<b><u>THE BIRTH OF KHALSA</u><br>Vaisakhi</b> is a festival which is celebrated by <i>Sikh</i> community as this was the day when <b>KHALSA</b> was formed by <i>Guru Gobind Singh Ji</i>.<b> </b><i>Vaisakhi</i> falls in the Nanakshahi calendar on the first day of <i>Vaisakh</i> month.<br>On this memorable <i>Vaisakhi</i> day, <i>Guru Gobind Singh Sahib</i> called a big meeting at <b>Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib</b> near the City of <i>Anandpur Sahib</i>. Between fifty to eighty thousand Sikhs attended this meeting. When all were expecting to hear words of comfort and consolation from the lips of their Guru, they were perturbed to see him with a drawn sword in his hand and cried ' Is there anyone here who would lay down his life for Dharam?' There was a big silence, but the Guru went on repeating his demand. At the third call Daya Ram, a Khatri of Lahore, rose from his seat and offered himself. The Guru took him into an adjoining enclosure....(and soon after) came out with the (blood) dripping....(sword in hand) and flourshing it before the gathering, asked again, 'Is there any other Sikh here who will offer himself as a sacrifice(for the cause of dharma)? At this, Dharam Das, a Jat of Delhi (Haryana side) came forward and was taken into the enclosure....(The Guru again came out with the blood-stained sword, and made his previous demand). In the same way three other men stood up, one after another, and offered themselves for the sacrifice. One was Mohkam Chand, a chhimba of Dwarka (Gujarat State); another was Himmat, a cook of Jagannath (Orissa State); and the third was Sahib Chand, a barber of Bidar (Karnataka State).<br><br>Thinking their Guru had gone mad and afraid He would ask for more heads some of the congregation started to disperse when suddenly the Guru emerged with all five men dressed piously in white and in a new ceromony that changed the way that one became a Sikh the Guru now initiated the five into a new and unique order of Sikhs. The ceremony was called <i>pahul</i>, what Sikhs today know as the baptism ceremony or <i>Amrit Chhakna</i>. Then the Guru asked the first five Khalsa Sikhs to baptise him, in the same manner. He then proclaimed that the <i>Panj Pyare</i> -- "The Five Beloved Ones" -- would be the embodiment of the Guru himself:<br>"<i>Where there are Panj Pyare, there am I. When the Five meet, they are the holiest of the holy.</i>"<br><br>And so, as it was carried out on that historic day, the ceremony of <i>Pahul </i>continues to this day.<br><br>The important thing to remember about that day is that the five volunteers and the whole sangat thought or were "under the impression" that the five Sikhs were really walking to their deaths--being killed, one by one. The Sikhs who volunteered, had demonstrated their willingness to give their heads--in the same way that Guru Tegh Bahadur had done that day in Delhi.<br><br>These brave men had unkowningly chosen to be part of a new panth - <b>the Khalsa Panth</b>. Guru ji joined the <b>Khalsa Panth</b> after his devoted Sikhs - the initiator becoming the initiated. Today, as then, they lead the <b>Khalsa</b> alongside the Guru:<br>"<i>Where there are Panj Pyare, there am I…</i>"<br><br>He said whenever and wherever five baptised (<b>Amritdhari</b>) Sikhs come together, the Guru would be present. All those who receive Amrit from five baptized Sikhs will be infused with the spirit of courage and strength to sacrifice. Thus with these principles he established <b>Panth Khalsa</b>, the Order of the Pure Ones.<br>At the same time the Guru gave his new <b>Khalsa</b> a unique, indisputable, and distinct identity. The Guru gave the gift of bana, the distinctive Sikh clothing and headwear. He also offered five emblems of purity and courage. These symbols, worn by all baptised Sikhs of both sexes, are popularly known today as Five Ks: <i>Kesh</i>, unshorn hair; <i>Kangha</i>, the wooden comb; <i>Karra</i>, the iron (or steel) bracelet; <i>Kirpan</i>, the sword; and <i>Kachera</i>, the underwear. By being identifiable, no Sikh could never hide behind cowardice again.<br><br>The Guru gave the surname of <b>Singh (Lion)</b> to every Sikh and also took the name for himself. From Guru Gobind Rai he became Guru Gobind Singh. He also pronounced that all Sikh women embody royalty, and gave them the surname <b>Kaur (Princess)</b>. With the distinct Khalsa identity and consciousness of purity <i>Guru Gobind Singh</i> gave all Sikhs the opportunity to live lives of courage, sacrifice, and equality.<br><br><b>WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH!</b><br></b>