L.A. Vaisakhi – Keertan Darbar & Nagar Keertan 2025
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh
I recently shared these words with one of my young family members. “In my life I have not witnessed any identity more fulfilling than that of being a Khalsa Sikh.” The wealthiest person, the most famous, the one with the greatest family, the most beautiful and handsome, the most significant business Moghul, the most powerful…nothing compares with the honor, pride, fulfillment, recognition, respect, dignity and grace that comes with living in the form of Guru Gobind Singh Ji as Khalsa.
“Khalsa Mayro Roop Hai Kaas, Khalsa Meh Haao Karaao Nivaas.”
“Khalsa is my Special Form, In the Khalsa I reside.” Guru Gobind Singh Ji
The Guru Ram Das Ashram Community of Los Angeles has been celebrating Vaisakhi going back to the 1970s with the inspiration of Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Yogiji. Beginning in the mid-1980s, invitations went out to California Gurdwaras to participate in the program. Over time, more and more Gurdwaras’ management and sevadars joined the Keertan program as the event grew in participation and spirit. Beginning in 1999 the management of the Khalsa Care Foundation initiated the first Nagar Keertan with a two-mile parage in downtown Los Angeles.
“This year was the best year ever,” said Sat Bir Kaur Grover, the Guru’s Prashad serving as the seva coordinator.
The vibrations of joy, happiness, contentment, spiritual upliftment, gratitude, grace and love permeated the Convention Center this year in a way that can only be described as Khalsa Spirit.
What is it that we celebrate on this day?
We celebrate the courage and surrender of the Five Beloveds of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who gave their heads. We celebrate the Bana that Guru gave us that day. We celebrate the Amrit Sanchar, the Guru’s Amrit, the Guru’s complete shield of protection and grace. We celebrate witnessing him bowing to the Five Beloveds, the Panj Piaray, asking them to bless him with the Guru’s Amrit. We celebrate the Rehit Maryada, the code of conduct of Khalsa that we were given that day that guides us to live as Khalsa, Pure; with the five Kakars, (Kesh, Kanga, Kirpan, Kara and Kachera) bowing only to Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as our living Guru for time immemorial. We celebrate being Khalsa, living as Khalsa and being in the company of Khalsa and honoring Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s prophetic words that 960,000,000 we shall be.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s words resound on this special day: “Rehit Piaray Moh Koh, Sikh Piaray Naaeh.” It is the lifestyle, the Rehit (discipline of the Sikh) that I love, not the Sikh him/herself.
With the thousands who participated in this year’s celebration Guru’s Panth was shown to be growing and glowing with the Spirit of the Khalsa royal and strong.
Kirtan-Singh Khalsa
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