{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Gurpal Singh and Daljit Singh with Nicola Hilliard, Creative Content Producer","standfirst":"Vaisakhi is a Sikh festival, happening on the 13 April this year. Vaisakhi celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the\u00A0Khalsa, in 1699. It\u2019s also known as\u00A0\u2018Baisakhi\u2019.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003ECelebrated throughout North India, as well as around the world, Vaisakhi signals the start of spring. It marks the end of Harvest and celebrations include dancing, singing, colour and music. Vaisakhi usually happens on the\u00A013 or 14 April\u00A0every year.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGurpal and Daljit are Scout volunteers in 13\u003Csup\u003Eth\u003C/sup\u003E Southall Scout Group. They\u2019re practising Sikhs too \u2013 so we caught up with them to find more about Vaisakhi and how it\u2019s celebrated.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20510/gurpal-in-the-scout-meeting-place-while-wearing-scouts-uniform-necker-and-turban.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow did you get involved in Scouts?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit: \u003C/strong\u003EOf course. I\u2019ve been in Scouts for 25 years and help run Beaver Scouts and Explorer Scouts.\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0 \u003C/span\u003EWe both really enjoy it!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E For me, my favourite thing about Scouts is camping. We spend all year round working with our young people, building up skills and teaching new things (we learn lots of things as volunteers too!). It\u2019s great to go camp and put everything together. Everyone\u2019s a little bit out of their comfort zone, including the adults, but we all have so much fun. It\u2019s great to know the memories last forever. We still hear our young people talking about previous camping trips!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E Everything Gurpal said. I really enjoy getting to experience camps that extend people\u2019s boundaries. We\u2019ve run international camps, and they give everyone involved an amazing opportunity. The friendships you make are incredible, and the trips allow both the young people and adults to grow through shared experiences. On one of our trips, we visited the Golden Temple, a central place in India for Sikhs. It was magical!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E As well as fundraising, our young people help plan elements of the trips, such as transport, menus, accommodation and budgets, so they get to learn key skills for life while carrying out projects. The trips have been a fantastic way for us to show and live out both our Scout and Sikh values.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E In 2008, we went to Tanzania and built school for deaf and hearing-impaired children. In 2014, we built a dormitory, toilets and showers for orphaned girls in India to give them safe environment to live. We helped to build a room for responsible adults. We fundraised and worked with local people in our communities to raise the money \u2013 and learned bricklaying skills, too!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20508/two-young-people-taking-part-in-a-scouts-session-theyre-holding-a-clay-like-material-and-are-outdoors.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan you tell us a little bit more about Vaisakhi?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E Vaisakhi\u2019s celebrated by Sikhs around the world. \u003Cspan\u003EVaisakhi has been a harvest festival in Punjab - an area of northern India for a long time.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003EIn 1699, Sikhs from all over the Punjab, in India, gathered to celebrate the local harvest festival of Vaisakhi. There was a ceremony by our tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh. He came out of a tent carrying a sword and said, \u2018if you want to follow the path unconditionally, you can come into the tent\u2019. Guru Gobind Singh then asked for people to step forward.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E One man went into the tent with him. Soon Guru Gobind Singh came out of the tent alone, his sword covered in blood. Guru Gobind Singh then asked for another volunteer. This happened several times, until five Sikhs had gone into the tent. Everyone was very worried they had been killed by Guru Gobind Singh.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E However, the five men came out of the tent alive. They became the first members of the Khalsa, which means \u2018pure\u2019. The Khalsa is a group of pure people.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E The five men became known as the \u0027Beloved Five\u0027. Guru Gobind Singh initiated all the men into the Khalsa. He said prayers and anointed them with a holy water called Amrit. He then requested the \u2018Beloved Five\u2019 to initiate him into the Khalsa panth (Path). Being initiated is now an important stage of being a Sikh.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E As Sikhs, we show our commitment, act of service and dedication to the Khalsa by adopting five symbols, or articles, of faith. They are a Kangha\u00A0(comb), Kara (steel bangle),\u00A0Kesh\u00A0(uncut hair, covered by a turban and growing a beard),\u00A0Kirpan\u00A0(short sword) and\u00A0Kachera\u00A0(short briefs). These five articles of faith are symbolic and meaningful to Sikhs.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E The keeping of these five symbols connect us as Sikhs, it\u2019s our uniform. Just like how in Scouts we\u2019re all connected to other Scouts with our Scout uniform and Scout scarf or Necker.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20511/gurpal-overlooking-scout-group-while-wearing-scouts-uniform-necker-and-turban.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow\u2019s Vaisakhi celebrated?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E On the morning of Vaisakhi, lots of Sikhs go to the Gurdwara, a place of worship for Sikhs, for a service.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E We go to the Gurdwara for prayers and to pay respect to scriptures. Scriptures are a living guru and living teaches for Sikhs.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E The community celebrates Vaisakhi with a procession through the streets with lots of singing, chanting and colourful clothes. The procession is called the\u00A0Nagar Kirtan.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E In the evening, Sikhs have a special meal with their loved ones, too.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow do you celebrate Vaisakhi within Scouts?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E Our group tend to celebrate in the Gurdwara. We take our Scout group in our Scout uniform to the community procession and it\u2019s optional for them to join in. In the past, we used to have a float to be part of the procession and we also raise awareness of Scouts at a community stall. We\u2019re hoping to attend this year, too. We also do some activities at Scouts and talk about Vaisakhi in our sessions.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E In Beaver Scouts, we celebrate with colouring in and making mosaics of important symbols, such as the Khanda. The Khanda is\u00A0the symbol of the Sikhs. We make pop up cards with Khanda in, these look fantastic and are good fun to make.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit: \u2018\u003C/strong\u003ESingh\u2019 was the surname given to every Sikh man on Vaisakhi in 1699. It means \u2018lion\u2019, so we do lots of lion crafts. Kaur was the surname given to every woman too and it means Princess.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E Making lions out of paper plates is often a favourite!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E We also do puppet shows and tell the story of Vaisakhi. The young people really enjoy them, and they go down really well. They learn a lot from them.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20513/daljit-helping-a-scout-with-an-activity-while-both-are-wearing-scouts-uniform-necker-and-turban.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy do you think it\u2019s important for us to learn about different faiths, and beliefs in Scouts?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E I think it\u2019s important for people to try and get over fear of the unknown \u2013 once we do that, we should realise there\u2019s a lot in common between us all. We\u2019re more alike than different.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E Learning about faiths, beliefs and different attitudes can help to break down barriers and help people to respect each other. It\u2019s very important to learn about each other. The more we can build up respect and knowledge for each other.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan you tell us a little more about the values of Sikhism?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit:\u003C/strong\u003E Sikhism focus on values of equality, social justice, service to community, tolerance and acceptance of other religions. We feel it\u2019s important for people to know our values and ideals, such as generosity and working within a community to better it without any desire for distinction. We value kindness and compassion. We think it\u2019s important to protect everyone\u2019s right choose their own beliefs, rather than be forced or coerced into any path.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal:\u003C/strong\u003E As Sikhs, our Gurus gave us this identity, so we should be practising and living our Sikh values, such as honesty, sharing with others and integrity, every day. Sikhism is also about acknowledging, supporting and respecting other religions, too. Our Gurus include teachings of other religions in our holy scriptures.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20512/gurpal-talking-to-a-scout-while-wearing-scouts-uniform-necker-and-turban.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFor you, how do Sikh values and Scouts values mirror each other?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaljit\u003C/strong\u003E: Personal spiritual development is an important part of being Sikh and is a journey, and we encourage and support others to explore their own personal spiritual development. Exploring our beliefs, faiths and attitudes is encouraged in Scouts too. In our Scouts group, we focus and work on values, with people from different backgrounds in our group.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGurpal\u003C/strong\u003E: The values taught in Sikhism align nicely to the values in Scouts. I always keep the values and ideals of Khalsa at forefront of everything I do. This lines up nicely with the Sikh Scout Promise I made. Both tell me to serve the community, to the best of my ability and effort, as well as to serve humbly. Being part of Scouts and volunteering helps me to put my Sikh values into practice.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThank you to Gurpal and Daljit for speaking to us \u2013 and a happy Vaisakhi to all those who\u2019re celebrating!\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"12 April 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Try our activities to learn about different faiths and beliefs","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities?name=faith","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Faiths and beliefs in Scouts","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/inclusion-and-diversity/including-everyone/faiths-and-beliefs/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"How to organise an inclusive faith-based event","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/inclusion-and-diversity/including-everyone/faiths-and-beliefs/faith-events/","newWindow":true}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Find out more about Vaisakhi with CBBC\u0027s Newsround","url":"https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/43737417","newWindow":true}],"id":50769,"nodeName":"What\u0027s Vaisakhi - and how\u0027s it celebrated by Gurpal and Daljit in Scouts","title":"What\u0027s Vaisakhi - and how\u0027s it celebrated","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/20514/daljit-in-the-scout-meeting-place-while-wearing-scouts-uniform-necker-and-turban.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dab8bb23e73100","caption":"Daljit In The Scout Meeting Place, While Wearing Scouts Uniform, Necker And Turban","type":"jpg","size":504954,"width":1920,"height":1080,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"What\u0027s Vaisakhi - and how\u0027s it celebrated","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Vaisakhi is a Sikh festival, happening on the 13 April this year. We spoke to volunteers, Daljit and Gurpal, about how they celebrate.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC81MDc2OSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/april/whats-vaisakhi-and-hows-it-celebrated-by-gurpal-and-daljit-in-scouts/"}