Vaisakhi Kamloops 2018

An eight-page section celebrating the annual Sikh festival, which takes place on April 14

KTW FILE PHOTO

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CIBC coin celebrates Vaisakhi Just in time for Vaisakhi, CIBC is exclusively offering Canadians limited edition unique festive gold and silver coins to commemorate this year’s celebration.

CIBC is the only bank in Canada to offer Vaisakhi coins, which are available for purchase online and at select banking centres. They can also be ordered at any banking centre in Canada for pickup.

CIBC is offering a selection of commemorative coins again this year, with two separate silver designs, and one gold design.

The coins are offered in both 24 karat gold and pure silver and are of the highest industry standard purity.

The one-ounce silver coins are available at $59.95 and the 10 gram gold coin is priced at $625.

These limited-edition Vaisakhi coins have images of Khanda and Ikk Onkar, key symbols within the Sikh religion and are packaged in a black clamshell CIBC case.

From all of us to all of you, may this Vaisakhi bring you joy, love, prosperity & wealth.

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ALL ARE WELCOME TO CELEBRATE VAISAKHI MICHAEL POTESTIO

STAFF REPORTER

michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

K

al Kullar hopes to see people of every race, religion and creed at this year’s Vaisakhi celebration.

“Anyone can attend — doesn’t have to be of Sikh religion or East Indian or anything like that,” said the president of the Kamloops Sikh Cultural Society.

Observed every April 14, Vaisakhi — also spelled Baisakhi — marks the founding of the Khalsa way of living in the Sikh religion, as well as the spring harvest.

Festivities at the temple on Cambridge Crescent on the North Shore will begin this Friday with the continuous reading of the holy scripture at 10 a.m.

“It will be read right through until Sunday,” Kullar said.

Those taking part are specially qualified to read the Punjabi scripture in two-hour shifts while in the presence of a priest.

At that time, food will be served to people who visit throughout the

three-day ceremony, Kullar said.

Saturday morning marks the most important part of Vaisakhi festivities, with the changing of the Sikh flag ceremony.

“The flag will be brought down in the presence of five beloved ones — five beloved ones are the baptized Sikhs,” Kullar said.

As part of the ceremony, the flag pole will be rubbed with homemade yogurt and milk to cleanse it and a new flag will be attached before being raised again.

“Milk is considered pure,” Kullar said.

Once the flag is aloft, a community meal — know as langar — will be served.

The ceremony will begin on Saturday at 10 a.m. and everyone is invited to attend.

On Sunday, the reading of the holy scripture will be completed, followed by a closing ceremony filled with prayer and another meal.

The closing ceremony is extremely important in Sikhism, Kullar said, adding that while the Kamloops Sikh Cultural Society observes the religious aspects of the celebration, back home in India

there is also a social component celebrating the harvest.

The Kamloops’ Sikh Society was established in the early 1970s and Vaisakhi has been celebrated in the Tournament Capital ever since.

Kuller said the festival isn’t as large as it is in Surrey, where organizers incorporate a parade into the proceedings.

“It’s more at the smaller scale [here] and now we are just trying to bring it to the next level,” he said.

Kullar said they hope to educate people about Sikhism, the reasons behind traditions such as wearing a turban and that the temple can be used by everyone.

He also noted they don’t impose the religion on anyone.

“We’re not here to say you need to be a Sikh. No, we’re saying believe in your own thing and be with us in this very important celebration for us.”

On Vaisakhi day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh summoned Sikhs from all over India to the city of Anandpur Sahib, where he called upon them to uphold their faith and preserve the religion.

According to the Sikh tradition,

Guru Gobind Singh named five volunteers willing to sacrifice themselves the Panj Pyare — the five beloved ones.

After completing prayers, the guru sprinkled a nectar known as amrit on each of the five. He then knelt before the quintet and asked them to baptize him as well and proclaimed that the Panj Pyare would be the embodiment of the guru himself.

The Panj Pyare were the first members of the new Sikh community called the Khalsa. Singh gave the Khalsa a unique identity with five distinctive symbols of purity and courage, known today as the five Ks (turn to page D5 for more on those He gave all Khalsa men the surname of Singh (lion) as a reminder to be courageous. Women took on the surname Kaur (princess) to emphasize dignity.

With the distinctive Khalsa identity, Guru Gobind Singh gave all Sikhs the opportunity to live lives of courage, sacrifice and equality.

These Sikhs were to dedicate their lives to the service of others and the pursuit of justice.

THE GILL FAMILY WISHES EVERYONE A HAPPY VAISAKHI!

The tattered old flag will be replaced by a new banner this Saturday at the Sikh Temple on Cambridge Crescent.

KTW FILE PHOTO

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Timeline leading to the birth of Vaisakhi

April 15, 1469: The birth of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak, at village Talwandi (Punjab, India; now in Pakistan).

1507 Guru Nanak proclaims, “There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim” — and Sikhism is founded.

1606 Following Guru Arjan’s execution and martyrdom in Lahore by Jahangir, Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) takes over and runs affairs from Amritsar (1606-1628) and Kartarpur, Jalandhar (1628-1634). Facing persecution from the Mughals, in 1634 he establishes the town and community of Kiratpur in the Shivalik foothills and remains there until his death.

Gobind Singh, Sikhism’s 10th and final personal guru, innaugurated Sikhism’s orthodox Khalsa order on Vaisakhi Day in 1699.

1644 Guru Har Rai (1630-1661) takes over and runs affairs from Kiratpur.

1522 Guru Nanak establishes the town of Kartarpur (now in Pakistan) on the banks of the river Ravi and the first Sikh community begins to take shape.

1539 Guru Angad (1504-1552) takes over and, given Guru Nanak’s eldest son Sri Chand’s claim on Kartarpur (Pakistan), decides to run affairs from his hometown of Khadur.

1552 Guru Amardas (1479-1574) takes over and, with Kartarpur (Pakistan) still under Guru Nanak’s lineage, establishes the town and community of Goindval (also known as Gobindval or Govindval or Goindwal).

1574 Guru Ramdas (1534-1581) takes over and establishes the town and community of Ramdaspur or Amritsar.

1581 Guru Arjan (1563-1606) takes over and continues to run

affairs from Amritsar. He also establishes the towns and communities of Kartarpur (Jalandhar) in 1593, Hargobindpur and Tarn Taran.

1601 Guru Arjan completes the compilation of the Adi Granth (or the Guru Granth). Construction on the Darbar Sahib (or Harmandir, now also known as the Golden Temple) in Amritsar is completed.

1604 The Adi Granth (or the Guru Granth) is installed at the Darbar Sahib (or Harmandir, now also known as the Golden Temple).

HAPPY VAISAKHI

1661 Guru Harkrishan (1656-1664) takes over at the age of five and remains in Kiratpur until his untimely death from smallpox at the location now marked by Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi, where he was staying following a summons from Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

1666 Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675) founds the city of Anandpur (near Kiratpur) in 1664.

1675 Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) takes over, following Guru Tegh Bahadur’s execution and martyrdom in Delhi.

April 13, 1699 Sikhism’s 10th and final personal guru, Gobind Singh, innaugurates Sikhism’s orthodox Khalsa order on Vaisakhi Day (marking the annual harvest season) at Anandpur.

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What you should know about the Sikh religion

T

he Sikh religion is the fifth-largest in the world, with as many as 30-million adherents.

There have been Sikhs in Canada since the late 1880s, when hundreds arrived from the Punjab, seeking a new life and employment in mines, mills and construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Today, according to the 2011 census, there are 468,673 Canadian Sikhs. More than 201,000 live in British Columbia.

The basic tenet of Sikhism is expressed in the words “Ik Onkar” (One God).

Guru Nanak Dev founded Sikhism in the Punjab in the 15th century, though at the time it was not his intention to form a standalone new religion.

He preached the equality of all humans and spoke against tyranny, social injustice, and religious hypocrisy.

Sikhism advocates equality for men and women of every race and religion.

The Guru Granth Sahib is a compilation of the teachings of all of the early Gurus and is the main scriptural source.

Worship is conducted in a place known as the gurdwara — doorway to God. The kirpan, one of five articles COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • FEBRUARY 2018 The Five Ks are the articles of faith of faith worn by Sikhs. worn by Sikhs.

Most wear one or more, although those who have taken amrit — similar to baptism — wear them all: • Kesh, unshorn long hair, protected by a dastaar, better known as a turban; • Kangha is a small wooden comb used to comb the hair twice a day; • Kara is an iron bangle worn on the dominant hand; • Kachera is an undergarment; • Kirpan is a short dagger.

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The Nishan Sahib, the Sikh triangular flag, rises above the Cambridge Street Sikh Temple during a previous Vaisakhi celebration.

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T

HE KAMLOOPS SIKH CULTURAL SOCIETY

welcomes you to join the Sikh community in celebrating the birth of Khalsa (the Pure One) at the 2018 Vaisakhi Celebration. Festivities will take place at the Kamloops Sikh Cultural Society, located at 700 Cambridge Crescent, Kamloops, BC. The celebration will start on Friday, April 13th, 2018 at 10 am with the commencement of the Akhand Path Sahib (a continuous reading of the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib) and carry on until

Sunday, April 15th, 2018 at 1 pm. On Saturday, April 14th, 2018 at 10 am, in the presence of the Panj Pyare (the Five Beloved Ones), the Nishan Sahib will be taken down ceremoniously, bathed with water and milk, and adorned with a new flag.

Festivities will include shabad kirtan (spiritual music) and langar (a traditional, vegetarian meal).

Board of Directors of the Sikh Cultural Society encourage the attendance of you and your family in this wondrous occasion.

Kamloops Sikh Cultural Society | 700 Cambridge Crescent

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FRIDAY, April 13, 2018

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A look at Sikhism’s rites and rituals

I

n addition to worship, there are other important rites and rituals within Sikhism.

The Sikh Rehat Maryada is the Sikh Code of Conduct, giving instructions for all ceremonies:

Baptism-Amrit: Initiation into the Sikh religion is called the Amrit ceremony.

Sikhs undertake the Amrit ceremony when they are ready to do so and understand the commitment they are making to the religion.

The ceremony is held in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. It is conducted by five baptized Sikhs, called Panj Pyare, who wear the five Sikh symbols.

The five Sikhs prepare the Amrit (holy water) in a round iron-vessel containing fresh water and sweets called patasas.

They recite the five Banis (Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Ten Swayyas, Chaupai Sahib and Anand Sahib) and stir the water with a double-edged sword, called a khanda.

After preparation, the Amrit is drunk by the initiation candidates, then sprinkled on their eyes and hair.

The ceremony concludes with the eating of the ceremonial karah parshad.

Marriage-Anand Karaj: The Sikh marriage is called Anand Karaj, meaning ‘blissful union. Sikh weddings take place in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Anand Karaj consists of the couple revolving around Guru Granth Sahib four times as the Lavan (marriage hymns) are being recited.

The marriage ceremony may be performed by any Sikh, male or female, who has undergone the Amrit initiation.

Sikhs practice monogamy. Widows or widowers may remarry. Child marriage is forbidden.

Naming of children: After a child is born, the baby is often taken to a gurdwara for a naming ceremony.

Prayers (ardas) are recited for the newborn child.

After reciting ardas, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random. The hymn on the opened page is recited.

The first letter of the first word of the hymn is selected as the first letter of the child’s name.

The word “Kaur,” meaning “princess,” is added after a girl’s name; the name “Singh,” meaning “lion,” after a boy’s.

Office of the Mayor City of Kamloops

Kamloops City Council wishes you and your family a very Happy Vaisakhi Mayor Ken Christian Councillor Donovan Cavers Councillor Ray Dhaliwal Councillor Dieter Dudy Councillor Tina Lange

Councillor Kathy Sinclair Councillor Arjun Singh Councillor Pat Wallace Councillor Denis Walsh

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D7

Cambridge temple marks 47 years in city

In 1971, Sikh Cultural Society members gathered at 700 Cambridge St. on the North Shore to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new Sikh Temple.

The temple fund was created in 1967 and collected an initial $20,000. About $26,000 more was needed to complete the project, with the final cost of the temple upon completion being $46,000.

It was fully paid off.

At the front of the photo to the left are Khushdev Heed, Indira Heed and Ranjeet Heed, son and grandchildren of Sher Singh Heed, donor of the land for the temple.

Looking on in the background are (left to right) Avtar Chahal, Dalbag Heer, Surjit Heed, Gurbachan Heed, Banta Dhaliwal, Inder Krod, Dr. Gur Singh, Kartar Ghag, Naranjan Sangha, Lashkar Ollek and Anup Jubbal.

Members of the original committee that worked on creating the Cambridge Sikh Temple were Kartar Ghag (president), Avtar Chahal (secretary), Dalbag Heer (treasurer), Lashkar Ollek, Inder Kroad, Gurnake Pannu, Rajinder Sidhu, Sewa Dhaliwal, Hardial Pannu, Balbir Ollek and Nirbhai Dhaliwal.

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