Sikh civil servants allowed to take unrecorded leave for Vaisakhi Day

Civil servants from the Punjabi-Sikh community are allowed to take unrecorded leave to celebrate Vaisakhi Day on April 14.

The Tourism and Culture Ministry, in a statement, today said although there is no public holiday for the celebration, the unrecorded leave would enable them to celebrate the festival, which marked the start of the harvesting season according to their religious calendar.

On that day, the Sikh community observed the 'langar' ceremony, which entails the serving and giving of free food to the needy regardless of race, religion, belief or background at every Gurdwara (Sikh temple), said the statement.

The ministry, in collaboration with the Malaysian Punjabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will be holding the MyVaisakhi Fest 2017 on April 29 at the Malaysian Tourism Centre (MaTic) to celebrate the festival, listed in the national tourism calendar.

Traditional dances, musical, Bangra and Punjabi arts and cultural performances will be held during the festival. -- Bernama