The UK prime minister congratulated Sikhs on Vaisakhi celebration
RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the UK, praised UK Sikhs as they celebrate Vaisakhi.
Last week, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a press statement on behalf of Rishi Sunak.
The statement said: “I want to wish Sikhs across the UK and around the world a very happy Vaisakhi. You make an incredible contribution to national life.
“From the heroes of both world wars to those working in the modern-day National Health Service, Sikhs have played a huge role in making Britain what it is today. As your prime minister I thank you for everything you do, and whether celebrating this auspicious occasion at your local gurdwara or at home with loved ones, I hope you have a wonderful day.”
On Monday, Mr Sunak hosted a Vaisakhi reception at Downing Street where children performed kirtan, or devotional hymns, from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scriptures. The Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands welcomed guests and Mr Sunak met some of the attendees. Sikh members of the armed forces, councillors, civil servants, and MPs and an MSP also attended.
Sikhs are celebrating one of the most important festivals in their calendar. Vaisakhi, a celebration of the spring harvest, is known for colourful street processions called nagar kirtans, the distribution of langar (free food) and displays of gatka (a martial art).
Vaisakhi also marks the founding by Sikhism’s 10th guru — Guru Gobind Singh — in 1699 of the Khalsa, a group of individuals prepared to stand up to injustice, to protect innocent people from religious persecution, uphold freedom, foster spiritual observance, promote honesty and equality, and ensure all people could access basic needs such as food and health.
This year, on 14 April, Vaisakhi was marked by political leaders around the world who issued messages to mark the 324th anniversary of the Khalsa.
Many nagar kirtans have been held across the country, including in parts of London and the Midlands. In Southall, in the London Borough of Ealing, between 20,000 and 50,000 people attend each year.
Vaisakhi is a time when Sikhs remember the courage of the five Sikhs, the Panj Pyare, who, in response to Guru Gobind Singh’s call, showed their readiness to give their lives for the gurus’ inspiring and egalitarian teachings.
The formation of the Khalsa coincided with the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who persecuted other faiths. Sikhism’s ninth Guru — Guru Tegh Bahadur — was beheaded in 1675 for defending freedom of religious expression for Hindus in Kashmir, and Aurangzeb demolished many Hindu temples.
Today, the story of Vaisakhi is a reminder to Sikhs about the importance of standing up for the principles of equality, tolerance, freedom, and egalitarianism.