Sikhs from across Victoria celebrated the festival of Vaisakhi with a procession made up from thousands from the community.
April 13th celebrates the the birth of the Khalsa Panth. Khalsa is the pinnacle of Sikhism, the core community of committed followers within the wider Sikh faith which was formed in 1699. It established that all humans are equal.
For the First time, under the umbrella of Victorian Sikh Gurduaras Council, Sikh Community came out in force for the First ever Vaisakhi annual Sikh Parade. Vaisakhi Festival was marked by a procession, known as the Nagar Kirtan, which took place in Melbourne.
Up to 20,000 people are believed to have attended this year’s event, which took place on the streets on Melbourne starting from Parliament Gardens to Flagstaff Gardens.
The Nagar Kirtan was led by five Sikhs called the Panj Pyare or beloved ones, dressed in traditional attire with others playing drums to announce the procession as it moved through the city’s streets.
At the head of the procession was the float containing the Guru Granth Sahib, the religious scripture of Sikhism.
Bhai Randhir Singh ji, Hazuri Ragi Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib, Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala and local kirtani jathas participated in the Nagar Kirtan and recited Kirtan.
The celebrations featured a number of guests, including Hon Julian Hill MP, Federal Member of Bruce, Hon Neil Angus, State Member of Forest Hill and Anne Randall, Director of Good Friday Appeal at Royal Children’s Hospital.
Free refreshments were made available along the route for both participants and onlookers, some provided by non-Sikh organisations as well, highlighting the community-orientated aspect of the procession.
This year, Royal Children Hospital received $20k – money raised by Victoria’s Sikh community at the event.
Gurdeep Singh Matharoo, VSGC President said: “Vaisakhi is an exciting festival for all Sikhs and an opportunity to renew our commitment to Sikhism.
“The annual procession is joyous, celebratory and festive. Victorian Sikhs also use this occasion as a chance to connect with the wider public as we proudly display our beliefs of equality, peace and justice.”