More than 50 Sikhs from throughout the Kootenay boundary area attended the Vaisakhi Fesival at Genelle Hall on Saturday. The event included food, dancing, and a turban making contest.
Vaisakhi (also known as Baisahki, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi) is an ancient harvest festival celebrated across the northern Indian subcontinent, especially in the Punjab region by the Sikh nation as this day commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa.
Vaisakhi is the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh comuninity of Khalsa. it is celebrated on April 14 each year. On Vaisakhi Day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Guru of Sikhs) summoned Sikhs from all over India to the city of Anandpur Sahib. At the gathering, the Guru called upon Sikhs to uphold their faith and preserve the Sikh religion.
Guru Gobind Singh gave the Khalsa a unique identity with five distinctive symbols of purity and courage, known today as the Five K's. The Guru gave all Khalsa men the surname of Singh (lion) as a reminder to be courageous. Women took on the surname of Kaur (princess) to emphasize dignity. With the distinct Khalsa identity, Guru Gobind Singh gave all Sikhs the opportunity to live lives of courage, sacrifice, and equality. These Sikhs were to dedicate their lives to the service of others and the pursuit of justice.