The Five Beloved Ones, known as the Panj Pyare, line up for the Sikh New Year procession in Southall carrying their swords.
Guru Gobind Singh was the last living Sikh Guru. The eleventh Guru is Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism. On special occasions, this sacred scripture is taken out of the temple and paraded through the streets. This is called a Nagar Kirtan. One of these occasions is Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year Festival. Guru Gobind Singh chose this celebration in 1699 to transform Sikhs into a family of soldier saints. Five men were involved in dramatic scenes on that day in 1699 and they became known as the Panj Pyare, the Five Beloved Ones. Men representing them can be seen in the modern procession
Size: 3567px × 2586px
Location: Southall, Middlesex, England
Photo credit: © Richard Slater / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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