Melbourne to host major Vasakhi celebration on 28 April

STATEMENT | MELBOURNE

Melbourne will now hold the distinction of holding one of the larger Vasakhi events outside of India.

Some 10,000 are expected to converge for the one-day Vasakhi festival on Saturday (28 April 2018) at Melbourne’s iconic Federation Square, with the famed Malaysian Sikh pipe taking part as well.

The pole position goes to Surrey, Canada. On Sunday (22 April 2018), the British Columbia city hosted a record turnout of 500,000, making it the largest Vasakhi celebrations outside of India. The Surrey celebration typically attract some 300,000 people.

The Melbourne event is organised by the Victorian Sikh Gurduaras Council together with other Sikh and Australian organisations.

Various programs such as the Sikh pipe band, live music and Sikh cultural performances will be the part of the Vasakhi celebrations, the organising team said in a statement emailed to Asia Samachar.

The Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band from Malaysia will be performing first time in Melbourne at Federation Square.

Popular music groups Dya Singh and Gurmat Sangeet Academy will also perform at the event.

A crowd of over 10,000 people are expected to attend this year’s Vasakhi celebrations, the statement added.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Shadow Multicultural Minister Inga Peulich and other dignitaries are expected to take part in the event.

An exhibition to commemorate the Sikh ANZACs will also be exhibited at the event.

Australian organisations including Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Victoria Police will also participate at the event and educate the attendees about personal and fire safety.

Event coordinator Gurinder Kaur said: “Vasakhi is one of the most important Sikh Festival and it’s celebrated across the world as Khalsa Day. This day marks a turning point in Sikh History when the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh ji formed the Khalsa Panth and initiated the Amrit ceremony. We have people eagerly looking forward to the festival, even non-Sikhs get very excited. That has been the biggest change and achievement.”

This is the second year of the event and there is lot of excitement amongst the community. Various business stalls will also be held during the event. There will be free food available during the event, the statement added.