distinctive in appearance. This ceremony
changed the way that one became Sikh. The men were baptised with Amrit (Holy
Water) by the Guru as he prayed. He then requested they baptise him in the same
manner. From this day on these men were known as the Panj Pyare ~ the Five
Beloved Ones.
The
Khalsa was given a new unique identity of clothing, turbans and five emblems of
purity and courage. All those baptised today wear these symbols that are also
known as the Five K’s.
The
most important aspect of that day is that the five volunteers and the crowd
were under the impression that they were going to be killed. This was a real
test where the five Sikhs demonstrated bravery and devotion. They unknowingly
chose to be part of the Khalsa Panth.
"Where there are Panj Pyare, there am I. When
the Five meet, they are the holiest of the holy." Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
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| MP Pat McFadden |
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| Left: Nim Sira - Right: Fauja Singh aged 101 Showing off our Marathon medals |
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| Left: Nim Sira - Right: MP Ed Miliband |
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| Left: Nim Sira - Right: MP Pat McFadden |
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