VAISAKH  or  BAISAKHI CELEBRATION AT LA CONVENTION CENTER

With the creation of Khalsa, the history of Punjab has been the history of Sikhs

Los Angeles,  April 07, 2013
NRIpress.com/Gary Singh/Deva Kaur

It is estimated that between 12,000-15000 participants gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday, April 7, 2013 to mark the 314th Anniversary of the day in 1699 when the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, established the Khalsa - a family of spiritually disciplined souls committed to truthful living and champions of social equality and justice.

Guru Ram Das Ashram, in West Los Angeles was the main organizer, along with more than 25 Gurdwaras (Sikh Centers of Worship) from Fresno to San Diego have come together each year since 1985 to honor the spirit and legacy of Guru Gobind Singh, with a day full of the singing of spiritual music concluded by a two mile parade throughout downtown Los Angeles.

The day started with an early morning meditation and Kirtan Program (spiritual music) beginning at 3:40 am and  a  special motorcycle escort of Siri Guru Granth Sahib (the sacred embodiment of the Living Guru of the Sikhs) to the Los Angeles Convention Center began at 6:45 am and arrives at the Convention Center by 7:30 am. After the opening Hukam (“order of the day”)  was listened to by the Sadh Sangat (congregation), the musical program began with a spirited musical rendition of Jaap Sahib, the sacred ballad of ultimate meditation on God's actions, composed by Guru Gobind Singh. The morning Kirtan Program continued with musical presentations from children's groups, followed by special performances by many of the Ragi Jethas from regional Gurdwaras.

Many local, state and national political dignitaries such as US  congress woman- Judy Chu, State Controller John Chiang and City Councilman  Dennis Zine had been invited to attend the program to speak around 12:30 pm.

The Kirtan Darbar (spiritual music gathering)  concluded with a collaborative performance by the Gurshabd Parchar Sabha of Los Angeles Ragi Jetha, including: Ustad Prof. Ranjit Singh (Bhai Mardana Institute), Bhai Raghbir Singh (Siri Guru Singh Sabha Walnut), Bhai Jaswant Singh (Sikh Center of Orange County), Bhai Varinder Singh (Khalsa Care Foundation) and Bhai Randhir Singh (Sikh Study Circle Vermont), between 1:40 and 2:30 pm.

•  Throughout the day Guru's Langar (sacred community vegetarian meal) was served to all who attend
• RESH ORANGE STALL FROM FRESNO SANGAT: The organizing sangat from Fresno including Dara Singh Sidhu, Harbhajan Singh, Dr. Buta Singh, Jaswinder Singh Garcha, amarjit Singh with their 100s sewadars locally served fresh juice to all people who enter the langar hall. According to Dara Singh, their crew came from  Fresno with 7 cars and  truck including 10 bins of oranges and six machines. Each bin carry around 1200 lbs and over 10,000 cups were consume by sangat 
• During  parade time, all kind of soft drinks were served for free throughout the day and was enjoyed by anyone at the parade. After the prade, outside the Convention Center-  chhole-puri, pakoras, chai and many other items were also served

The day concluded with the Nagar Kirtan, where the Sikhs paraded around a two mile area of downtown Los Angeles, carrying Siri Guru Granth Sahib on an exquisitely decorated float. The parade included 6-7  floats representing themes of Sikh history and its legacy, as well as performances by California's most distinguished Gatka Performers (Art of Sacred Sword).

Vaisakhi is traditionally a celebration of the first spring harvest in northern India’s Punjab state and it marks a time for expressing gratitude to God for all life’s bounties and a renewal of human spirit. Vaisakhi for the Sikhs, practitioners of the fifth largest of the world's major religions, represents living a life with dignity, divinity and God's grace….and living in a spirit of expressing goodwill for all.

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