Latest news with #Vaisakhi
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hundreds attend Vaisakhi event hosted by West Midlands Police
Hundreds of people gathered in Birmingham over the weekend for an event organised by police to celebrate the Sikh festival of West Midlands Police Sikh Association hosted the event at the force's Tally Ho! training centre in Edgbaston on Saturday, along with local gurdawaras and in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall contributed to a Langar, a community kitchen open to everyone who attended for also called Baisakhi, is a festival that celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, in 1699. It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab region of India until it became the Sikh community's most important takes place in mid-April each year, and various events have been held across the West Midlands to mark it in recent weeks. Saturday's event started with the raising of the Nishaan Sahib, a sacred flag, and a small also included sports activities such as kabaddi and weightlifting, as well as arts and crafts for children. Sundeep Kaur Cheema, from the Sikh Association, said: "The event, seamlessly blending tradition with education and joyous celebration, undoubtedly left a lasting impact on all who attended, showcasing the profound strength and vibrant spirit of the community." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CBC
19-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Yellowknife's Sikh community turned a gym into space for prayer to celebrate Vaisakhi
Members of Yellowknife's growing Sikh community gathered to celebrate Vaisakhi this weekend, transforming a gym at the city's multiplex sports facility into a space for prayer on Saturday. The annual harvest festival of Vaisakhi is one of the holiest days in the Sikh calendar. For Sikhs, the festival marks the creation of the order of the Khalsa in 1699 — a defining moment in Sikh history which gave the faith its final form. But it's also an opportunity to come together, with large events acting as opportunities for people from different communities to meet and celebrate. Also called Khalsa Sajna diwas, the holiday is usually celebrated in mid-April, but Yellowknife's celebration is a bit later because of the time it took to find a space and get everything ready. "We are a bit late, but at last we are celebrating so we are happy for that," said Mangot Kaur, who helped organize the event. Kaur said it was a lot of work getting the gym ready for the event, but many volunteers helped. "They all came together and worked really hard to make this place look like this," she said. There were prayers in the gym in the afternoon and evening, with some of the prayers read by gurus who flew in from Vancouver to lead hymns. There was also a food drive outside, with volunteers serving homemade vegetarian food free to anyone who passed by, another important tradition on Vaisakhi. "These events are really important for us so we can get together, united, and celebrate our values," said attendee Darwinder Kaur, (No relation) who moved from B.C. to Yellowknife a year and a half ago. She said it was hard to adjust to her new home at first, but events like this where she can observe her religion in community make it easier. Yellowknife's Sikh population has grown a lot in the last few years, says Pankaj Sohi Seth, and events like this help the community come together. "We moved in 2012 to Yellowknife from Vancouver, and it was a big change to us. In the beginning, we actually started doing prayers in our own houses," she said, with the few Sikh families hosting in turn. But a few years ago, they started renting a hall from a church or other space once a year. They now try and hold celebrations like Saturday's two or three times a year, Sohi Seth said. But without a permanent Gurdwara, the community isn't able to come together and pray as much as they would like. Sohi Seth said she and others are working to bring a Gurdwara, or temple, to Yellowknife, but the the project is still in the early stages. They are currently in the process of registering a Yellowknife Sikh Sangat society as a non-profit. Once this is done, she said, they will begin the work of fundraising for a Gurdawara. Darwinder Kaur said for her, a Gurdwara in Yellowknife would be more than just a building. "It's not about going somewhere out, it's about inner peace, to give something to my soul."
India Today
19-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Exclusive: From Vaisakhi in Pak to espionage: How Jyoti Malhotra became a security threat
What began as travel vlogging under the garb of a spiritual journey to the holy sites of Sikhism has spiralled into a troubling case of digital warfare and espionage. Jyoti Malhotra, who first visited Pakistan in 2023 during the 324th Vaisakhi Festival, is now under investigation by Indian intelligence agencies for allegedly aiding cross-border influence to exclusive investigation documents seen by India Today TV, Jyoti Malhotra's participation in the religious trip was first facilitated by Harkirat Singh, a key coordinator known for taking Sikh jathas (pilgrim groups) to Pakistan via the official Singh, who has organised several such pilgrimages, particularly around Vaisakhi - a major Sikh religious festival - is now under scrutiny for allegedly introducing Jyoti Malhotra and others to individuals in the Pakistan establishment. When Jyoti Malhotra failed to get clearance for the Vaisakhi trip in 2023, she was allegedly introduced to Ehsan alias TRIPS AND FIRST CONNECTIONEach year, thousands of Sikh pilgrims travel to Pakistan's holy sites - Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, Panja Sahib and Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore - through an arrangement between the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property was during the preparation for one such journey that Jyoti Malhotra first met Ehsan alias Danish, a Pakistani High Commission official later declared persona non grata by India on May second visit to the 325th Vaisakhi Festival in April 2024 triggered further concern. Not only did she return to Pakistan, but she also overstayed by more than a month - from April 17 to May 25. Investigators believe this period marked her deeper involvement in a Pakistani influence network operated through diplomatic and digital PILGRIMAGE TO PROPAGANDA WARIntelligence inputs suggest Jyoti Malhotra, who runs a travel-focused YouTube channel, became a part of a covert influence campaign that involved portraying Pakistan in a highly positive light. Her videos praising Pakistan's hospitality, infrastructure and culture were seen as components of a modern psychological warfare strategy - an attempt to shape public opinion through soft curated narratives deliberately downplayed geopolitical tensions and were aimed at building sympathy for Pakistan, particularly among India's digital youngsters. Experts believe such content is part of a broader disinformation tactic used in modern hybrid EXTENSION-TURNED-TRAPJyoti Malhotra's attempt to secure a visa extension for one of her Pakistan trips became the turning point. Intelligence sources confirm that Harkirat Singh introduced her to Ehsan alias Danish, a mid-level official at the Pakistan High Commission in officially named Ehsan Dar, was operating under diplomatic cover but was suspected by Indian agencies of acting as an ISI intelligence coordinator. His role: identifying and cultivating 'soft targets' - individuals with social reach or influence - to embed in strategic information IS EHSAN DAR?advertisementEhsan Dar was posted as consular and cultural staff at the Pakistan High Commission. Internal surveillance flagged his consistent interactions with influencers, journalists and YouTubers. His method relied on visa help, cultural liaisons or interviews to develop rapport and gain was expelled on May 13, declared persona non grata for engaging in activities "incompatible with his diplomatic status" - a term typically used for MALHOTRA: A SOFT TARGETRaised by her father as a single parent, Jyoti Malhotra did various small jobs in Delhi until she lost her employment during the Covid-19 pandemic. She then started a vlogging channel, which gained this period, she came into contact with Ehsan, who initially offered small perks and support and what now appears to be strategic subsequent trips and growing digital footprint showed signs of influence. Investigators say Ehsan and his team suggested content ideas and messaging, guiding her toward topics that subtly criticised Indian policies while glorifying Pakistan. Her tone shifted from travel enthusiasm to a more ideological narrative, aligning closely with Pakistani PAHALGAM VIDEO: A CASE STUDY IN INFO WARFAREAmong the digital evidence, one particular video is under close examination. Uploaded after the Pahalgam terror attack, Jyoti Malhotra's video pinned the blame on Indian security agencies, ignoring mounting evidence pointing to cross-border terror believe that this video exemplified modern information warfare. By redirecting blame internally, such narratives erode public trust in national Jyoti Malhotra's case, the video was being treated not as poor judgment, but as part of a structured disinformation strategy and will likely serve as key case evidence.A WIDENING NETFollowing her extended stay in Pakistan, Jyoti Malhotra visited several other countries - China, Nepal, Bangladesh, the UAE, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bhutan, according to an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report accessed by India Today TV. Each of these trips is now being reviewed in light of her links to Ehsan and her digital messaging visit to Kashmir in November 2024 also drew attention. Her final recorded Pakistan trip took place in March 2025, just two months before Ehsan was have seized her digital devices, uncovering encrypted chats, coordination cues, and content aligning with Pakistani narratives. Her case is now being studied as a template of modern influence BIGGER PICTUREJyoti Malhotra's story has become a cautionary tale in the era of digital espionage. With influencers, vloggers and journalists increasingly shaping public opinion, intelligence agencies are shifting focus to the soft-power battleground of online case highlights how modern-day espionage no longer depends solely on stolen documents or secret cameras. It now unfolds on YouTube thumbnails and Instagram Watch IN THIS STORY#Pakistan
CBC
17-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Spring comes later in the north — and so do Vaisakhi celebrations, with thousands gathering in Prince George
Thousands of samosas, more than 400 pounds of potatoes and weeks of preparation: those are just a few of the ingredients that go into planning northern B.C.'s largest Vaisakhi celebration. The annual festival marking the spring harvest is generally held in April. But in Prince George, where it takes a little longer for the weather to warm up, the event is held in May to avoid snow on the roads during the morning procession, and to avoid competing with larger events held in Surrey and Vancouver, which many local residents also attend. But over the years, the Prince George event has grown into its own, attracting people from all across the region looking to connect with the Sikh community. "It's a beautiful, colourful, spiritual experience," said Rashpal Bains of the Guru Nanak Darbar Society, who says they are expecting up to 5,000 attendees with RSVPs from people as far away as Vancouver, Prince Rupert and the Peace River regions. "We are inviting the whole of B.C." For Sikhs, Vaisakhi marks the creation of the order of the Khalsa in 1699 — a defining moment in Sikh history which gave the faith its final form. But it's also an opportunity to come together, with large events acting as opportunities for people from different communities to meet and celebrate. Prince George's Sikh community dates back decades, with some early members coming to the region more than a century ago. It grew to new levels in the 1960s and 70s when an influx of new immigrants from the Punjab region arrived in Canada, with many taking jobs in the region's burgeoning lumber industry. The Guru Gobind Singh Temple Society was established in 1974, and the city's first gurdwara opened on Christmas Day in 1978, with ground being broken on a second in 2002. Approximately 2,500 people in Prince George reported their religion as Sikh in the 2021 census, making it the largest non-Christian religion in the city of about 77,000. But Bains says participation in the celebration is not limited, and this year it was actually city officials who took the lead on planning for the event, months before she was involved. Other community groups, including the RCMP, will be taking part, and aside from food, there will be music, dancers and a martial arts display. "I'm so proud this event isn't about only the Sikh community," Bains said. "This event has become a part of Prince George." A procession through the city is scheduled to begin from Guru Nanak Darbar at 10 a.m., travelling down Ospika Boulevard and ending at the CN Centre/Exhibition Park site around noon, where celebrations will last until at least 2 p.m.
Mint
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Taapsee Pannu helps underprivileged, distributes water coolers in summer relief drive
Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu visited slum areas in Delhi and offered relief from the heatwave. She distributed water bottles and water coolers to support the unprivileged struggling with soaring temperatures. She partnered with the NGO Hemkunt Foundation for the drive. Taapsee took to her Instagram account and shared a video from the drive. In the video, she was seen carrying water coolers and distributing them from door to door in the slums. She handed out water coolers and bottles to the people and interacted with them. The actor also greeted them with folded hands. Sharing the video, she wrote in the caption, "Helping them equip themselves for this summer this time it was to help them store some cool water for their families. Joy of helping people out of your comfort zone is real, try it :).' 'Intention is all u need to make the next move. #hemkuntfoundation To contribute , link in bio,' another post read. Reacting to the post, many praised Taapsee for her efforts. In the comments, a user wrote, 'That's great job.' 'Very commendable work,' added another one. Someone commented: 'You always do good work.' Taapsee has been collaborating with the NGO for quite some time. Sometime ago, she aided people the underprivileged by distributing fans and coolers with her husband, badminton star Mathias Boe, on the occasion of Vaisakhi. Visuals from the drive were shared by the NGO on Instagram. It was captioned as: 'Vaisakhi diyaan lakh lakh vadhaiyaan! This Vaisakhi, let the spirit of giving shine brighter than the summer sun.' Taapsee was last seen in Khel Khel Mein. She will be next seen in Woh Ladki Hai Kahaan? as ACP Komal Sharma. She will also be starring in writer-filmmaker Kanika Dhillon for Netflix film Gandhari. Talking about the film, Kanika told HT, "This is about a different sort of fear, or rather fierceness as a human being. To what extent can a mother go to protect her child? That idea is where Gandhari started. Action is something that I think is a very exciting genre. I've not done something like that before. So all these things came together." It is directed by Devashish Makhija.
