4  BUILDING CONNECTIONS
For Teachers’ Reference
ANNEX A: INFORMATION ON SOME
FESTIVALS CELEBRATED IN SINGAPORE
Acknowledgement:
We would like to thank the Inter-Religious Organisation for its input and advice on the text used in Annex A.
Baisakhi
Baisakhi is a traditional seasonal festival in North India, where it is
treated as the New Year’s Day. It usually falls on 13 April which is the
first day of the month of Baisakh and it coincides with the beginning of
the harvesting season. Baisakhi is celebrated by most North Indians,
but it has a special significance for Sikhs.
Origin
It was on the day of Baisakhi in 1699 AD, that Guru
Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, created the
brotherhood of the Khalsa. He had asked the Sikhs
to assemble at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, North
India. To test his followers, he stood before them
with a sword in his hand and called for a volunteer
who could die for his faith. He then took the first
volunteer into a tent and reappeared moments
later, alone, with blood dripping from his sword. He
repeated this four times with four other volunteers.
Each time the Guru reappeared from his tent alone,
blood dripping from his sword.
The people were shocked and frightened by the
events. But when the Guru suddenly returned with
all five men alive, they were relieved. The men were
dressed in blue and saffron coloured uniforms, like
the one worn by the Guru. He called these men
Panj Pyare (The Five Beloved Ones). He commanded
that each of them have with him the 5 ‘Ks’, namely,
kesh (unshorn hair), kangha (a comb), kara (a
stainless steel bangle), kirpan (a miniature sword),
and kaccha (undergarment). He then declared these
five pure brave men as the first members of the new
brotherhood of the Khalsa.
The Guru then proceeded with the baptism
ceremony. He prepared sweet holy water (Amrit).
He put some water and sugar puffs in a steel bowl
and stirred it with a double-edged sword. He recited
hymns from the Holy Book of the Sikhs (Guru Granth
Sahib) and then formally welcomed them into their
religious community. He asked them to drink from
the same bowl though each of the five men came
from different social standings in society. He thus
taught that everyone was equal in the eyes of God.
That was when the Guru introduced the names,
Singh (lion) for men and Kaur (princess) for women,
to replace caste names, thus proclaiming that all
Sikhs were equal. The Guru also made it clear that
women would be members of the Khalsa.
BEING ACTIVE CITIZENS LESSON ONE
Significance
Baisakhi is a joyous social and religious occasion
when the Sikh community gathers to celebrate the
founding of the Khalsa. The Khalsa gives Sikhs a
creed (common belief) which stresses hard work,
equality, love of God and care for all, regardless of
race, class or religion.
Observances
It is customary for Sikhs all over the world to hold a
continuous prayer for three days (Akhand Path) at the
Sikh temple (Gurdwara) on the occasion of Baisakhi.
Continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib takes
place on these three days. Sikhs take turns every two
hours to read aloud, until the entire Holy Book has
been read. The reading is completed by the morning
of the third day. Food is served in the free kitchen
called the Guru Ka Langgar for the entire duration
of these three days. At the end of the reading, the
congregation participates in the singing of hymns
and prayers. There may also be poetry recitations,
speeches and sermons.
The worship ceremony ends with the distribution
of a sweet offering called Karah Parshad made from
flour, semolina, ghee and sugar, given as a token
of God’s blessings. They then go into the Guru Ka
Langgar for a meal. In the later part of the day, new
members are initiated (formally welcomed) into the
brotherhood of the Khalsa. They drink the sweet holy
water (Amrit) and take the religious vows to honour
the 5 ‘Ks’ and to follow the teachings of the Gurus.
The Sikh Communities in different parts of the world
also organise various cultural and sporting events
to celebrate Baisakhi. In addition to the religious
celebration, Sikhs in Singapore organise an annual
Mela, a sport and cultural festival, on the occasion
of Baisakhi. Sometimes Baisakhi celebration dinners
and special cultural nights are also planned and
hosted by the community.