Sikhs from around the world gathered together in the United States to celebrate Vaisakhi. After the Gurdwara portion of the celebration, a grand Nagar Kirtan was held through the downtown streets. The importance of Panja Pyare, along with the Sangat enhance the court of Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji and the presence of the Guru […]

Sikhs from around the world gathered together in the United States to celebrate Vaisakhi. After the Gurdwara portion of the celebration, a grand Nagar Kirtan was held through the downtown streets.

The importance of Panja Pyare, along with the Sangat enhance the court of Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji and the presence of the Guru in this world. It was a certain spiritual weight that descended on us who came to represent the Guru’s face. When five gather in his name, Guru Gobind Singh really does show up.

Vaisakhi Celebration Canada

Throughout the procession, there were moments that went beyond the average. It was as if there was a window to a realm of blessing and during this time we would touch that window more often than normal. This realm of blessing is the court of the Guru. Though we may go to the physical Gurdwara, the spiritual court is when the atmosphere brings the Guru alive for us and we are able to join in the Guru’s world of spiritual majesty. We feel the presence of the Guru on the inside.

Vaisakhi Celebration Canada

During the Nagar Kirtan, there were certainly times that seemed normal, even though we are physically in the presence of the Guru but the inner feeling of presence would open up more especially when someone showed respect or devotion.

Vaisakhi Celebration Canada

When the youth show spirit in gatka, it is most pleasing. When small ones who are full of innocence are dressed as Khalsa, it is indeed most pleasing. We are here, the hands and feet of the Great Guru, all creating His splendid court spreading the Guru’s light in the streets, and it is most pleasing. It’s easier to feel the Guru’s presence in the company of the Sangat and especially it is more possible to feel the Guru with the presence of the Panj.

Vaisakhi Celebration Canada

The lives of the Gurus are full of such stark moments of devotion and offering to the Divine feet. The Guru is certainly alive and well in this modern day, not just in the history books. It is available for us to tap into. It was amazing and awe inspiring to witness history come alive.

This is what it means to bow. This is what it means to be a Sikh. This is what it means to be in the court of the Guru.

Vaisakhi Celebration Canada

We are the Guru’s beloveds and we are engaging in this unfathomable play. We are decorating the court of the Living and Eternal Guru. Guru ji is certainly alive. God bless us to know this in our hearts. Bless us to feel it through and through. Bless us to give ourselves up and pray like this unknown woman. Bless us to have the courage to believe in the Guru’s Sikhs and the Guru’s panth. There are no leaders who will appear out of thin air. We are the ones. Everything is in the Guru’s care, in God’s will and we are the ones to act it out.

Shine on oh great Khalsa, do your best.
Wherever you are, there is the Guru.
Have a majestic, blessed, awe-inspiring, memorable and blissful Vaisakhi!

– Harijot Singh Khalsa
~ Source: Sikhnet.com
Picture courtesy – Jagdip Singh Thandi