Some 15,000 Sikhs from Southern California and beyond came together on Sunday, April 7th to Celebrate Baisakhi at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Baisakhi commemorates the day in 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh Ji, 10th of the Sikh Guru's established a code of conduct for living as a Sikh and as Khalsa, Pure.
The day began with a beautiful Asa di Var kirtan at Guru Ram Das Ashram with Bhai Jaswant Singh in the predawn hours of the morning. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was then escorted, by motorcycle police in a motorcade of more than a dozen cars decorated with Sikh Flags and banners, to the Convention Center where the royal Kirtan Darbar was held between 7:30 am and 3:00 pm. Upon Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji's arrival a beautiful hukam was read and listened to by the Sadh Sangat. Kirtan-Singh Khalsa, one of the event coordinators and Co-Emcee for the day announced that the day was dedicated to all those who live as Khalsa and who have given their lives for the sake of liv including most recently those whose lives were taken as a result of the Wisconsin Gurdwara shooting. The Guru Ram Das Ashram Kirtan Jetha performed a musical version of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Jaap Sahib, which was followed with kirtan by Bhai Daljit Singh of the Apple Valley Gurdwara and Bhai Jatinder Singh of the Reseda Gurdwara.
Through the inspiration and dedication of the many kirtan and gurmat teachers of various Sikh organizations and Gurdwara educational programs, many young kirtan jethas performed including the youth groups from Ujjal Didar Singh Memorial Foundation,the Bhai Mardana Institute, the Khalsa Care Foundation Punjabi School, the Guru Ram Das Ashram, the Punjabi and Gurmat School of the Walnut Gurdwara, the Santa Ana Punjabi Children's School, the Valley Sikh Temple Punjabi School, the Buena Park Gurdwara Punjabi School and others.
Ragi Jethas form the Riverside Gurdwara, Buena Park Gurdwara, Valley Sikh Temple, International Institute of Gurmat Studies, Ventura Gurdwara, Sikh Temple Alhambra, Lankershim Gurdwara, Sikh Center of Santa Ana and Alhambra Gurdwara all performed the most exquisite kirtan raising the spirit of all the attendees.
Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa of Sikh Dharma International gave an inspiring speech about what it means to live as Khalsa in today's world and congratulated the Sikh sangat globally for their commitment to living in Guru's form. The Bhai Sahiba of Sikh Dharma International, Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa sent her message of congratulations to the sadh sangat as she was taken ill at the last minute and wasn't able to attend the program.
Judy Chu - Congressional Certificate
This year, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, California State Controller John Chiang and Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine all attended the program and spoke. Most noteably Judy Chu mentioned that she is spearheading an effort to create a special Sikh Caucus in the U.S. Congress to allow for Sikhs to have a stronger voice and greater access at the congressional level of government. This was met by Bole so Nihals by the sadh sangat. She also was referred to her work on a hearing on "Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism" in which she said, "In the wake of 9/11, hysteria and violence targeted at Sikh, Muslim, Arab and South Asian Amreicans spiked sharply, resulting in hundresds of hate crimes and cases of bullying, vandalism, and intimidation. The recent tragedy in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, was a hear4tbreaking example of these unrelenting and unprovoked attacks. Each new incident moves us further and further away from the values of religious freedom and acceptance on which our great nation was founded." Judy also mentioned that this was her 12th consecutive year of attending the Baisakhi celebration and brought with her a Certificate of Congressional Recognition, congratulating the Sikh Community on Baisakhi and on its contributions to California and U.S. culture.
John Chiang, California's State Controller acknowledged his congratulations to the Sikh sadh sangat for their contributions to California and pledged to continue to remain in support of Sikhs. Dennis Zine also presented a Certificate of Recognition to the Sikh Community of Southern California from the city of Los Angeles.
"Spirit of Baisakhi Awards" were presented on behalf of the Sikh Community of Southern California to several distinguished individuals and organizations for their examples of leadership. Professor Ranjit Singh of the Bhai Mardana Academy presented awards to Sardar Mohinder Singh, editor of India Journal for his 64 years of journalistic excellence and service to the Sikh Panth and also to Sohan Singh Choudry as representative of all the Volunteers of the Khalsa Care Foundation. S. Roanak Singh, president of the Vermont Gurdwara received award on behalf of Didar Singh Bains of Yuba City, CA. Charanjiv Kaur Sidhu received award on behalf of the Khalsa School of Khalsa Care Foundation, Ustad Bhai Chattar Singh received for his exemplary service in inspiring the youth to the sacred art and science of Gatka. S. Gurbax Singh was presented award by Jagjeet Singh Irani, President of Walnut Gurdwara for his service to the Gurdwara and the Sikh Sangat at large. S. Seva Kaur Khalsa received award for her dedicated service to the sangat in designing and arranging the decorations for the annual Baisakhi Kirtan Darbar since 1985 and S. Simran Kaur Khalsa received an award for her continuous service in the Interfaith community, which she has been doing on behalf of the Sikh Sangat since 9/11.
The Kirtan Darbar concluded with an energetic and spirited performance by the Gurshabd Parchar Sabha Los Angeles, Kirtan Jetha, including Ustad Professor Ranjit Singh, Bhai Mardana Institute, Bhai Varinder Singh, Valley Sikh Temple, Bhai Randhir Singh, Vermont Gurdwara, Bhai Raghbir Singh, Walnut Gurdwara and Bhai Jaswant Singh.
After Bhai Teja Singh of Sikh Center of Orange County and Bhai Gurdeep Singh and Bhai Sucha Singh of Lankershim Gurdwara perfomed concluding shabds, the Guru Ram Das Ashram Jetha performed Song of the Khalsa and Anand Sahib. Following the closing hukamnama of Siri Guru Granth Sahib, a grand procession of devotees with Nagar sounding escorted Guru Ji out to the throngs of participants who were making ready for the two mile parade that followed.
Hardeep Singh Virdi flew in from Indiana for the fifth year in a row organize the langar seva for the day. Manjit Singh of Bhai Kanhayiya Seva Dal organized all the Guru's Prasaad, Dr. Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa and Siri Vias Singh Khalsa coordinated the hall decorations seva with Seva Kaur Khalsa.
The Nagar Kirtan was organized by Khalsa Care Foundation, which has coordinated the parade since its inception in 1998. The Guru's float was designed with exceptional detail along with several other floats that represented themes in Sikh way of life and Sikh history. A performance of the Gatka dal under the direction of Bhai Chatar Singh started out the parade with many Jai Kara's.
Photo Credits - Simran Kaur Khalsa
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