The US House of Representatives has recognised Vaisakhi (ਵਿਸਾਖੀ, also spelled as Baisakhi) as the day of the creation of Khalsa in 1699, during the 115th Congress’ first session on April 5.
Though Vaisakhi celebrations have been held on the premises of the White House, the recognition was endorsed for the first time in the House of Representatives.
The resolution was submitted by Congressmen John Garamendi and Patrick Meehan, who co-chair the American Sikh Congressional Caucus.
It has come at a time when the incidents of hate crime against the Sikh community are on the rise in the United States and the US administration is apparently eyeing to create awareness to control such incidents.
The resolution said, “Baisakhi is an annual festival celebrating the spring harvest season and it is particularly significant to the Sikh religion and is one of the most important dates in Sikh history.”
“For Sikhs,Vaisakhi commemorates the creation of the Khalsa, a fellowship of devout Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699,” it added.