Editor's note: The event was robust, smooth, majestic and heartening. The organizers had been working on the event for almost half a year. Dozens gurdwaras participated in this yearly collaboration in honor of Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa. This great collaboration among so many Sikh communities helped bring the Guru alive on the streets of Los Angeles. This impressive team work is the fruit of many years of working togehter to make the L.A. Vaisakhi the profound event that it is. Many thanks to the organizers who made such a miracle possible.
Baisakhi Brings Heart and Soul to Downtown Los Angeles
Thousands of Sikhs from Southern California and parts of all North America came together this year Sunday, April 5th for the annual Baisakhi Kirtan Darbar and Nagar Kirtan to Celebrate Baisakhi at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Baisakhi commemorates the day in 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh Ji, 10th of the Sikh Gurus, established a code of conduct for living as a Sikh and as Khalsa, Pure.
The day began with a beautiful Asa di Var kirtan program at Guru Ram Das Ashram with the Chardi Kala Kirtan Jetha 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 twenty cars to the Los Angeles 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. The day’s program began with the melodious kirtan of 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 youth kirtan jethas performed including groups from Ujjal Didar Singh Memorial Foundation, Sur Shabd Parivaar Bhai Mardana Institute, the Khalsa Care Foundation Punjabi School, Guru Ram Das Ashram, the Punjabi and Gurmat School of the Walnut Gurdwara, Buena Park Punjabi School, the Valley Sikh Temple Punjabi School (Canoga Park), the Guru Nanak’s Children’s Academy (Santa Ana), Nanak Sadan Gurmat Academy (Reseda), Baba Fareed Sangeet Academy (Riverside), and Gurudwara Gurbani Darbaar (Ventura).
Several Women’s kirtan jethas followed including Sur Shabad Parivaar Bibiyan Jatha (Prof. Ranjit Singh), Sur Sangam Sangeet of Corona and Bibi Balbbir Kaur and Kamalpreet Kaur’s jetha from the Walnut Gurdwara sadh sangat.
The central portion of the Kirtan Darbar program included presentations by the International Institute of Gurmat Studies, Bhai Gopal Singh (Buena Park), Bhai Bhupinderjit Singh (Alhambra) Bhai Ajit Singh Nimana (Ventura) Bhai Surdeep Singh (Buena Park) Bhai Teja Singh (Santa Ana), Bhai Bhamandeep Singh Zakhmi (5th Generation kirtanees of Bakersifield), Bhai Gulbhag Singh (of Bhai Dilbag and Gulbag Singh Padam Sri Award 1982). Additionally Bhai Gurmeet Singh (Valley Sikh Temple), Bhai Naiv Singh (Baba Fareed Academy), Bhai Sobha Singh (Norco) and Bhai Jatinder Singh (Sikh Study Circle, Los Angeles).
This year, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, California State Treasurer John Chiang, and U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman’s Chief Policy Assistant all attended the program and spoke.
Judy Chu referred to her work on successfully encouraging the Department of Justice to properly classify hate crimes involving Sikhs Most notably, with great pride, Judy Chu updated the sadh sangat regarding the recent FBI Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines and Training Manual, the outcome of the DoJ’s work. This data collection is considered the single most important and inclusive hate crime collection guideline and training resource available for law enforcement officials. This version now includes a special considerations section to help local police officials effectively identify and report the new categories of crime mandated for collection in 2015 – including hate crimes directed at Sikhs, Arabs, and Hindus. Congresswoman Chu mentioned that in the past, these crimes were lumped together with other groups, as if none of these targeted groups were deserving of their own classification and proper follow through. She also mentioned that one of the flaws in the rules is that in order for a crime perpetuated against a Sikh to be considered a hate crime there has to be evidence that the perpetrator was specifically anti-Sikh, whereas she mentioned, the crime is no less a hate crime if the perpetrator considered the victim to be Muslim. She also highlighted the Sikh Caucus in the U.S. Congress, that she cochairs, which allows for Sikhs to have a stronger voice and greater access at the congressional level of government. Judy also mentioned that this was her 14th 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 Treasurer presented a Certificate from the State of California’s Treasurer’s Office congratulating the Sikh Community of Southern California on the occasion of the 2015 Baisakhi Celebration. He acknowledged the many contributions that the Sikh community has made to California and pledged to continue to remain in support of Sikhs.
Both the Bhai Sahiba, Bibi Inderjit Kaur and the Siri Siddar Sahiba, Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa of Sikh Dharma International shared inspiring words 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 and in the majesty of Guru Gobind Singh.
The Kirtan Darbar concluded with kirtan presentations from Bhai Gurcharan Singh Rasia Jetha (Ludiana Wale), the Chardi Kala Jetha (Sada Sat Simran Singh Khalsa, Harimanderjot Singh Khalsa, Dharam Singh Khalsa and Hargobind Singh Khalsa) and concluded with a grand finale at the end of the program, Gurshabd Parchar Sabha Los Angeles, Kirtan Jetha, with Ustaad Prof. Ranjit Singh, Bhai Jaswant Singh, Bhai Varinder Singh and Bhai Gurjeet Singh all singing together to chant several inspiring shabds, including Waho Waho Gobind Singh which uplifted the spirits of everyone present.
"Spirit of Baisakhi Awards" and saropas (prayer shawls) were presented on behalf of the Sikh Community of Southern California to several distinguished individuals and organizations for their examples of leadership. The International Institute of Gurmat Studies, founded by Captain Harbhajan Singh for their more than forty years of service to Sikh youth, the Sadh Sangat and Management Committee of Vermont Gurdwara for their leadership in carrying forward the Los Angeles celebration of Guru Nanak’s Birthday, Bhai Chatter Singh (Bakersfield) for his lifetime dedication to teaching the art and science of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s gatka, Bhai Dara Singh Sidhu of Fresno for his spirit of bringing Sikhs together in chardi kala, and to both Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa and Hari Kirn Kaur Khalsa, for their more than thirty years of dedication and service to the annual Baisakhi Kirtan Darbar.
Additionally, special awards and saropas were given to some of the Guru ka Langar sevadars of the Kirtan Darbar, including, Hardeep Singh Virdi, Kulbir Singh and Kulwant Singh all from Indiana, Amarjit Singh, Manjit Singh, Harpreet Singh and Rajbinder Singh Mangat. Ravneet Kaur (20 years old) also was acknowledged for her appointment to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.
Manjit Singh of Bhai Kanhayiya Seva Dal organized all the Guru's Prasaad and this year with the inspiration of Sant Kaur Khalsa most all of the paper goods were made from recycled materials.
The Nagar Kirtan was organized by Khalsa Care Foundation, which has coordinated the parade since its inception in 1998. KCF also designed the magnificent Guru’s float on which the Chardi Kala Jetha and Bhai Varinder Singh Jetha (KCF) both led the beautiful tunes that were sung throughout the streets of Los Angeles. The Gatka dal under the direction of Bhai Chatar Singh started out the parade with many Jai Karas. The parade was a grand affair with downtown Los Angeles neighbors happily watching from windows and balconies and snapping lots of pictures and taking video– they too felt all the Chardi Kala!
And here is a wonderful message from a downtown Los Angeles onlooker:
“Hello I was at Grand Hope Park Sunday with my wife and son and for the Easter celebration they were having. We had never been there before so it was new for us. Later in the afternoon we had the pleasure of catching the end of your parade. Thanks to Google, I was able to find your website and understand what more of what we got to witness. Later at the end two gentlemen shared some icecold water with us and wished us a great day.
Thanks =)
I grew up in a very cultural dead area of central Wisconsin and moving to Los Angeles I smile everyday I get to share this colorful city with everyone. Even though I only got to participate limitedly I wanted to thank you for sharing your kindness and culture with my family and I.”
Photo Credits – Siri Dyal Kaur Khalsa