11/02/2026
Right, so picture this: April 2024, and we've somehow landed a gig at The Long Room at Lord's Cricket Ground - the home of cricket - for a Vaisakhi event put on by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), no less.
Our brass ensemble (we call ourselves Ronak Mela Baja) turned up alongside our tabla musician, and honestly? Performing there felt surreal.
We played 'Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Hai' - this absolutely revered hymn from the 17th century by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, you'll find it in the Dasam Granth - basically a prayer asking for divine strength to live right and stand up fearlessly against injustice. Proper powerful stuff.
Now, as someone who's obsessed with cricket, this was peak fan-boy territory. There I was, at THE iconic stadium, with my band, celebrating Vaisakhi - a festival that means the world to me.
Quick sidebar: Vaisakhi (say it like "Vu-sah-kee" or "Baisakhi" depending on which dialect you're familiar with). Sikhs worldwide celebrate it every year, marking that pivotal moment in 1699 when the tenth Sikh guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, created the Khalsa and essentially established what it means to be Sikh.
But here's the thing. It's not just religious observance, is it?
Vaisakhi's become this beautiful cultural celebration - one that brings people together regardless of background, honouring Punjabi heritage whilst championing cultural diversity across the board. It matters.
This year, I'm excited about doing more than just providing relevant entertainment (though that's important too). The real prize? Educating people about Sikhism, what Sikhs believe globally, and building those genuine, lasting connections between people of all faiths and none. That's what counts.
Thinking commercially for a second - and yeah, businesses should think about this - Vaisakhi's actually a brilliant opportunity to properly engage with multicultural audiences. Not just tick-box diversity stuff, but genuine multicultural marketing that resonates. When companies embrace this kind of cultural understanding and create campaigns that actually speak to different groups authentically, the relationships they build are so much stronger.
So here's a question for you: how is Vaisakhi represented in your school, workplace or community? April 13 or 14 2026...the clock is ticking!
Drop us a line: [email protected]
Watch back:
www.ecb.co.uk/video/4000324/raising-the-game-vaisakhi-celebration-in-the-lords-long-room #
On 24 April, the ECB hosted the first Vaisakhi celebration in the Lord's Long Room as part of its commitment to 'Raising The Game' - a campaign dedicated to helping make cricket the UK's most inclusive sport.
