Vaisakhi and the power of real connect

Vaisakhi is the biggest cultural moment in the Sikh calendar. Growing up in Southall, it meant many things: a visit to the Gurdwara (Sikh temple), eating langar (food made by the community kitchen), and coming together with others - a real sense of togetherness.

Vaisakhi celebrates the birth of the ‘Khalsa’, which means pure. You can read more about the origin of Vaisakhi here. My interpretation of Vaisakhi is about the transcending of pure values to each and every person. I wouldn’t call myself outwardly religious, but I’ve always found Vaisakhi to be a time for reflection, gratitude, community… and of course, food! There’s also something meaningful about it falling in spring, commemorating the harvest season, given Sikhs are originally from Punjab (one of the most significant agricultural regions of India).

Whilst Vaisakhi has always been part of my life, particularly growing up, I didn’t really talk about it with people from other backgrounds. Sikhs make up less than 1% of the UK population, so we really are a tiny minority, but being Punjabi, we also pack a good punch and will usually bring in parts of our culture if you know us well.

This year, though, I’ve seen a massive shift. John Lewis, in particular, has led the way in showing real cultural insight when it comes to Vaisakhi. For the second year in a row, they’ve spotlighted Vaisakhi and, in doing so, shone a light on a religion that many people still know little about.

What stood out to me most was their focus on education, for example, demonstrating how to tie a dastar (the Sikh turban) on locals, including a policeman. That kind of understanding creates space for appreciation of customs and traditions that are deeply significant. Sikhism is rich in symbolism, and understanding those outward expressions of identity really matters.

Across the Sikh community, people have been sharing where else they’ve seen Vaisakhi recognised this year. I saw Roman Kemp wish everyone a Happy Vaisakhi on the BBC’s One Show, leading into a segment on Sikh music and instruments. My brother shared Tesco offers on Indian food to mark the occasion, and Dishoom launched a Vaisakhi lunch menu celebrating traditional Punjabi food.

But the John Lewis Leicester acknowledgement hit differently. It embraced Vaisakhi as an opportunity to shine a light on a community that doesn’t always get seen or, when it is seen, isn’t always understood. It created space for collaboration, for learning, and ultimately showed that when you lean in and take time to understand communities, you can create real connect. Honestly, I just wish I lived closer to Leicester so I could experience it for myself.