Community gathers to celebrate Baisakhi at the Indian Consulate in New York

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The Indian Consulate in New York celebrated #Baisakhi at the Consulate with the community April 19, 2024. One of the main organizers of the festival was publisher of Indian Panorama Indrajit Singh Saluja. The massive hall at the Consulate was full, as people of the Sikh faith and other faiths came together to celebrate the festival which marks the New Year for Sikhs and Punjabis as a whole, as well as the birth of the Sikh Khalsa founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. The event was organized in collaboration with leaders of gurudwaras in New York and New Jersey.

Several speakers addressed the gathering. Dr. Jeph, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, as well as others stressed the universal teachings of Vaisakhi and the values propagated by Sikh Gurus of compassion, harmony, service and equality. The contributions of the Punjabi community in India’s nation-building were stressed by Dr. Jeph, and others who wished the gathering Happy Baisakhi.

“We are marking the beginning of the Punjabi New Year, we are marking the beginning of the Sikh pant that Guru Gobindji established, and we are celebrating the spirit of togetherness, love, harmony, and that is reflected in all the people from different faiths coming together in this joyous occasion,” DCG Jeph said.

In his speech, Padma Shri recipient Dr. Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, said, “Vaisakhi is not just a religious festival, or a part of the agriculture harvest, . It is a celebration of Humanity, its a celebration of the starting of the great Khalsa  paner. And its a celebration to learn more about Guru Gobind Singh. It speaks about love and peace in the world. Today it is a celebration of love of each other, respect of each other.” He also encouraged those present to use the platform of his newspapers and television to bring their ideas and programs to the public, concluding with, “God bless America, God bless India, God bless Khalsa pant, and God bless all of you.”

Saluja told ITV Gold, “We celebrated Vaisakhi with a lot of fun, a lot of entertainment, and also a lot of very serious consideration of what Vaisakhi is and what Sikhism is. We have had people coming from all walks of life, from New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island and New York City.” He said one of the highlights was the signature Bhangra dance performed by Surati for Performing Arts.

Dr. V.K. Raju, founder of Eye Foundation of America wished everyone Happy Baisakhi, and spoke about the need to help children and end the scourge of blindness in the world.

The event showcased Punjab’s rich heritage and tradition that weaves India’s vibrant cultural tapestry and unites people in a shared celebration of their common ancestry.