Vaisakhi Let's Celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate. #

Hello. Hello? Oh!

I don't know where she's gone, Sprockett.

Oh! Hello! I'm Thomas, Thomas Ticker,

the biggest fan of all kinds of celebrations and parties.

I was just on the phone to my mum. She only lives down the road,

but she like me to call every day.

Here she is. Yes!

-Aww, little mumsy wumsy!

-HE LAUGHS

-HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

-The festival I've got to show you today

is all about being part of a big family. It's called Vaisakhi.

And it also celebrates the Sikh New Year.

I've got a friend who's getting ready for the big day.

Would you like to meet him?

Hi, I'm Sarbjot.

I'm a Sikh, and today is a really special day for me,

because it's the beginning of Vaisakhi!

Vaisakhi is a festival where we remember the special day, many,

many years ago when the Sikh community became like one big family.

We're going to make a Vaisakhi flag.

We need brushes, glitter, scissors,

paint, sticky-back plastic, paper and sticks.

On the paper, Dad's drawn a Khanda.

The Khanda is a special sign for Sikhs.

This is fun.

It's looking sparkly.

Now we're going to put sticky-back plastic on it.

-Careful what you're doing.

-Now we're going to put the stick on.

I'm using the sticky-back plastic to fasten it.

I'm going to use the scissors to trim on the sides.

There we go. Finished!

Tomorrow, I'm going to wave my flag for everyone to see.

ALL: Happy Vaisakhi!

Today, I've come to the place where we come together to worship.

It's called a Gurdwara.

Before we go into the Gurdwara, we take our shoes off,

and cover our head to show respect.

This room is where we worship.

At the front, is our holy book.

It's called Guru Granth Sahib.

HE PRAYS

When we arrive, we bow down to the holy book,

and sometimes make an offering.

The Guru Granth Sahib is read non-stop

for many hours for Vaisakhi.

I like listening to the readings.

HE PRAYS IN PUNJABI

Tomorrow will be a busy day, with lots of people,

so there's lots of food to get ready.

The food will be shared by all the people who come here.

I'm helping by washing up.

-Thank you! Good boy!

-Thank you!

Tomorrow will be a big parade.

I'm helping make the decorations.

-Which colour do you think should be next?

-Yellow.

-Yellow.

Break one for me, please?

The parade is going to be so colourful.

I can't wait for my mum to see me on the float tomorrow.

I'm going to be so proud.

It's time for us to go home now.

The streets are quiet, but tomorrow they will be full of people,

and everybody will be celebrating. I can't wait.

I can't wait either. All those flowers and all that food! Gosh!

My mum's a great cook. She brought me this cake round yesterday,

and I've been looking forward to trying it.

Mmm. That tastes like...

Like toothpaste!

Oh! I think I need a story to take my mind off the taste.

There's a brilliant story which Sikhs remember at Vaisakhi,

about how they all came to be like one big family.

Would you like to hear it?

# Celebrate! #

In the year 1699,

Guru Gobind Singh called together thousands and thousands of Sikhs,

to celebrate the harvest festival of Vaisakhi.

The guru came out of his tent carrying a sword and announced

that anyone prepared to give up his life should come forward.

The crowd gasped. What was he going to do?!

Everyone became quiet.

Slowly, one man made his way through the crowd and Guru Gobind Singh

took him into the tent. After a while, the guru came out,

all alone, still holding his sword.

But where had the other man gone?

Everyone wondered what had happened inside.

Guru Gobind Singh asked for more people to step forward,

people ready to give up their lives.

And one by one, he took four more men inside the tent.

Each time returning without them.

Everyone watching was very worried.

What was the guru doing?!

But Guru Gobind Singh opened the flap to his tent

and revealed all five men, happy and healthy.

This was a test, the guru explained,

to see who was brave enough and willing to dedicate themselves

to God. To defend their faith and to care for the poor.

The guru then took a bowl of sweetened water called Amrit.

He stirred it with a small sword, said some prayers

and gave it to the five men to drink.

He sprinkled what was left of it on their heads and eyes.

The five men became know as the Panj Pyare, or the beloved five.

From that point onwards,

to show that they were all part of the one big family,

all Sikh men were given the same surname, Singh,

meaning Lion, and all the women were given

the name Kaur, meaning princess.

Isn't that a great story?

It would be amazing to have a name like lion or princess, wouldn't it?

-My middle name is Tarquin.

-PHONE RINGS

Hello.

No, Mam, I'm not saying I don't like the name Tarquin,

it's just not as exciting as lion, is it?

Yes, I got your cake.

It was...different.

Yes, I think it was toothpaste.

Never mind, at least my teeth are clean. I've got to go. Bye.

Let's see how Sarbjot is getting on at the Vaisakhi celebrations.

I hope he has fun!

Hello!

Today is the day of the big Vaisakhi celebration.

I'm feeling very excited.

Today, I'm wearing my special Bangla outfit.

There will be dancing at the celebrations later.

We're all getting ready.

Our hair is very long,

so I wear a patka and Dad wears a turban.

The turban is a really long cloth.

Dad's really good at doing it, but I'm still learning.

Dad's wearing The Five Ks.

These are five things beginning with a K.

Kesh is uncut hair.

This is Kirpan. Kirpan is sort of like a sword.

And this is a Kanga.

It's like a comb, and stays in dad's hair.

This is a Kara. Kara is a steel bracelet.

I have one too.

This is a Kachera. It looks like shorts.

We're going to the Gurdwara now.

Everybody is enjoying the food that was prepared yesterday.

There's so many people here today. Look how busy it is.

Those men at the front are called the five beloved ones,

and they will lead the procession.

Look, here comes the Guru Granth Sahib.

That's the holy book that was read earlier.

It's time to begin.

It's very exciting.

We're going to walk around the town in a huge parade.

Look at all the crowds. Everybody can take part.

THEY SING

It's a perfect time for me to play my dhol.

CHEERING

Look out for my family.

I can't wait to see their faces when they see me go by.

Look at the dancers.

Look at the amazing patterns they're making.

This is called Gatka.

One of the best things is that local people give us sweets.

Hey, look, there's my family!

Hi, Mum!

I've had so much fun celebrating Vaisakhi.

It's great to celebrate! THEY CHEER

Wow, wasn't that colourful.

And I loved all that dancing. Thanks, Sarbjot.

Well, it's time I had a colourful little party of my own

with some of my friends. Would you like to come?

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# We're so excited cos it's going to be

# A party time for all our friends and family

# We're getting ready, we'll have so much fun

# So come and join in, everyone

# Cos it's time for us to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# It's time for us to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Cos today is such a special day

# It's great to celebrate

# And it's time for you and me to celebrate

# Celebrate

# So jump to your feet

# And dance with us

-# Clap your hands and cheer

-Whoa-oa

# Cos it's time for us to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Now it's time for us to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Cos today is such a special day

# It's great to celebrate

# And it's time for you and me to celebrate

# To celebrate

# Time for us to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# And it's time for you and me

# It's great to celebrate. #