Washington celebrates Sikh holiday Baisakhi at state Capitol for first time
News Story By Emma Maple | FāVS News
UPDATE: This article updated the meaning of why Baisakhi is celebrated by Sikhs.
Gov. Bob Ferguson issued a proclamation declaring April 13 as Baisakhi Day, marking the first official state recognition of the Sikh holiday and acknowledging the contributions of Washington’s Sikh community.
“It’s actually a very special honor, to be so far away from the roots of Sikhism, and to get space and acknowledgement,” Subarna Nagra, a Spokane-area Sikh member, said of the April 14 celebration in Olympia.
Sikhism (officially pronounced ‘sickh’, but often called ‘seek’ in the Western world) is a monotheistic religion that emphasizes equality, love and service to others. In addition to belief in one God, Sikhs ascribe to the teachings of “the 10 Gurus,” the spiritual leaders who are revered as the founders and teachers of the faith.
Sikhs are often easily recognized by their turbans. And, although people often view it as a mix of Hinduism and Islam, Nagra said “it’s really not.”
“It’s got its own Scripture, its own worship sites, temples. It’s entirely its own religion,” she said.
This religion originated in the Punjab region of South Asia around 500 years ago. Although it is a relatively new religion, there are more than 25 million adherents around the world, making it the fifth largest religion worldwide.
Sikhs first came to the United States in the late 1800s. Since then, they have been making “notable contributions” in America, according to the Sikh Coalition. These contributions include: helping to build American railroads, serving in the U.S. military during the World Wars, inventing fiber optics, running for political office and serving as Morgan Freeman’s personal physician.
“Sikhs have been a very instrumental part of the American diaspora,” Nagra said. “In every industry, you will be able to find a Sikh.
Now, there are an estimated 500,000 Sikhs living in the U.S., and an estimated 500 Sikhs in the Spokane area, according to Nagra.
Baisakhi — also spelled Vaisakhi — is a Sikh holiday designed to celebrate the time when Sikhism became an organized faith. Guru Gobind Singh Ji established this holiday out of a 1699 Indian harvest festival, which Hindus typically observed annually. However, on this day in 1699, Avneet Sekhon, who lives in Spokane, said that Guru Singh formally established the Khalsa Panth, a community of Sikhs who uphold spiritual and moral codes.
The holiday follows the Hindu solar calendar and is celebrated on the first day of the month of Vaishakha, which traditionally falls on either April 13 or April 14.
One of the most important holidays in the religion, Nagra said Baisakhi is “a time to celebrate the lives of the Sikh Gurus and the martyrs.”
It also symbolizes spiritual rebirth and “marks the moment when Sikhs were given a clear identity and purpose,” Sekhon said.
Celebration of this event includes many facets — prayers, processions, parades, recollections of the past and more. Additionally, Sikh’s often use this day to ceremoniously replace the Nishan Sahib — a yellow flag with a double-edged sword in its center that is traditionally flown outside Sikh temples.
This flag carries significance in the Sikh religion as a symbol of their faith and identity. Additionally, Nagra said it’s a clear sign identifying a Sikh temple so people can find a place to stay in case of an emergency.
“If something were to go wrong,” Nagra said, “Just go find your local Sikh temple.”
This offer extends beyond just Sikhs. Nagra said anyone is welcome at a Sikh temple, to learn more about the religion, enjoy a hot vegetarian meal and dialogue with people.
“Give us an opportunity to help people, and we’ll be there,” Nagra said.
At the state celebration of Baisakhi, attendees included Gov. Bob Ferguson, Lt. God. Denny Heck, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and state legislators. During the gathering, Ferguson acknowledged the contributions of the Indian American Sikh community within the state and issued a special proclamation declaring April 13 as Baisakhi Day.
An executive proclamation recognizing a holiday differs from a legislatively-designated holiday. The former is more temporary and ceremonial, while the latter is longer-lasting and brings greater recognition.
King County, Snohomish County, Kent, Auburn and Marysville issued similar proclamations honoring April 14 as Baisakhi Day.
“To be given space and acknowledgement … is an honor,” Nagra said. If the Legislature were to designate Baisakhi Day as a holiday, Nagra said the Sikh community would use it as a day of service.
“We’re not looking for a, ‘hey, let’s put on some sales,’” Nagra said. “We don’t need that. Anything that we could make an impact with and be meaningful and thoughtful, that would be something that Sikhs would be more enticed to do.”
And, although recognition at the state level is a big step, Nagra said it “only means we’re one more level closer to being recognized nationally.”
“Sikh’s are part of the true fabric of this country,” she added. “We have historical origins here, [and] it does not need to go unnoticed.”
