Sikh community celebrates Vaisakhi
KUCHING: The Sikh community in Sarawak will be celebrating Vaisakhi this weekend.
According to Sarawak Sikh Temple Association president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, Vaisakhi which falls today (April 14), is the most important religious occasion in Sikhism.
“It commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth under Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of the Sikhs in 1699,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Dr Kalwinder added that Vaisakhi also marks the Sikh new year and is celebrated in a joyous manner by Sikhs throughout the world.
In Kuching, he said the Sikh community which has been in Kuching for more than a 100 years, will be having continuous prayers at the Sikh Temple ( Gurdwara Sahib Kuching) at Jalan Masjid from today (April 14) until noon on Sunday (April 16).
“Also to mark the occasion of Vaisakhi, there will be a flag hoisting ceremony called the ‘ Nishaan Sahib Salaami’ by the congregation at the temple premises at 8.30am today.”
Like in all Sikh temples across the world, Dr Kalwinder said the ‘ Langgar’ which means community kitchen practised here.
“There will be vegetarian meals through the three days and members of the public of all faiths are welcome to attend and join the community for lunch, tea or dinner.”
At the Temple, he said members of the public can also visit the gallery located on the ground floor of the temple which tells the historical journey of the Sikh community in Kuching over the last century.
The gallery was declared open on January, 2015 by the then Minister of Housing and Minister is also of Tourism and now Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, together with Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The Gallery is open to the public during office hours daily.
Dr Kalwinder said in the spirit of Vaisakhi and to foster greater unity amongst the members of the community, the Sarawak Sikh Temple Association will be holding sporting activities for its members over the next few weeks and also plans to have a bigger social programme with all communities next month.