A special cultural event, which is part of the annual Vaisakhi celebrations in the Black Country, will be held in Walsall which also explores Sikh history.

The free community event will be hosted at The New Art Gallery Walsall on Saturday 15 April at 12pm-4pm.

Organisers have arranged a special afternoon of activities for visitors which includes yoga and mindfulness sessions, arts and crafts fun for all the family, music and Punjabi dance performances, and also museum exhibits which highlight Sikh coinage.

The aim of the event is to celebrate Vaisakhi and educate visitors about the rich culture of the Sikh community.

A spokesperson for Walsall New Art Gallery, said: “Join us to celebrate the creation of Khalsa in 1699 and travel through time from the days preceding and following the Khalsa Raj with a unique display of coins.

“Learn techniques of relaxation through Kundalini yoga, try on a turban to become a Maharaja for the day, enjoy bhangra performances from Gabhru Panjab De, get a mehndi, take part in a craft workshop and hear a Walsall based charity talk about their adventurous work at home and abroad.”

As well as celebrating Vaisakhi – a spring harvest festival that also marks the birth of the Khalsa order – visitors can also learn about Sikh economic history through coinage.

Exhibits at the gallery includes material relating to the Sikh Gurus (1469-1708), the Sikh Confederacy (1716-1783), the first Khalsa rule (1710-1716), and the rise of the Sikh Empire (1801-1849). The exhibits also includes rare Raja Duleep Singh (1838-1893) and East India Company coins.

Kohli Ravinder Pal Singh, from Global Sikh Vision, said: “The exhibition will be open to all communities on a ‘Free entry – All welcome’ basis enhancing peace, tolerance and harmony among all communities.

“Coinage of the Great Sikh Empire is a carefully curated, strategically chalked-out Sikh-led socio-community cohesion event.”

Timetable for the event:

1pm – Opening of Coinage of the Great Sikh Empire (Floor 4)

1.30pm – Heal from within – Kundali Yoga, mindfulness meditation, gong, bath and sound healing with Manjit Kaur (Foyer)

2pm – Yoga session 1 (Floor 1 Activity Room)

2.30pm – Yoga session 2 (Floor 1 Activity Room)

2.40pm – Q&A with Midland Langar Seva Society

2.50pm – Gabhru Punjab de Bhangra performance – (Foyer)

Other activities during the event include mehndi (henna) in the Library, turban tying workshop on the Mezzanine, and kite workshops in the Activity Room.

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