In a colourful celebration that engages the senses, Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Sikh community will this weekend host an event that brings together all races and religions.
The Okanagan Sikh temple is putting on its sixth Vaisakhi parade Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.
It91裸聊视频檚 an event that has grown exponentially each year, showing both development in the Sikh community and the bonds being forged with non-Indo Canadians.
91裸聊视频淭here are thousands that come,91裸聊视频� said Paramjit Philip Patara, president of the temple.
Vaisakhi, he explained, is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar.
It marks the harvest of winter crops in the Punjab region and the start of a new year. Farmers celebrate the fruits of their labour, give thanks and pray for prosperity in the future.
It91裸聊视频檚 also remarkable in the religion as it91裸聊视频檚 when the Sikhs gained a distinct identity.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a celebration of human rights91裸聊视频攖hat91裸聊视频檚 what it91裸聊视频檚 about,91裸聊视频� said Patara, explaining that religious strife in India hundreds of years ago gave way to the Sikh tenets, which focus on religious freedom.
91裸聊视频淭he Sikh community is about defending the defenceless and standing up for your own and other people91裸聊视频檚 rights. That91裸聊视频檚 the basics behind it. That91裸聊视频檚 what the celebration is all about.91裸聊视频�
It91裸聊视频檚 fitting, then, that so many from such different walks of life have come to embrace the celebration.
91裸聊视频淟ast year, my daughter brought her friend who is of Jewish faith and they were both in the parade,91裸聊视频� said Coun. Mohini Singh, who has connection to both the Sikh and Hindu communities.
91裸聊视频淎nd you should see my fellow councillors. They all come dressed in Indo clothing91裸聊视频his is what Canada is about, though.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about coming together in respect and celebration of our cultures.91裸聊视频�
Singh has been in Canada for 25 years and she said the changes she has seen have been tremendous.
91裸聊视频淥ur buying power has increased, our numbers have increased, families have grown and we now have a generation of Canadian kids who were born here,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淣ow we are not the new immigrants. Most of us are established we have homes and we are able to live healthy balanced lives. 91裸聊视频�
An example of that change can be seen the agricultural community.
When she was a reporter, Singh used to head down to the South Okanagan, where Portuguese families owned many of the farms and orchards.
Now, she said, many farms are held by Indo Canadian families.
91裸聊视频淧unjabis have a natural attraction to the land and they love agriculture,91裸聊视频� she said, highlighting how the parade fits in with local culture.
91裸聊视频淭his parade is significant in that it shows how the community has grown and how we are taking pride in who we are. 91裸聊视频�
And many celebrations specific to the holiday will be on display during the Saturday event.
91裸聊视频淭here will be a lot of food along the parade, people will have stalls set up in their driveway, where they91裸聊视频檒l be giving away lots of things91裸聊视频攎ostly food,91裸聊视频� Patara said.
They even have an ice-cream truck giving away ice-cream for two hours.
Beyond the food, there91裸聊视频檚 also the parade which will feature Bhangra and Gidda dance by men and women respectively. This very popular traditional folk dance is performed in groups on the fast beat of dhol (drum).
Dancers perform everyday farming scenes of sowing, harvesting and gathering of crops through movements of the body to the accompaniment of a ballad.
91裸聊视频淓verybody is welcome91裸聊视频攅verybody in Kelowna,91裸聊视频� Patara said.
For more information about road closures caused by the event, check the website kelowna.ca/road report.
