Basketball Federation Refuses to Rule on Turban Ban

"It is a shame that FIBA has decided to let bureaucracy stand in the way of religious freedom,” said Sona Simran Kaur, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) Communications Director, after the International Basketball Federation declined to make a decision at its Central Board meeting about players wearing religious headgear, deciding instead to defer to further study.

Despite the fact that other major sports organizations -- including the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) -- do allow religious headgear to be worn by players during competition, FIBA does not.

Their rule encompasses all headgear, including turbans, hijab, and yarmulkes, per Article 4.4.2 of their rules: "Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause injury to other players."

There have been several cases in the past year in which Sikh and Muslim players were not allowed to compete unless they uncovered their heads.

with thanks : nbcnews : LINK : for detailed news.

Ontario Sikhs ‘deeply disappointed’ with new helmet law

The province’s premier has informed Sikhs they are not exempted from motorcycle helmet laws.

In a letter this month to the Canadian Sikh Association, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne wrote that not wearing a helmet poses “a road safety risk.”

“Ultimately, the safety of Ontarians is my utmost priority, and I cannot justify setting that concern aside.”

The Sikh association said it had worked for years to get an exemption on religious grounds, stressing that devout Sikh men are required to wear turbans to cover unshorn hair, over which motorcycle helmets do not fit.

It noted that two Canadian provinces — Manitoba and British Columbia — as well as Great Britain do not require turbaned Sikhs to wear a helmet.

with thanks : religionnews : LINK : for detailed news.

Labour losing Sikh support, Miliband told

Ed Miliband has been criticised over the lack of prominent Sikhs in his party. Although Labour has traditionally had strong support among British Sikhs, a former councillor warned that it was losing ground to the Conservatives.

with thanks : thetimes : LINK : for detailed news.

Meet the devout Sikh with the world's largest Turban !

The Turbanator: Devout Sikh wears the world's largest turban that takes him six hours to put on and weighs 100lb

with thanks : Daily Mail : LINK : for detailed news, pics, vids. 

Home is where the heart is !

Beautifying heart & home are two prime factors for making a house, a real home, because, home is, where the heart is. Therefore, we must take the time to make our surroundings reflect our unique personality and soothe our senses. By infusing our home with some of the natural, nourishing elements, we’ll have the energy to shine when it matters most. Therefore, I intend to beautify my home so that it is a reflection of my heart.

I have my own style of beautifying my home & i take my own time to make it beautiful. I buy a thing only & only if it looks beautiful to me, be it casual, ethnic, contemporary or anything else. Therefore, first of all I would like to add the Swayam Boutique Collection of 11 pcs bed room set. It’s bright in colour & it will definitely reflect the brightness of my heart into my bedroom.  

The next thing I would prefer to have in my home will be the Aapno Rajasthan Lantern. It’s looking so pretty, so cute, so beautiful. It’s full of brightness & there will be no chance of any shadows of any darkness in my home as it will sparkle the life in all the four corners.  

Though I wanna add much more out of the makemyhome.com collection, but I have only three options. So the last thing but not the least, that i will definitely have in my home is the Aapno Rajasthan Time Piece and National Emblem stand. It will not only keep me on time always, but will generate a non ending sense of pride & responsibility for my mother land, my India.

We must remember that the essence of a home lies in the personalities of the people who live in it. Therefore, if you are living in a house, which is just a physical structure, plz use your heart, your feelings, your emotions and make it a home. We must remember that, "Home is where the heart is".

This post is a part of Makemyhome activity at BlogAdda.com

Golden Temple rare pic of 1858. Must view & save !

This is a Shame !

Mr Yvan Mainini, President FIBA-International Basketball Federation: STOP Racial Discrimination against Sikh Turban in FIBA! #LetSikhsPlay Sign The Petition Dear B S, So many medals won for India while playing across the world, and never have I been asked to remove my turban!  That is exactly what happened last month to two young basketball players from India - Amarpal and Amjyot Singh. They were representing India at the Asia Cup Championship in China. Just before the game, both of them were asked to remove their turbans if they wanted to play. They were told that wearing turbans violated the rules of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). This is a shame! How can our country’s top sportsmen be humiliated like this? Sign this petition and ask FIBA to change its policies. Sikhs should be able to play with their turban on if they want to.   B S, my faith and religion have played a big part in my successful career.FIBA’s  policies should be more sensitive to people’s faith. Sign this petition and tell them so.  If atleast 25,000 people sign this petition, FIBA will know that this is an issue of great importance and change its policies to be more sensitive.   After you sign this petition, forward my mail to your friends and family.  Let us support our country’s sportsmen in every way that we can.  Jai Hind.  Milkha Singh

Sign The Petition

Gurudwara in Mangalore - Serving religious needs of Sikh community

Florine Roche
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Aug 25: Mangalore being a true cosmopolitan city has assimilated people of diverse religions and nationality in its fold. It is therefore not surprising to know that there about 25 to 30 Sikh families residing within Mangalore and they have also constructed a Gurudwara in the city. Interestingly the original root of these families is the same though these families have arrived in Mangalore from different parts of Northern states like Punjab, Haryana Delhi and Uttar Pradesh over a period of nearly four decades.

Sikhs are known to be kind, open hearted, generous, tolerant, hard working and progressive in their nature who easily integrate into the society. This has been proved right as these Sikh families who have made Mangalore their home for many years now have retained their identity but at the same time have easily merged with local culture and traditions. It is therefore not astounding if you come across young school and college going brats conversing in pure Tulu or Kannada just like the locals do. Or don’t be surprised when they swear by their liking for some of the local Mangalorean cuisine, about which they must have come to know from their class or collegemates or tasted them in some of our celebrated hotels in the city.

with thanks : daijiworld : LINK : for detailed news with pics.

Photo highlights of the day : The Guardian

with thanks : the guardian : LINK : for more pics.

Parade for the Great War Sikhs

Members of Preston’s Sikh community paraded through the city centre in remembrance of those who fought in the First World War. 

Hundreds marched through the streets, making their way from the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Singh Sabha on Bow Lane to the Flag Market.

The sun blazed down as the crowds marched up Fishergate Hill, on to Cheapside and to the war memorial, to remember those lost in conflict.

The free family event included live martial arts, children’s activities including a bouncy castle, as well as food, ice cream and arts and crafts.

It was organised by members of the Bow Lane temple, to mark the role Sikh soldiers played in the war.

Organiser Gurumukh Singh, who planned the event alongside colleague Buphinder Singh, said: “The weather was fantastic, it was on our side and it certainly brought the crowds out.

with thanks : lep : LINK : for detailed news.