Indore : To celebrate Baisakhi, Sikh community gathered at Khalsa College for morning ‘kirtan’ on Saturday. The festival of harvests is celebrated on April 13 every year and on 14 once in 36 years.
Community members organised langar (community meals) after offering special prayers. Dressed in traditional attire, women and men wished each other ‘Happy New Year’.
Talking about the festival, advertising professional Jasmeet Singh said, “Baisakhi is observed for many historical events. Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed for refusing to convert to Islam. This incident led to coronation of 10th Guru of Sikhism and formation of Khalsa panth. Khalsa means pure.”
Interior designer Dilpreet Kaur said those who choose to join Khalsa are required to give up alcohol, tobacco, intoxicants. “Also, they adopt a vegetarian lifestyle,” Dilpreet said.
Sharing stories they have read and heard from grandparents, Simran Sareen (14) and Asmat Kaur (16) said, “Panj Pyaare were first Sikhs and were selected from different professions, namely a shopkeeper (Khatri), water supplier (Ghumar), farmer (Jat), tailor (Chhimba) and a barber.”