HR 37
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 8, 2021
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
Ken Cooley, Chair
HR 37 (Kalra) – As Introduced April 6, 2021
SUBJECT: Vaisakhi.
SUMMARY: Recognizes this year’s Vaisakhi celebration on Tuesday, April 13, 2021,
encourages Californians to take part in this joyous day of celebration, and expresses deepest
respect for all who observe and celebrate Vaisakhi. Specifically, this resolution makes the
following legislative findings:
1) Vaisakhi, also spelled Baisakhi, is an ancient festival of great significance to Sikhs, Hindus,
and Buddhists in many regions of India and other parts of South and Southeast Asia, and is
celebrated annually on April 13 or 14 by many Californians with Sikh and Indian heritage.
2) Vaisakhi, in several parts of Northern India, especially Punjab, is a long-established harvest
festival, which predates Sikhism, to celebrate the agricultural year and pray for abundant
“rabi” crop produce for the next season.
3) For Sikhs and Sikh Americans, Vaisakhi holds special religious and historical significance
because it commemorates the creation of Khalsa by the 10th Guru Gobind Singh in 1699,
whereby five Sikhs called “Panj Piaray” or “Beloved Five” were transformed into leaders of
the faith to defend religious freedom.
4) For Hindus and Hindu Americans, the first day of Vaisakhi marks the traditional solar new
year and is celebrated in diverse ways to mark spring harvest and the sacredness of rivers in
Hindu culture.
5) The Sikh American celebration of Vaisakhi embodies an array of religious and cultural
celebrations, including worship, parades, dancing, and singing throughout the day and
includes performing seva (selfless service), such as providing free meals to the needy and
inviting visitors to Gurdwaras (Houses of Worship).
6) Sikh Gurdwaras throughout the world and in California are decorated and hold celebrations,
and many Sikh Americans choose to be baptized as Khalsa on this day
FISCAL EFFECT: None
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800