A plea to the Sikh youth
Alcohol & Vaisakhi do not mix
Ultimate Sacrifice or Southall Broadway booze cruise?
How do you celebrate Vaisakhi? For some, binge drinking and cruising in expensive cars, harassing girls has characterised Southall Broadway for the last few years, the day is only complete with the customary vomiting in public bins.
Is this how Sikhs celebrate their most holiest and revered day? Whilst the majority of Sikhs chose to mark Vaisakhi at the Gurdwara or in a dignified manner, to others Vaisakhi is chosen as one of the prolific drinking days in the Sikh calendar.
Can you imagine what the reaction is of a non-Sikh visiting Southall, who wanted to know what Vaisakhi is all about would be?
For some people it has become a ritualistic excuse to drink till they are totally legless, sleep it off at Southall police station or worse. To a non-Sikh it must be an amusing spectacle, to the
majority of Sikhs it is embarrassing and offensive.
True meaning of Vaisakhi for Sikhs
On this day, Guru Gobind Singh ji tested the courage, love discipline and commitment of his Sikhs, by asking a Sikh to sacrifice himself. It was the ultimate act of sacrifice and submission. Five brave Sikhs accepted.
It from these Sikhs that Guruji himself took Amrit and was followed by hundreds and thousands who became ordained as amritdhari Sikhs. The spiritual transformation and upliftment was complete and so born was the fearless, Waheguru fearing Khalsa. It is the distinctiveness, spirit and sacrifice, without which there would be no Sikhs today.
A saint-soldier, a warrior, protector of all……
Our blessed Guru raised an immortal and sacred army, the Khalsa (Akal Purk ki Fauj). We are all children of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Is this the respect and dignity that we show him? With the birth of the Khalsa came the noble embodiment of saint-soldiers.
The irony is that although drinking alcohol is forbidden in Sikhi, The birth of the Khalsa has become an excuse for drunkeness. Will Vaisakhi become as Christmas has become, an excuse to drink and party with no real meaningful significance?
Lack of understanding and awareness
The depressing scenes that we witness boil down to a lack of general misunderstanding about Sikhi. It is a sad day when we have to put up signs outside a Gurudwara saying “no intoxicants allowed” should this really need to be said?
It is a sad day when leaflets like this have to be written to educate our own people drinking on Vasaikhi day.
………Celebrating vaisakhi “Southall style” ?
Sikhi
• Gurbani tells us to think of Waheguru in all our actions and thoughts. This was the message of our Guru’s who encouraged the Sikhs to always keep a clear mind focussed on Waheguru.
• Gurbani tells us Waheguru is the source of all life. The human body is a gift, a temple
Alcohol and Illegal drugs
Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught that drugs and alchohol cloud the mind, distracting followers away form what is important - their relationship with Waheguru. Drugs endanger not only the body and mind but also a person's spiritual development. Gurbani tells us to refrain from such acts.
Those who do not use intoxicants are true; they dwell in the Court of the Lord. ||1|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji Siree Raag 15
Why should one who deals with the nectar of the Lord’s name develop a love for mere wine?
(SGGS p360)
The tragedy is that by acting in this way we reinforce the perception created in the Indian media and film industry which relishes the “dozy and bumbling Mr Singh” stereotype who likes (but can’t control) his booze, harasses women with little success.
Research also links the problem of excessive drinking in the Sikh community. Deaths rates among Asian men were four times higher than average, a recent study found, with 80 per cent of this group were of Sikh origin.
Dr Neil Fisher, a consultant physician and gastroenterologist at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley found:
“Drinking has become a bit of a macho thing among Sikhs………..." He added: "A threefold increase in deaths over seven years is really quite astonishing - I can't think of any other diseases which have increased at that rate."
Help with Alcohol or Drugs ?
If you or someone you know needs help with an alcohol or drug problem the following organisations are able to assist:
www.alcoholicsanonymous.org.uk 0845 769 7555
Alcohol Concern Telephone:
0207- 928- 7377
www.alcoholconcern.org.ukNational Drugs helpline - Freephone: 0800 776600 and is also available in Panjabi Tel: 0800 371143 6pm-10pm Wednesdays
We send out a heartfelt appeal to all our sikh brothers and sisters to act responsibly on Vaisakhi.
Wishing all a very happy and safe Vaisakhi.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
www.baisakhi1999.orgwww.Sikhitothemax.comwww.anandpursahib.orgwww.boss.org.uk 
