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Surrey awash in Khalsa spirit
of Vaisakhi
Cambell joins in community's big day
WSN Bureau
trafalgar.jpg) SURREY -- Tens of thousands of Sikhs packed the streets of Surrey on
Saturday for the eighth annual Vaisakhi parade honouring the
religion's holiest day.
The police estimate the celebration brought out close to 100,000.
The parade closed off streets in Newton for hours as a caravan of
floats and marchers weaved past throngs of people who lined the
streets, handing out Indian delicacies and treats to all who passed.
Surrey's Dasmesh Darbar Sikh gurdwara hosted the festivities, which
have grown steadily over the years, as has the Indo-Canadian
population in Surrey.
Mayor Dianne Watts welcomed the crowd and said she appreciated the
multicultural nature of the event, which also draws many non-Sikhs
who enjoy the colourful parade. Premier Gordon Campbell, dressed in
a traditional Indian tunic, praised the community for its
contributions.
The parade started at 10 a.m. at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar temple
on 85th Avenue near 128th Street and then proceeded south along
128th, turned west along 76th Avenue, traveled north along 124th
Street, and then returned east via 82nd Avenue. The area was closed
to vehicle traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 100 police
officers on hand to direct traffic and patrol the crowds who were
totally peaceful and rather enjoying themselves and beseeching
others to share in the joy and say prayers for the welfare of the
entire mankind in keeping with the 'Sarbat Da bhala' philosophy of
Sikhism.
"It is a strengthening of people's faith and I think that is one of
the things that is really exciting about this event," Campbell said
before taking the stage. "This has grown from a day of celebration
to almost a week or 10 days of celebration and I think that is great
for all of us."
Politicians from all major parties at all three levels of government
clamoured for a few minutes at the microphone as the crowds
gathered.
The effort put in by families and businesses was huge, with many
staying up all night to prepare the food they were handing out for
free. This weekend's gathering had a more political tone than in
recent years, with several floats, signs and flags demanding a state
of Khalistan.
The float for a group called the Sikh Vision Foundation had pictures
of martyrs who died in the armed struggle in Punjab, including
leaders of Khalistani organizations such as Talwinder Singh Parmar,
the Babbar Khalsa founder. Marching behind the Sikh Vision float was
Ajaib Singh Bagri, a former Babbar Khalsa leader. Another float
proclaimed, "Khalistan is the only solution."
Event organizers from the Dasmesh Darbar gurdwara donned newly made
vests with the temple name embroidered on the back and "Khalistan"
on the chest emblem. Temple executive member Satinderpal Singh Gill,
who for years was based in Pakistan as part of the Khalistan panthic
committee, accepted a plaque from the B.C. government presented by
former MLA Dr. Gulzar Singh Cheema.
Next weekend, Vancouver will host a Vaisakhi parade. On Saturday
April 14, about 50,000 people are expected on and around Main Street
for the parade, organized by the Khalsa Diwan Society.
Campbell not perturbed
Premier Gordon Campbell said he wasn't concerned about the increased
Khalistani presence.
"People will have their own opinions on what should happen in India
and in South Asia," he said. "I am not here to build any support for
any political movement in one part of the world or another. I am
here to celebrate the community in Canada that reaches out and says
join us in a celebration of our faith and our commitment to one
another and the future generations."
11 April 2007
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