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Vaisakhi festivities in
Peterborough a mix of faith, music, sewa
Punjab community
showcases its rich heritage bringing out the spirit of Vaisakhi
WSN Network
PETERBOROUGH:
It is
a toetapping music that makes it impossible to sit still, no matter
what your dancing ability. Even the deputy mayor of Peterborough Pat
Nash, city council chief executive Gillian Beasley and Werrington
North Councillor Judy Fox found the bhangra beat hard to resist.
They joined
hundreds of people from communities across the city, including city
councillor John Fox and deputy mayoress Trudie Meadows to celebrate
the Sikh harvest festival of Vaisakhi during an evening of colour,
culture and music.
The Vaisakhi
dinner and dance, organised by the Punjabi Indian Community
Association, saw about 400 people come together and enjoy some
spectacular drum and dance displays at the city’s Cressett, in
Bretton.
Vaisakhi is also
a long established harvest festival in the Punjab which had been
celebrated long before it gained an added dimension for Sikhs.
In 1699 the 10th
guru, Guru Gobind Singh, chose Vaisakhi as the occasion to transform
the Sikhs into a family of soldier saints, known as the Khalsa
Panth.
President of the
Punjabi Indian Community Association Ram Singh Kalra said: “It was
an excellent evening. “We are trying to integrate the culture of
India into Peterborough. The festival was part of a national
integration, welcoming people from all communities in the city to
enjoy tranquility, peace and harmony.
”Year 4 pupil at
Holmes School Victoria Cater (9) was among the bhangra dance troupe.
She said: “I learned to dance at school last year. I love it because
its really fun. It’s a very colourful festival.”
Jessica Baxter
(7) a Year 3 William De Yaxley pupil, was also in the line-up and
learnt the art at after-school club. She said: “I like it because it
is a lot of exercise and fun.”
The Cresset, in
Bretton,
Peterborough,
hosted a lavish evening of food and song, which saw city mayor
Michael Burton joining Sikh families dressed in their traditional
finery for a spectacular end to the festivities. Del Singh (44) is
chairman of Centre Safe and a member of the Sikh community. He was
heavily involved with the project to move the gurdwara to
Royce Road
from Cromwell Road four years ago.
In
Peterborough, the Sikh community is made up of about 400 families.
14
May,
2008
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