Friday, April 16, 2010

Sikhs to celebrate with parade Saturday in Carteret

Hundreds of Sikhs are expected to participate in the borough's fourth annual Sikh Day parade on Saturday, one of the town's most attended events, according to borough officials.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that grew out of northern India about 500 years ago and now has approximately 26 million followers worldwide.Hardyal Singh Johal, chairman of the borough's Planning Board, said he was the first Sikh ever to move into Carteret, back in the early 1970s.

"This is like the birthday of our community," Johal said. "This is basically the most important day of the year for us. There is nothing better for us than this day." Saturday's event will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a ceremonial raising of the Sikh flag — named the Nishan Sahib — outside Borough Hall on Cooke Avenue. That will be followed by the parade.

Police Capt. Dennis McFadden said the approximately 1-mile parade will begin at Borough Hall, then proceed south on Pershing Avenue, turn right onto Washington Avenue and left onto Cyprus Street before ending at Carteret Park at the corner of Cyprus Street and Carteret Avenue.

The parade, Johal said, is expected to last about 45 minutes, adding that freshly-cooked vegetarian food will be served at the event. He expects at least 1,000 people from Carteret and other neighboring communities to join in the festivities.

Mayor Daniel Reiman estimated that more than 1,500 Sikhs live in Carteret.

"This is certainly an important event for the Sikh community and for those in the Sikh faith," he said. "This certainly gives us the opportunity to highlight their contributions to our local community and society in general."

Woodbridge-based Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar, located on Port Reading Avenue, is sponsoring the parade.

with thanks : source : mycentraljercy.com

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