Wednesday, May 28, 2014
New book explores Sikh weddings
If you visit a Sikh temple you may be lucky enough to attend a wedding while you’re there.
Families who host Sikh weddings must be ready to feed more people than they actually invite because Sikh temples are open to the public and it is not uncommon for strangers to join the celebration.
This is just one of many customs that non-Sikhs may be unaware of.
Arvinder Grewal’s book, Weddings Around The World: Sikh Weddings, is a guidebook inspired by her own experiences with weddings growing up in Vancouver. She wrote the book for the Sikh-Canadian community when she realized that some customs were being lost.
“I intended it for the generation who have lost this information, who don’t have this information passed down to them,” said Grewal. But she added that the book is for anyone who is interested in Punjab culture or the Sikh religion. “I hope that it gives people an idea of the beauty of a Sikh wedding, the richness, the culture,” she said.
She noted a distinction must be made between Sikhism and Punjab. Sikhism is a religion, whereas Punjab is a region in northern India that extends into eastern Pakistan.
According to a 2011 Statistics Canada report, 11 per cent of Vancouverites self-identify as South Asian, 10 per cent speak Punjabi at home and 6.5 per cent follow the Sikh religion.
With thanks : vancourier : LINK : for detailed news.
Akali Dal to implement Nanavati report on 1984 riots: Harsimrat
IANS
New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal will get the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots implemented to bring those behind the riots before law, newly appointed Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Tuesday.
Harsimrat, who assumed charge as minister, said that justice has eluded victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots for the last nearly 30 years.
"The NDA government under prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had constituted Nanavati Commission to investigate the riots but unfortunately its report was not implemented by the Congress government. The Akali Dal would get this report implemented in letter and spirit to bring all those perpetrators of this heinous crime behind the bars," she told media persons after taking charge.
Hundreds of Sikhs were targeted and killed in Delhi and other places across India by mobs in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh security guards in October 1984.
with thanks : IANS : LINK : for detailed news.
Pakistan Sikhs threaten protests against holy book desecration
A Sikh organisation in Pakistan has threatened to launch countrywide protests if those who allegedly desecrated the Sikh holy book are not arrested by Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference at Karachi Press Club yesterday, Pakistan Sikh Council (PSC) patron Ramesh Singh demanded that a judicial commission be constituted to investigate how and why such incidents had all of a sudden started happening across Sindh province, reported the Dawn.
He said that all the culprits should be arrested, tried and awarded stern punishment so that it could act as deterrence to others. He also demanded security for the religious places of minorities.
Recounting instances in which copies of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib were burnt, Singh alleged that various incidents had been reported from across the province including in Sukkur, Dadu and Shikarpur districts.
Earlier this month, similar incidents were reported in Karachi and Shikarpur.
with thanks : DNA : LINK : for detailed news.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
New York: A Sikh temple in the US is facing local opposition
New York: A Sikh temple in the US is facing local opposition because of plans replace its existing prayer hall with a 12,000-sq-ft building with gold domes in a rural neighbouhood, media reported Monday.
The construction of a new building has been opposed by the people in Sacramento County in California. Gurdwara authorities are questioning the residents whether race has played a role in the opposition, since building a church does not face any such opposition, the Sacramento Bee reported.
The Community Planning Advisory Council is scheduled to hear the Sri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara’s proposal Wednesday.
County officials have denied claims of racism raised by any project opponents.
“When someone keeps complaining without reason, then you might guess that racism is the reason,” a county resident, Ramesh Banger, said.
Charlea Moore, a member of the Community Planning Advisory Council, said neighbours have legitimate concerns about the project, but she said she thinks they can be resolved.
Residents raised complaints about how the temple would use properties adjacent to the prayer hall and a few complained about the drainage in the property due to the constant floods in the area. They also asked how parking would be handled, Moore said.
The project’s supporters have addressed the concerns with plans for a detention pond and shuttle bus service when large events are scheduled.
with thanks : MizoNews : LINK
Friday, May 23, 2014
Aap sab nu Guru Amar Das Ji de Parkash Purab Diyaan Lakh-Lakh vadhaiyaan hovan ji.
Aap sab nu Guru Amar Das Ji de Parkash Purab Diyaan Lakh-Lakh vadhaiyaan hovan ji. SikhsIndia
American Sikh Congressional Caucus strengthened with two more co-chairs
Washington, May 23 (ANI): The bipartisan American Sikh Congressional Caucus has announced the appointment of Congressman John Garamendi and Patrick Meehan as additional co-chairs of the caucus.
They will serve as leaders of the caucus with the current co-chairs Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman David Valadao.
The selection of Garamendi and Meehan was made official through a letter to the House Committee on Administration.
Garamendi has worked with the California Sikh community for decades. His Congressional District is home to tens of thousands of Sikhs and many Sikh run farms.
"It is an honor to be selected as co-chair of the bipartisan American Sikh Caucus. I am proud to take this next step in my work with Sikh-Americans to defend civil rights, fight discrimination, and educate Members of Congress and the public about the community," said Garamendi.
with thanks : Yahoo News : LINK : for detailed news.
Protesting Sikhs push into Pakistan parliament
ISLAMABAD — Dozens of baton-wielding Sikhs pushed past the front gate and entered the grounds of Pakistan's parliament Friday, protesting recent attacks on their houses of worship.
Sikhs staged a two-hour sit-in on parliament's lawns in Islamabad before dispersing after speaking with police officials and lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party, senior police officer Aftab Cheema said. They assured the Sikhs they'd receive full protection, Cheema said.
Cheema said investigators would look into how protesters made it past the gate.
Zafar Ali Shah, a lawmaker from the PML-N party of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, told reporters that the Sikh leaders protested against several attacks on their places of worship in southern Sindh province.
"We assured them that the government will provide them full protection, and they peacefully dispersed," he said.
Darshan Singh, a lawmaker from the minority Sikh community, said the protesters apologized over entering the parliament's grounds.
Sikhs are a tiny minority in predominantly Muslim Pakistan. Most of them live in Sindh province and they never held such a protest in the past.
with thanks : bradenton : LINK
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Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Sikh-Americans raise $3,30,000 for needy students in Punjab
WASHINGTON: A US-based Sikh body has raised $3,30,000 to fund scholarships for bright but poor students to acquire higher education in Punjab.
Sikh Human Development Foundation (SHDF) organized a fund raising programme which was attended by Sikh-Americans from across the US. The chief guest of the event, Surender Singh Kandhari, a Dubai-based business tycoon, announced a donation of $1,00,000.
"Education is the most important treasure that any young man can possess and we are privileged to be in a position to help those in need in Punjab. It is our duty to do so. Good education helps in breaking the cycle of poverty. Giving is a virtue and it is a blessing that we are being asked to give," he said.
with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.
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