By: Surjit Singh Flora 

Sikhs around the world celebrating Vaisakhi New Year festival, one of the most important dates on the Sikh calendar marked annually on April 13 with large public processions known as Nagar Kirtans. The holiday is observed by millions of Sikhs in India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and North America.

Vaisakhi day has special socio-culture, economic and historical significance for the Sikhs. It is the Harbinger of the spring and harvest season for the mainly agrarian Sikh society of the Punjab, known as the breadbasket of India.   The end of inclement winter weather and beginning of the spring season, when the flowers blossom, evoke in the community to a sense euphoria.

Since Sikhism professes that God created all days equal, no day is holier than the other. It does not prescribe celebration of dogmatically designated holy days. In fact, Sikhism proscribes attaching special religious import to any day. However, this day has special historical signification for Sikhs because on this day in 1699 the tenth and the last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib initialed the Sikhs baptismal ceremony.

This historical day marks the metamorphosis of Sikhism into Khalsa Panth (Noble Nation) and redefinition of its role in contemporary multi socio-religious and culture society of India and the global community at larger.

The Panj Pyare (Five beloved one) were the first member of the new Sikh community called the Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh gave the Khalsa a unique identity with five distinctive symbols of purity and courage, Known today as the Five Ks. The Guru gave all Khalsa Men the surname of Singh (Lion) as a reminder to be courageous. Women took on the surname 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.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa based on human rights, the equality of all people, and the need to fight oppression and tyranny. For the first time the world saw the sword being used to protect against oppression rather than for oppressing people.

Parents play an important role in associating our new generation with their glories heritage, and to make their children followers of gurmati ideology, In order to achieve it, every gursikh individually and every institution collectively should make and preaching the name of Guru Nanak Dev ji should make themselves subject to the happiness of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, identifying their great and rich heritage by becoming followers of Bani ( Guru Shabad) and Bana( apparel)