CELEBRATION OF SIKH IDENTITY AWARENESS DAY IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA
For the 4th year in row annual celebration of Sikh Gathering on Vaisakhi has been arranged by Sikh Community of Arizona. This year the program was named as SIKH IDENTITY AWARENESS DAY and was celebrated on March 6th in Downtown Phoenix convention Center located at 475 E. Monroe Street. About 750-1000 people arrived to take part first in the Keertan Darbar followed by a very well organized Nagar Keertan. Sangat members followed by three local Raagi Jethas of the three local Gurdwara performed the Keertan Seva.
All the three Gurdwaras took initiative to help out the Sevadaars from PDSCC who took care of all the services for Langar preparation and serving the Langar served in the form of hot Breakfast first and then hot freshly prepared vegetarian lunch. Besides our congregation, any street passerby as well as the members of a Christian Church located across the street arriving for their regular services were graciously invited to partake Langar which they happily did.
Before Nagar Keertan, two young children Maanik Singh and Manmeet Kaur gave a very informative talk of about 7-8 minutes each, one in English and other in Punjabi. These talks discussed the need for Sikhs to take care of their own Identity and help spread the message among the citizen in a proper way. Every Sikh must consider him or herself as an ambassador for this cause. The speeches were very well received by all.
Another highlight of the program was the presence of Mr. Larry Fultz, newly appointed Executive Director of Arizona Inter Faith Movement who was specially invited and introduced by Dr. Sachdev and honored by Suminder Singh Sodhi, organizers of the event. Turban tying competition for Sikh Children arranged by Niranjan Singh Ji was very well appreciated by the Sangat. Bibi Sharanjit Kaur Saini awarded the prizes in cash to all the participants. The program continued from 10:30 AM through 4 PM.
Nagar Keertan included very informative banners having detailed history and important points about Sikh Faith. More than 50 such banner had been specially prepared by the writer for this event. They were first hung outside the venue for the public to know about Sikhs and then carried by the Sangat during Nagar Keertan.
*Author of 1. "Square Pegs, Round Holes" www.SquarePegsRoundHolesBook.com and 2. "Sikhism: Points to Ponder; Perspectives of a Sikh Living Abroad," as well as a recently published masterpiece about the cross-cultural dilemma of Indian subcontinent diaspora, 3. "One Coin, Two Sides," For details of the this new book, please go to the LINK http://inkwellproductions.com/one-coin-two-sides.htm