- By Parveen Chopra
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Vaisakhi, the harvest festival of Punjab, and the day when Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th master of the Sikhs created a sect with a distinct identity and called them Khalsa in the year 1699 was celebrated with gusto and enthusiasm at the Indian consulate in New York on April 11. The full room gathering of over a hundred in the ornate Ball Room of the Indian Consulate in New York enjoyed every moment of their presence at the Vaisakhi celebrations organized by The Indian Panorama with the support of the Consulate.
Consul General Binaya Srikanta Pradhan described it as “a joyous celebration honoring the spirit of Baisakhi and Punjab’s rich cultural heritage.”
Speaking about the creation of the Khalsa, Ambassador Pradhan said that Guru Gobind Singh Ji “dedicated a community which was standing for righteousness, and service. He gave them a unique identity and conduct and strength to stand against injustice. That’s what Guru Gobind Singh stood for. And I think in six days, we celebrated two events associated with him, Hola Mohalla and Vaisakhi.
Amb. Pradhan highlighted the teachings of Sikh gurus who emphasized qualities of compassion, harmony, service, and equality. He also recognized the Punjabi community’s contributions to India’s nation-building.
Ambassador Pradhan is very concerned about the malpractices indulged in by some unscrupulous agents who are charging exorbitantly in the name of the Consulate or in the name of providing consular services. He spoke at length about the issue and warned against such agents.
Keynote Speaker Gurcharanjit Singh Lamba, a Sikh scholar and author reflected on the founding of the Khalsa and shared some interesting anecdotes from its history.
Eminent attorney Ravi Batra shared his moving experience at the Golden Temple and saluted the Sikh gurus for saving India as a nation with their sacrifices. I, as a Hindu and founding editor of ALotusInTheMud.com, had the privilege to felicitate the Sikh community on Vaisakhi.
Ahmed Shakir spoke on behalf of Muslims and Koshi Thomas for Christians.
Apart from community leaders among the 100-plus audience, New York State Assemblyman Ed Braunstein, and North Hempstead Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava graced the event and spoke briefly.
Earlier, Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja, Editor-Publisher of The Indian Panorama, who put together the program, while welcoming the guests, said Vaisakhi used to be a harvest festival of Punjab but in 1699 Guru Gobind Singh chose the day to create Khalsa, a sect with a distinct identity. Thus, today, Vaisakhi is both a socio-cultural event and also the birthday of the Khalsa .
The program began with a soulful Shabad, ‘Deh Shiva var mohe’, which means O Lord! Give me the boon to never turn away from doing good deeds and ended with a lively Bhangra performance.
After Consul, Culture, Pragya Singh kicked off the proceedings, ITV Gold anchor Pia Jyoti Kachroo ably emceed the program. All the presenters were honored with shawls and a replica of the Golden Temple. Amb Pradhan’s wife, Monalisa Shuvadarshini greeted and thanked each presenter.
Delicious appetizers and dinner from Michelin Chef Hemant Mathur’s Saar were served.
Amb. Pradhan thanked The Indian Panorama and Prof Saluja for organizing the event, and for holding the Holi/Hola celebration on Long Island a week earlier.
(Parveen Chopra is the Founding Editor of ALotusInTheMud.com, the premium Wellness and Spirituality web magazine published from New York.)
I view something truly special in this site.
I’ve recently started a site, the information you offer on this website has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work.
Very great visual appeal on this site, I’d rate it 10 10.
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
Hello very cool blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am satisfied to find numerous helpful info right here in the submit, we want develop extra strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
Hey I am so thrilled I found your blog, I really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Aol for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a incredible post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the superb job.
Howdy would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m having a tough time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
But wanna remark that you have a very decent web site, I enjoy the layout it really stands out.
Perfectly indited content, Really enjoyed reading.
I’m so happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
you’re really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have done a fantastic job on this topic!
You need to participate in a contest for the most effective blogs on the web. I’ll recommend this website!
I got what you mean , regards for posting.Woh I am pleased to find this website through google.
Thankyou for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
Greetings! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My website looks weird when browsing from my iphone4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to fix this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share. Thanks!
I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!
I gotta bookmark this internet site it seems very useful very beneficial
I am now not certain the place you’re getting your information, but good topic. I must spend some time finding out more or working out more. Thank you for fantastic info I was in search of this info for my mission.
This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!
Thank you for another great article. Where else may just anybody get that kind of information in such an ideal manner of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m on the search for such information.
Hi my loved one! I wish to say that this post is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all significant infos. I’d like to peer extra posts like this.
Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this post is amazing, great written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to look extra posts like this .
you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
Terrific work! This is the type of info that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my website . Thanks =)
Whats Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & aid other users like its aided me. Good job.
Hi would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with? I’m going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a tough time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
Rattling good information can be found on site.
Sweet site, super design, very clean and use pleasant.
I am glad to be one of several visitors on this outstanding website (:, regards for posting.
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was once entirely right. This publish actually made my day. You can not believe simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
Thankyou for helping out, excellent info .