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LA Mayor, Congressman will participate in Vaisakhi parade
WSN Bureau 

LOS ANGELES: One of the ways in which a community makes a mark of its recognition is the index of its acceptability among populations where members of its Diaspora reside. Sikhs, by that yardstick, are increasingly being seen as a strongly vibrant community, and mayors of many of the world's top cities, senior law makers and civil society leadership will be joining the faith community in Vaisakhi celebrations. 

In Los Angeles, Congressman Brad Sherman, city Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and many other senior law makers of the United States will join the Sikh community in Southern California at the annual Vaisakhi celebrations at the Los Angeles Convention Center on April 6. 

Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy (Lee) Baca, California State Board of Equalization Chairperson Judy Chu, California State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, California State Assembly Member Mike Eng and Los Angeles City Councillor Bernard Parks will also join the celebrations. 

Sikhs celebrate the day to mark the historic and destiny-changing act of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who founded the Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab on that day in 1699, thus setting the tone and immeasurably high standards for his community which believes in 'Sarbat Da Bhala' and putting up a good fight for the cause of the meek and the downtrodden. 

Grammy nominee Satnam Kaur Khalsa is also expected to perform kirtan on that day, that will last till before the parade (nagar kirtan), scheduled to begin at 3 pm and will wind its way through city streets, ending in downtown Los Angeles two hours later. 

Many floats bearing the message of Sikhism will be part of the parade lending it colour and traditional fervor. 

Southern California has seen the Vaisakhi celebrations at this scale for nearly a quarter century now, and for the last one decade, all gurdwaras join hands for the parade. The Sikh community has introduced special Mai Bhago Spirit of Vaisakhi Awards to honor Sikh women working to promote the message of Sikh gurus and educate the world about Sikh identity.  

Among those being honored are Harjot Kaur Singh, a Canadian film producer; Inni Kaur Dhingra; Penny Yogiraj Sandhu, CEO of JusPunjabi channel; Valarie Kaur, an American film director and writer; and Shanti Kaur Khalsa, writer and chairperson of the International Khalsa Council.

26 March 2008
 

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