Vaisakhi

---

The gurdwara in Gravesend, normally

celebrations for Vaisakhi on the occasion of one of The Most important dates in the Sikh calendar were canceled or postponed because of the Corona Virus pandemic.

Vaisakhi , which falls this year on Monday, commemorates the founding of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs.

In the last years, thousands have in the cities and municipalities, the home of England's largest Sikh communities.

But have now found gurdwaras way, Vaisakhi in the homes of the people.

Two of the biggest events, taking place later this month, where More Than 30,000 have been in the past few years, and where up to 100,000 people expected.

celebrations in Leicester, Southall and Gravesend was also brought to a standstill.

In London, the cultural Advisor to The Mayor , Manraj Singh Othi, said during the Vaisakhi had, brought the London, Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike, the public safety came first.

These feelings were life-endangering, it should, echoed by The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham and in Southall, west London, gurdwara General Secretary Navraj Singh added: "there is No event in the Sikh calendar. "

Vaisakhi commemorates the founding of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs

would have taken To celebrate any other time, the colourful processions or nagar kirtans and free meals or langar, as well as cultural activities such as art, crafts, entertainment and Martial Arts .

But this year, the service has moved online and the Sikh practice of Offering food taken has been set to the community, as a people, the isolated self and stayed home.

In Leicester, the initiative was supported by the Leicestershire Police Sikh Association, helping to cook and deliver meals, the distribution between 300 and 400 meals to people every day.

Offers a free meal, or langar, is a tradition in the Sikh faith

in the Meantime, virtual worship included streamed prayers directly from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, meditation and lectures, a digital mass prayer on Monday, organized.

But there are still Mixed Feelings were.

Hayes, also in west London, volunteer Sundeep Kaur Gosal said, you missed the vulnerable people, which would help you in normally, with your "mind and heart", while Nari Sohal, from Slough, said a volunteer for The Charity -Swat: "to feel life as it is at a standstill. "

However, as reports surfaced that Harjinder Panesar, Chairman of harrow Sikh, said she was relieved to have been events cancelled, and added: "We can be back next year, if we had a vaccination. "

Sukhjeevan Singh of the Sikh Council UK, said, special food, help in the production, compiled by the Sikh Doctors Association had issued to gurdwaras during the pandemic.

Before the covid-19 crisis, gurdwaras had already langar "Manager" that had hygiene training, allergen awareness and food handling and hygiene guidelines, he added.

He Said gurdwaras serving langar registered their facilities with their local authorities in a similar manner to restaurants.

processions were cancelled this year

In Gravesend, Kent, the gurdwara had expected around 10,000 people to celebrate Vaisakhi .

the Newly elected President Manpreet Singh Dhaliwal said, together with the virtual prayers and food supplies, had taken the gurdwara, langar, to NHS workers in several hospitals in the vicinity.

Gravesend priest Giani Amerjit Singh said it was to say: "Thank You to all of these people work at the Front".

Hardev Singh Sohal, from Liverpool, United Sikh Association Guru Nanak Gurdwara, said: "We believe that all mankind is one. We Are all the same. Our religion believes in service and humanity. We can help each. "

He Said all gurdwaras in Liverpool remained closed, and in this year, he would be spending Vaisakhi At Home with his Daughter .

In normal times, the festival is to present cultural activities, including Martial Arts celebration would usually sing with arts, crafts, and other music include

vaisakhi, birmingham, hayes, self-isolation, coronavirus pandemic, southall, sikhism, slough, liverpool, leicester, harrow, gravesend

Source of news: bbc.com