Thousands of Sikhs gather for joyful festival to mark founding of Khalsa

Nearly 7,000 Sikhs attended Vaisakhi celebrations at a Gurdwara in Slough at the weekend.

Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara hosted a day of events to mark the holy occasion on Saturday.

Vaisakhi is a significant date in the Sikh calendar as the festival celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, in 1699.

Talking about the events, one Gurdwara volunteer, who did not wish to be named, said: “It was very vibrant, very colourful and there was so much joy.

“Everyone was really happy, it’s a very special time for people to come together to celebrate this time of year.

“There was a lot of remembering, a lot of reflecting. Everyone felt involved and it was a beautiful time.”

The Vaisakhi day programme began with a morning service where volunteers cleaned the Nishaan Sahib Seva (sacred banner of the Sikhs), followed by prayers and an organised langar (free vegetarian meal) in the Gurdwara.

A live theatre show then took place every hour featuring dramatic performances for families, and activities such as archery and arts and crafts were on offer for the youngsters in the afternoon too.

A WSWF arts exhibition concluded the day by featuring educational exhibits on the history of Sikhism and poignant installations to mark the importance of the festival.

An online statement from the Bath Road-based Gurdwara read: “Today, on Vaisakhi, we celebrate the gift of our identity – one that sets us apart and empowers us to speak out against oppression both inside and out.

“With courage and fearlessness, we fight against external injustice and internal battles with anger, greed, ego, pride and emotional attachment.

“By reinforcing the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from theory to practice, the mind embarks on the true journey.”