Happy Vaisakhi

Wishing all of you a Happy Vaisakhi from the last land of Guru Gobind Singh Ji - Sachkhand Shri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra. Hazur Sahib is looking fabulous on Vaisakhi and the langar menu today includes pooriyan, chhole, chawal and karhi. Yummmmm!!

Sachkhand Shri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, on the night before Vaisakhi 2012

For those of you who have never been to Hazur Sahib before, there is an elaborate half hour Laser Show that is played every night here at Nanded on a screen made out of huge water fountains. The entire show is very professional, technically advanced and reminds me of the laser show from Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, GA. The entire presentation has been conceived by Dr. P.S. Pasricha, directed by Jasbir Singh Dham with Punjabi music and commentary by the Late ghazal singer, Jagjit Singh where as the Hindi music and commentary is by famous lyricist and singer, Gulzar. It is truly a marvel to watch.

The overall presentation starts with a dancing fountain introduction where Daler Mahendi sings in the appreciation of the completion of the 300 years of Khalsa. This is followed by the actual laser show that outlines the entire journey of the Sikh religion as it came to be through the ten gurus, starting from Guru Nanak Dev Ji all the way to Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It ends with the story of the last appearance of Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Nanded where he ordered all Sikhs to lead on their lives considering Guru Granth Sahib Ji as their eternal Guru and use the words in the Guru Granth Sahib as the final say on all things ~ 

"Sab sikhan ko hukam hai, Guru maneo Granth"

Here is a video of the dancing fountain intro that runs before the start of the amazing laser show. This is my special Vaisakhi treat for all of you and I hope you enjoy it.

Dancing Fountains @ Sachkhand Shri Hazur Sahib, Nanded

Vaisakhi is a day that reminds us of some of the very core values of Sikhism. The creation of Khalsa was not just a way to give a distinct identity to the Sikhs but underneath the idea, was the value to eliminate the caste system and establish a living example of true equality for all human beings. Vaisakhi reminds us of courage, sacrifice and bravery. It reminds us of the fight against subversion. From the perspective of being a harvest festival, Vaisakhi reminds us the importance of hard work and teaches us one of the biggest lessons of life - "What you sow is what you reap."

So, here's wishing all of you a Happy Vaisakhi. May God bless you with courage and bravery. May He put into you the wisdom of treating every human being equally regardless of gender, class, race, caste or creed. And I hope you learn from the Guru's words on how to work hard for an honest living  and sacrifice yourself for the benefit of our society and this world.