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Guru’s words Reign
Supreme at 29th Sikh Parade in Yuba City
Showcases Guru’s message celebrated
Dr Amrik Singh
 YUBA
CITY, CA: Even the rains just before the Yuba City Sikh Parade
failed to cast a dampener but a clear sky, sunny morning, religious
fervor and love of the eternal Guru brought out some 70,000 Sikhs
for the 29th Parade on Sunday, marking the 300th
year of the Guruship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the scriptures that
carry the message of peace and universal brotherhood, and make Sikh
religion the most unique.
Sikhs came from
as far as Washington DC, Los Angeles, Espanola, New Mexico,
Vancouver and elsewhere in Canada to honor their Guru’s message as
waves of blue turbaned youth and saffron dupattas, traditionally
salwar-kameez dressed and attired in western clothes mingled, all
enjoying the hymns of gurbani wafting over the crowds.
Besides Sikhs,
people from almost all faiths joined in the parade and expressed
their thankfulness for a unique experience.
The actual
programs ran for three days and while Friday and Saturday witnessed
Kirtan Darbars, Dhadhi Darbar and Kavi Darbars, there was also a
seminar held that was dedicated to the tercentenary of Gurta Gaddi
Diwas.
Sikh gurdwaras
from all over the
USA, various
Sikh organizations, Sikh Student Associations, cultural clubs and
business organization had their floats decked with multi-colored
backgrounds with motifs of Guru’s message. The gurbani hymns added
to the dreamlike atmosphere of the parade.
The Sikh Parade
that has blended with diverse cultures of
Sutter County
attracted many a TV crews, journalists of ethnic and American media
and artists.
The Sikhs of
course felt proud of the show and the media back home in Punjab and
community media across the globe focused on the show but perhaps the
real achievement was in something as common place as a group of
young white American youth coming to see the parade at the
insistence of a Sikh friend and complaining that they really wanted
some little booklets to be distributed so that they can read a bit
more about this wonderful religion.
In post 9/11
times when there is a dire need to tell the world who the Sikhs are
and how their religion and scriptures have the message and the
community has the conviction that teachings of the Guru are in
consonance with the most democratic ideals of a just and peaceful
society and ideas of love, peace and devotion will be the ruling
ideas of the world. It is here that the Yuba City Sikh Parade
succeeded in underlining the message.
That’s why the
neighboring Americans who live along the route of the Parade instead
of complaining about the traffic congestion actually look forward to
the occasion, and some even call their friends to have an experience
of the Sikh culture and religion showcased. That the Sikhs
distribute free snacks, food and drinks in keeping with their great
religious tradition of Langar only helps to win more.
Among the
kirtani jathas that regaled the sangat with gurbani were that of
Huzuri ragi Bhai Pritam Singh Mithhe-Tiwane wale, Bhai Manjit Singh,
Gurmeet Singh Pathankot wale, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Huzuri Ragi Sri
Darbar Sahib, Bhai Davinder Singh Amritsar wale, Bhai Balbir Singh
Siddiqui, Bhai Gulbagh Singh and others.
The dhadhi jatha
of Bhai Komal Singh Komal, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Grewal, Bhai Gurnam
Singh Bhandal, katha-kaar Principal Dr Inderjeet Kaur Vaasu, Bibi
Asha Sharma and Pritam Jyoti Kaur were also highly appreciated.
But perhaps
those more closely linked with the politics of the Sikh domain could
not but help notice the control that Didar Singh Bains was still
exercising over the stage, not allowing anyone to speak beyond the
allotted time or bringing in local politics. The winning side of
course also tried to stress its presence during the Nagar Kirtan.
In his address,
Dr Amarjit Singh from
Washington said
Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar’s death sentence should be commuted while
Gurmit Singh Aulakh reiterated his standard and well known position
on Sikh sovereignty. Dr Pritpal Singh of American Gurdwara
Prabandhak Committee said Sikhs need to introspect after all the
centenaries that they have celebrated. Dilbagh Singh Bains also
addressed the sangat.
But perhaps it
is the Sikh Parade that wins all hearts and remains the core of the
celebrations in
Yuba City every
year. The excitement of the young in preparing, decorating and
equipping their floats gives them positive energy to stay away from
drugs, crimes and gang involvement. They consider themselves a part
of the community that advocates recognizing other faiths, groups and
belief systems.
The Sikh Parade
also increases interaction of the community with elected officials,
lawmakers and law enforcement.
It is a great
challenge for the
Sutter County to
make arrangements for the parade. Lt. Governor John Garamendi joined
the congregation on Saturday, November 1, 2008
and watched a movie about the universal message of Guru Granth
Sahib. Three more movies were screened to make connection with the
Sikh history. One such movie focused on the tragic life of Maharaja
Duleep Singh who suffered unbearable miseries at the hands of the
British. Sherriff department had made elaborate arrangements to
maintain order for the free flow of traffic on the streets.
This writer
talked with a number of people to know about their experiences who
came for the parade for the first time. Robert, Garry, Pete and Pam
came all the way from
Sacramento.
Though they did not know anything about the actual purpose of the
Sikh Parade, they however figured out it was for peace. On being
informed about Guru Granth Sahib’s uniqueness, one of them suggested
some written information would have been very helpful for the first
timers like him.
Students of
Punjabi course at Sacramento State University and Sacramento City
College at Davis while enjoying the Parade were able to read many
signs in Gurmukhi and were so happy to experience what they were
learning in the classroom. Katie, though she has been living in
Yuba city
for last four years now, came for the first time on the suggestion
of a certain friend. She said it was so ennobling for her and her
children and that she would not miss any parade in the future.
Among the floats
were those of Sikh Youth of America, LA Sikh Sangat, World Sikh
Council, Punjabi Youth Club, Yuba City Sikh Sangat, Radio Geet
Sangeet,
West Sacramento,
Roseville,
American Red Cross, All California Sikh Students Association, Akal
Academy Baru Sahib etc.
Among the Sikh
leaders who participated were Johan Singh Gill, Tejinder Singh
Dosanjh, Pavinder Singh Kariha, Akali leader Kulwant Singh Khehra,
Nijhar Brothers, Jaspreet Singh, Gurnam Singh Pamma, Harbans Jandali
Toronto, Tutt Brothers, Balwant Virk, Amarjeet Baasi, Giani Ajmer
Singh Karsewa wale, Raunak Singh, Karamdeep Singh Bains, harbans
Pamma, Balvir Sohal, Charan Singh Gill, Master Jagir Singh,
Balwinder Basra, Kulwinder Mahi, Kamaljit Kariha, Jaswinder Singh
Jandi, Jasjeet Singh Fremont, Giani Wadhawa Singh, Dr Gurinder Singh
Kanwar and many others.
A special studio
on behalf of Comcast Cable News Network was set up at the premises
of Professor Hari Singh Everest’s on Tierra Buena Rd. Dr. Jasbir
Singh Kang of Sikh American Heritage held special interviews for
Central Valley Comcast. Dr. Onkar Singh Bindra, a former Professor
and Alumni of UC Berkeley distributed information about the approval
a new course “Sikh American and Globalization” at California State
University Sacramento.
TV channel 8
will telecast the coverage of the Parade on November 23, 2008 at 4
PM and November 29 at 3 PM. It is also available on Online
www.mykbtv.com . Newly founded JUS Punjabi TV on Dish Network
Channel 809 covered live all proceedings of the 29th Sikh
Parade. (With inputs from WSN Bureau)
5 November
2008
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