Dadi-Nani Ki Kahaani Nani Ki Kahaani Nani Ki Kahaani

GURU GOVIND SINGH
Baisaakhi and The Panj Pyaaras
Dear Children,
Guru Govind Singh was the last Guru of the Sikhs.
He was active, cheerful fearless and a born leader.
Hindus and Muslims were equally dear to him. He also believed that for a ruler, all his
subjects should be considered like his own children.
To him, true worship meant doing ones duty to the best of ones capacity.
The Northern Indians herald the harvesting season by celebrating ‘Baisaakhi’
On the day of the Baisaakhi, Guru Govinsinghji, the 10 th Guru of the Sikhs, assembled
his Sikhs at Anandpur, and constituted the ‘Khalsa’ order.
He called the Sikhs ‘Khalsas’ the pure ones.
It is interesting to learn why and how the title of ‘Singh’ came into being.
No Sikh prayer is complete without remembering the 5 Pyaaras. Let me tell you about
their bravery. These 5 demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt that they were not
afraid of death.
It was a practice for the Gurus to hold annual conferences on Baishaakhi day. In one such
meeting in the year 1699, Guru Gobind Singh asked for 5 volunteers who would be
willing to give their life for a just cause. He took the volunteer to a nearby tent and
returned with a sword dripping with blood. He repeated the same process with 4 more
volunteers. Then, Guru Gobind Singh surprised the multitude, by returning with the five
volunteers alive and well. These ‘five’ were honored by being conferred the title of ‘5
Pyaaras’ meaning ‘The 5 loved ones’ He gave them a new surname ‘Singh’ (Lion) to be
connected to their name. Kaur (Princess) was the suffix to be added to the girls’ names
as they grew up.
The Punjabis sow new crops and dance the ‘Bhaangra’.
It is believed that the holy River Ganga descended from Heaven on Baishaakhi day.