More than 400 people attended the celebration which included musicians, doves and a carnival atmosphere
The streets of Cardiff turned into a sea of colour on Saturday as the Sikh community said its final farewell to one of its most popular founders.
Kuldip Singh Pal helped set up the first Sikh temple in the Welsh capital and also established the first Indian folk dance group in the UK.
The lively, flamboyant family man, who leaves behind his wife Shelia Kaur and their seven children, 27 grandchildren and four great grandchildren, died of pneumonia on Valentine’s Day, aged 73.
And it is the fact he lived to see so many generations of his own descendants that he was given the grand, ceremonious send-off that he received.
More than 50 years in Cardiff
Mr Pal and his wife moved to Cardiff more than 50 years ago and they initially moved in with his uncle, Guljar Singh, as they could not afford to buy or rent a house.
The middle of three boys, his other two brothers had already moved to Cardiff.
Mr Pal worked as a bus driver for Cardiff Bus all his working life and lived in the same house in Victoria Park.
Centre of attention
A born entertainer, he was always the life and soul of the party and was described by his children as “the centre of the family”.
One of his sons, Rajinder Singh, 42, said: “He was a dancer, a singer, an all round entertainer. He was a flamboyant dresser and was keen to get up on stage and would always stand out in a party - the centre of attention.
“But he would earn the right to be the centre of attention, for all the right reasons.”
Set up the first Sikh temple
Along with a group of other Sikhs who lived in Cardiff Mr Pal set up the city’s first Sikh temple on Ninian Park Road.
To raise enough money to be able to buy the building, he held functions and charity events and 25 years later he went on to buy another larger temple, the Daimais Singh Sabba Temple on the same street, where his life celebration ceremony was held on Saturday.
The three-day celebration started on Thursday and a continuous prayer was held at the temple where close family members stayed all day and night, with food available to those who visited to pray and share stories of Mr Pal.
Doves and balloons
The day - known as a celebration to rejoice his life rather than a funeral to mourn his death - was colourful and vibrant with a fleet of 10 vehicles and four coaches following the four-horse carriage from the family home to the temple.
Outside the house, doves and balloons were released into the sky - a symbol of his spirit being released as he leaves his home for the last time.
Traditional Indian folk music filled the air as a group of around 10 musicians from the local community played the drums, flutes and trumpets.
More than 400 people attended the ceremony, with relatives flying in from India, Canada, Australia and America to be there.
Rajinder added: “He was such a genuinely nice person, always helping people.
'Thanks, Dad, for the love and affection'
“Since the family has been in the temple on Thursday there hasn’t been one bad word said about him by anyone.
“Thanks to my father’s father, Kartar Singh Amritie, who came to Cardiff initially, there are now five generations here and his legacy will continue through the temple and the folk dancing, which his grandchildren have now taken over.
“He died on Valentine’s Day and it is a very appropriate day for him to have passed away because he was such a loving and affectionate person.
“We take comfort in that and we will all remember that loving day forever.
“We would like to say thanks to our Dad for all the love and affection he has given us all throughout our lives.”
