Sikhs Celebrate Vaisakhi, Hindus Celebrate Vishu

April 15, 2004

Source: The Star

http://thestaronline.com/news/story.asp?file=/2004/4/15/nation/7766523&sec=nation

On April 15, 2004 The Star reported, "Sikhs congregated at the Diamond Jubilee Sikh Gurdwara at Jalan Gurdwara to celebrate Vasakhi. The three-day festival, which started on Monday, commemorates the birthday of the Khalsa (Pure Ones), a brotherhood of disciplined, fearless Sikhs who vowed to uproot evil, fight tyranny and defend the weak. Men and women, both young and old and dressed in their traditional best, arrived at the temple as early as 5am yesterday to celebrate the 305th anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa by the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. About 300 Sikhs witnessed the culmination of the non-stop reading of the 1,430 pages of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikh Holy Scriptures), which began at 9am on Monday and ended yesterday...Yesterday was also Vishu – the New Year for Malayalee Hindus – who celebrated the day, dressed in their best, with prayers at home and in temples."