SIKHS BRING A SPLASH OF COLOUR & MUSIC TO LEICESTER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Sikhs bring a splash of colour and music to Leicester

by Tom Mack

More than 15,000 people were drawn to the city centre yesterday for one of the most colourful parades of the year.

The annual Vaisakhi procession saw people from Sikh temples all over the region parade through the centre of Leicester from the temple in Holy Bones, near St Nicolas Circle, to the temple in East Park Road, Evington.

Drums and religious songs reverberated through the streets as the crowds made there way along the three-mile route, with drinks and snacks to keep them going.

The procession was headed by a drummer on the back of a vehicle, followed by more than a dozen barefoot sweepers, clearing the streets with brooms ahead of the flag and sword bearers.

For Sikhs, Vaisakhi commemorates the founding in 1699 of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, and for Hindus marks the start of the New Year.

The first vehicle in the parade, with musicians and the scriptures known as the Guru Granth Sahib, was followed by dozens of school children. Behind them were more vehicles and thousands more people.

As the parade made its way through the city, more and more people joined in.

Gurjeet Kaur, 32, of the Narborough Road area of Leicester, who was there with her family, said: "We come every year and it's always a very happy event.

"People come from a long way away because this is the biggest event of the year for us and although there are others elsewhere in the UK, this is the best.

"There are thousands of people.

"We love coming to follow it through the city and sing traditional songs.

"There are snacks along the way to keep our energy up – lots of samosas and drinks."

 

Balbir Singh Ram, 40, of Braunstone Town, Leicester, was also there with his family.

He said: "I've done this every year since I was little and it's lovely on days like this when the sun's out.

"A lot of people join the parade as it moves along but a lot of other people, who aren't Sikhs, come and watch, so I think it's a good multi-cultural event as well.

"Leicester City Council and the police always make a big effort and they're to be applauded."

It was the first parade for three-year-old Gurnnoor Singh, of Belgrave.

His dad, Satinder, 42, said: "Last time he was in his pram so this is the first time he's walking and I'm sure he'll make it the whole way.

"It's a long way but we never feel tired because we're celebrating and so everyone's happy.

"It's a very nice event and it's lovely weather, too."

In the last four processions combined, more than £16,000 was collected for charities along the way.

This year the collection was in aid of Anthony Nolan, Leicester General Hospital's kidney unit, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare and the Sukrit Education Trust.

Leicester City councillor Inderjit Singh Gugnani, who represents Knighton ward, was among the organisers of the event.

He said: "The nicest thing about the day is when I see people from other communities opening their doors and being interested in what's happening."

TEMPLES TO COLLECT FOOD FOR THE POOR

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Temples to collect food for the poor

The city's Sikh community will be collecting thousands of pounds worth of food to help the poor and celebrate Vaisakhi.

The festival of Vaisakhi, when farmers traditionally give thanks for their harvests, takes place on Saturday, April 13.

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar.

The occasion, which dates back more than 300 years, not only celebrates the Sikh New Year and harvest but also commemorates the establishment of the sacred Khalsa ceremony in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, when Sikhism was transformed.

At the East Park Road temple, in Leicester, which is attended by up to 25,000 visitors each week, there will be a food drive for the British Red Cross, Fareshare and Leicester's Dawn Centre homeless shelter.

Temple secretary Surinderpal Singh Rai said: "This is a new thing this year, and we're doing it because it's needed in this economic climate.

"Our temple has a kitchen that serves free food to a few hundred needy people each week, so we see the increasing importance of this sort of help.

"Our food drive will just be for packaged, non-perishable things such as rice, beans and cereal, as well as toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes.

"I know our community here will be very generous. I'm sure we'll get items worth a total of several thousand pounds."

The temple, which is known as the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, will be holding the food drive in partnership with Oadby Gurdwara.

As well as worshipping, Vaisakhi is a time of the year when selfless service is encouraged.

Simone Connolly, Fareshare's project manager for Leicestershire, said: "This will make a big difference as the food will be distributed to our community groups who help almost 2,000 of the most deprived people in the county.

"We are also very keen to engage with the different communities in Leicestershire, so we're happy to be working with the Sikh temples."

During the food drive, a marquee will be set up as a collection point, outside the East Park Road temple. Food will be collected between 9am and 4pm.

For religious reasons, donations should not include any meat, eggs or alcohol.

The food drive comes the weekend before Leicester's Vaisakhi parade, which will see thousands of Sikhs from across the region joining a colourful parade from Holy Bones, in the city centre, to the East Park Road temple.

It will take place on Sunday, April 21.

Mr Singh Rai said: "I'd expect between 15,000 and 20,000 people will attend, depending on the weather.

"We've had a few wet and cold years recently but on a good day the event gets up to 35,000 people."

THOUSANDS JOIN SIKH HOLY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LEICESTER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Thousands join Sikh holy day celebrations in Leicester

Thousands of people lined the streets yesterday to celebrate the birthday of the founder of the Sikh religion.

Brightly-decorated floats led a parade of up to 15,000 worshippers from the Guru Tegh Bahadar Gurdwara, in East Park Road, Leicester, to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara at Holy Bones, near St Nicholas Circle.

The Nagar Kirtan event, which has been staged in Leicester for more than 20 years, marks the birthday of the first Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

For Harbhajan Singh, 70, from Rowley Fields, it was a very important day.

"It is like Christmas day for us," he said. "There is lots of singing and praying all over the world."

The celebration began with prayers and hymns at the Guru Tegh Bahadar Gurdwara, before the procession took three hours to snake its way through the city.

Food stalls lined the route, pumping out songs to the passing crowds.

Manjit Kaur from the Narborough Road area attended the temple with her 10-year-old son, Vikram.

"I think like all celebrations, it has become more commercialised and has become more about coming together and being with family," the 37-year-old said. "But still, it is a very important day because it is the celebration of the first Guru's birthday."

Vikram said: "I think my favourite part is the food."

Worshippers carried on the celebrations with more prayers and food at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara.

Grace and Sharanpal Singh from Braunstone Town, were there with one-year-old daughter Heer.

Dad Sharanpal, 30, said: "Today is very important.

"We will have prayers in the gurdwara and a community meal together."

Wife Grace, 27, said: "It is the one day where you get to see all the people from the community together."

Kabeer Singh, 28, from Oadby, was there with friends, carrying flags as part of the parade.

"It is a bit of a get together with old friends," he said. "A bit of a party."

Nagar Kirtan is the second of two religious processions by members of the Sikh community in Leicester every year.

The first is Vaisakhi, the religion's new year, in April.

CITY'S SIKHS PRAY FOR VICTIMS OF US SHOOTING

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

City's Sikhs pray for victims of US shooting

Sikhs in Leicester have said prayers for the six victims of Sunday's fatal shootings at a temple in America.

Gurjit Singh Walia, spokesman for the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Holy Bones, in the city, said: "We are all shocked by the senseless killings.

"We just wanted to gather to say prayers for those who lost their lives and the others affected."

Leicester[shire] Sikh Alliance (LSA) has also offered its condolences to those affected by the shootings, which took place at a Sikh temple outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Spokesman Amandeep Rai said the alliance's thoughts and prayers were with "the victims of the shooting, the Sikh community of Milwaukee and the larger community of Wisconsin, which we know will stand with their Sikh neighbours with their support and prayers during this very trying time".

It was announced yesterday that the gunman who opened fire as several dozen people prepared for Sunday morning services was former soldier Wade Page, 40, a neo-Nazi white supremacist.

As well as the six people who were killed, three people were critically injured.

Page was later killed outside the temple in a shoot-out with police.

Suleman Nagdi, public relations officer for the Leicester-based Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "This cowardly shooting of innocent people symbolises all that is wrong with some parts of society, especially as it took place so soon after the horrific cinema killings in Denver.

"Early reports from the USA have suggested a racial motivation for this crime which is fuelled by hate.

"I find this very upsetting, since the Sikh community is well known for its hospitality and generosity to all of humanity."

THOUSANDS OF SIKHS ON STREETS OF LEICESTER FOR VAISAKHI

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Thousands of Sikhs on streets of Leicester for Vaisakhi

Thousands of worshippers took to the streets to celebrate one of the most important holidays in the Sikh calendar.

The festival of Vaisakhi brought a splash of colour to the city as dozens of brightly-coloured floats filled with singers and drummers led a procession.

The parade started at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Holy Bones, at noon.Thousands of people – many in orange turbans, scarves and robes – followed the procession, and handed out sweets and treats to onlookers.

For 10-year-old Ruben Benning it was a chance to spend time with friends and family.

The youngster, from Bushby, said: "Mostly I like it because I get to see lots of my friends along the way. It is a lot of fun.

"Also, the free food is really good."

Mum Ami, 41, said: "It is such a lovely, peaceful celebration and a chance to share our religion with each other and the rest of the city – one of the best in the world when it comes to celebrating and accepting other cultures.

"It makes me so happy when I see people from other cultures walking with us."

For Sikhs, Vaisakhi commemorates the founding in 1699 of the Sikh community, the Khalsa.

It is also observed by Hindus, who celebrate it as a harvest festival.

Hardeep Kaur, took part with her mother Amarjit, 52, and sons Dylan, eight, and Aaron, five.

Mrs Kaur, 33, from Evington, Leicester, said: "It is really important for me to bring my boys along to learn about their roots. If they do not get involved now, they won't when they are older.

"It is nice to walk around our city, too."

Dylan only had one thing on his mind. "I love the food," he said.

"That's my favourite part. It keeps me going on the long walk."

For De Montfort University students Mani Dhillon and Serina Devi, the festival was a chance to feel at home.

Serina, 19, said: "We like to come along to think about our families.

"The food does remind you of what you are missing from home, though."

Mani, 20, said: "It is also a chance to show we are proud of our values and beliefs."

The procession took several hours to reach Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road, Highfields.

There, many worshippers spent the rest of the day eating, celebrating and praying.

SIKH TEMPLE INSTALLS SOLAR PANELS

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Sikh temple installs solar panels 

A Sikh temple has become one of the first faith centres in Leicester to install solar panels. 

The Guru Nanak Gurdwara, on Holy Bones, in the city centre, has installed solar electric and hot water panels to cut energy use, fuel bills and carbon emissions at the temple. 

With reduced energy bills and extra income from Government incentives for generating renewable energy, the Gurdwara expects to earn £1,500 a year from the installations. 

Joginder Singh, a manager at the Gurdwara, said: "We did it for two reasons – to cut down on pollution and to save some money. We are keen to use the solar panels to raise awareness within the local community about sustainable energy."

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS BRING SPLASH OF COLOUR TO CITY STREETS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury (though not on the paper's website):

Birthday celebrations bring splash of colour to city streets

A kaleidoscope of colours shimmered in the streets of Leicester yesterday as thousands of Sikhs celebrated the birthday of the religion's founder.

Brightly decorated floats led a parade of up to 15,000 worshippers from the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road, to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara at Holy Bones, near St Nicholas Circle.

The Nagar Kirtan event, which has been held in Leicester for more than 20 years, marks the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

After prayers and hymns at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, the procession took three hours to make its way through the city.

Worshippers carried on the celebrations with more prayers and food at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara.

Wosrshippers lined the streets to watch the parade.

Harpreet Kut Bolina, 20, of North Evington said, "It's lovely. it reminds us al of wonderful our culture is. It has a serious message, but is fun too.

Her friend Mandy Kaur Bassi, 23, also of North Evington, said: "We are celebrating the birthday of our 10 gods and it's very important.

"It's great to see the youngsters and the older ones mixing in a day of celebration."

Balinder Singh, 43, of Crown Hills, said: "It is a fantastic occasion and an opportunity to show all of Leicester and beyond how we are about peace and love."

International charitable trust Khalsa Aid made a collection during the procession in aid of people suffering in Haiti, Ethiopia and Somalia.

COLOURFUL AND PROUD DAY FOR THOUSANDS

From today’s Leicester Mercury:

Colourful and proud day for thousands

By Laura Elvin

An ancient festival brought a huge splash of colour and a taste of Indian culture to the streets of Leicester yesterday.

The sun shone down on thousands of worshippers who took part in a parade to mark Vaisakhi, one of the most important holidays in the Sikh calendar.

The procession started at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Holy Bones, at 11.30am.

Brightly-coloured floats filled with singers and drummers were followed by a procession of worshippers who handed out sweets and treats to crowds who gathered to watch.

Like many onlookers, Manvir Kaur joined the procession as it passed.

The 20-year-old, from Evington, said: "It's so nice to be out there, so many of us all together. It's a day where we can get dressed up, wear our turbans and scarves, and be proud to be a Sikh in Leicester."

A group of friends from City of Leicester College walked in the parade together.

Tharenuir Sawan, 18, from Scraptoft, said: "This day is everything for us. It represents our very existence – physically, mentally and spiritually.

"Just getting out and being part of our community is the best bit, and having the chance to mix and meet new people. It's a very important day for us."

Classmate Parminder Sahib, 18, from Evington said: "It's just nice to be spending time together. Everyone is not at work, not at school, and has the time to enjoy the sun and the celebration."

Vaisakhi fell on Thursday, April 14, this year, but the procession was held over until yesterday so as many people as possible could take part.

Aneeta and Ragbit Hulait, from the Narborough Road area of Leicester, joined in the parade with daughters Amareese and Kira.

Amareese, eight, said: "We like getting chocolate and treats – that's the best bit!"

Sister Kira, six, said: "For me, my favourite part of the day is eating the Indian food on the way round. It's yummy!"

For Sikhs, Vaisakhi commemorates the founding in 1699 of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa.

It is also observed by Hindus, who celebrate it as a harvest festival.

Resham Singh Sandu, Leicestershire's first Sikh high sheriff and chairman of the county's Interfaith Forum, said: "All the different cultures and faiths in Leicester and Leicestershire came together. It's such a great showcase for the city."

Thousands due to join in parade

Nice piece in today's Leicester Mercury about the Vaisakhi parade that will take place in the city tomorrow. Over the past few years this has become a landmark in Leicester's calendar and it continues to go from strength to strength. This is a very positive article, with some helpful context and historical background: 

Thousands due to join in parade 

By Peter Squires & David Owen 

Up to 20,000 people are expected to take part in a parade through Leicester tomorrow to mark the Indian festival of Vaisakhi.

The colourful procession will wind its way through the centre of the city. 

It will be accompanied by devotional music, with spectators invited to join in with the festivities and share in traditional Indian delicacies. 

The Vaisakhi is an ancient harvest festival in the Punjab region and commemorates the founding of the Sikh nation in 1699. It also marks the Hindu solar new year and is observed by people of different faiths across the sub-continent. 

Visitors from across the country will swell the crowds, with up to 20,000 people expected on the day. 

Resham Singh Sandu, Leicestershire's first Sikh high sheriff and chairman of the county's Interfaith Forum, said: "Vaisakhi is a very special festival in the Sikh calendar – a time of fulfilment and giving thanks, and looking forward to the year ahead. 

"The procession will be a very lively and happy occasion, full of colour, music and dancing. 

"It's a chance for all the different cultures and faiths in Leicester and Leicestershire to come together. It's also a great showcase for the city." 

The three-hour parade will begin at about 11am at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikh temple, in Holy Bones, off Vaughan Way. It will go through the city finishing at the Guru Bahadur Gurdwara temple, in East Park Road. 

Vaisakhi fell on Thursday, April 14, this year, but the procession has been held over until Sunday so as many people as possible can take part. 

Several hundred people gathered at the Holy Bones temple on Thursday – marking the end of six days of non-stop recitals from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. 

Temple vice-chairman Sulakhal Singh Dard said: "From early in the morning, the hall was full of people celebrating and bringing respect to the temple. At one point in the day, we must have had more than 500 people." 

The parade will travel along Great Central Street, Vaughan Way, St Nicholas Circle, Peacock Lane, St Martins, Greyfriars, Berridge Street, Pocklingtons Walk and Welford Place, along King Street, Regent Road, Granville Road, Evington Road, into East Park Road.

Read the article on the Mercury website, along with reader comments: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Thousands-join-parade/article-3454982-detail/article.html

LORD GLASMAN GOES WALKABOUT

Lord Glasman of Stoke Newington and Stamford Hill is in Leicester for the day. His visit is being coordinated by Dr Miles Weaver of the Faculty of Business and Law at De Montfort University. In terms of the university's programme of events, this follows on from debates held at DMU in February on the topic, "Are universities a public good?" (see entry for 2 Feb 2011 by guest blogger Clare Carr).

I came across Maurice Glasman in a Guardian profile some months back. Not knowing anything at all about the man or his thinking until then, my first reaction was, "Now that's the kind of person who should be in the House of Lords!" Since then, I've followed him with interest in the press, online and in social media and that reaction has only grown stronger. So I was delighted to receive this invitation to meet him at close quarters. Rather than try and introduce Lord Glasman properly to you here and give all the context to the visit, I'd prefer to concentrate on what was said and done today. For background stuff and useful links, I direct you to Dr Miles Weaver's blog (which contains a link to that Guardian article mentioned above).

So, there are around 30 of us at this afternoon session in the Hugh Aston Building. There's been a meeting just for students in the morning, followed by a private lunch. Some people who were at those have stayed for this meeting too, but it would appear that the numbers have swelled for this session.

I should make it clear that, while Lord Glasman is a Labour peer with a high profile role in helping reshape the party's political philosophy, this is not a Labour meeting. There are several Labour activists here, naturally, but there are many people of different political persuasions, as well as some who prefer to keep their affiliation to themselves. Certainly when we're given the opportunity to introduce ourselves, to say why we're here and what we hope to get out of the meeting, many voice the hope of having someone give them an authoritative definition of "Big Society", without showing apparent awareness that our guest might be in opposition to it.

The theme of this session is actually "The Big Society vs The Good Society" though that doesn't assume the two are mutually exclusive. Lord Glasman tells us that his task is to help define the "Good Society". He's not ideologically opposed to the idea of Big Society, but believes it's incapable of delivering on what it might promise if it must operate in an environment where everything is commodified, including (since we're in a university) learning. He's just as critical of Labour's position on community, in that it allowed both public and private sectors to run amok during its period in office, exacerbating a trend to reduce everything to dependency on material means. This has led to the position where, if someone has an idea that they believe could be good for the community, their first instinct is to apply for a grant, rather than try to engage, enlist, enthuse and recruit others. This has undermined an older, more traditional form of ownership and control by active members or subscribers. Our society has become polarised so that virtually all of us are involved in, engaged with, are served (or are serving) one sector or the other - public or private - and they're seen as mutually antagonistic and incompatible. We're now hostage to the idea that each of these holds the other back; that for one to flourish the other must wither and die. The Voluntary and Community Sector is caught between the two, liable to be wounded whichever one falls.

An action is something that generates a reaction. The action is in the reaction. To be effective activists, we should never do anything that doesn't generate reaction. Our culture keeps us busy with activities that don't get reactions.

This leads on to Lord Glasman expressing his ambivalence about the recent march in London. He asserts that it nay have been too early in this period of coalition government to do this, for a number of reasons. As bad as it feels now - and as bad as we feel because of the fear of what's to come - people are not hurting enough to have come up with a constructive alternative to have turned their efforts to coming up with a viable alternative. For so many people to have done all that, only to see a spokesman for the Coalition say the next day on TV that it won't make any difference to the programme of cuts is demoralising.

Society itself can be demoralised. To counter this, we need to engage with each other on three levels:

Relationships
Lord Glasman emphasises the primacy of relational culture, of one-to-one links. Neglect of this vital aspect to our collective lives (in all sectors) has led to a stifling bureaucracy. Building a genuine network based on trust and mutual support is the most important and - and most powerful - thing we can do.

Power
We must discover ways to be more powerful in the world, not to be victimised - which is being a fantasist (victimised, powerless, disappointed, defeated). Friendship, trust, association are the only means to power for those who don't have access to big money

Institutions
Every institution has a vocation, which brings with it ethical considerations. A vocation is not the same as a career. It brings with it a sense of ethical regard, internal self-regulation. Citizenship is not just about individuals or individualism; it relies on collaboration between individuals and institutions.

There is no genuine community without leadership. To have change, we must have leaders who can work together, who can speak reliably for their communities, congregations and constituencies and who can bring along with them.

While he understands the attraction and convenience of moving things online, Lord Glasman would ask us to beware that by doing stuff on the web, we lose the sense of place. We have to see what it is that we have that makes Leicester's response to the current economic, political and social situation distinctive and different from the kind of response we might see in / from other geographical settings. People have to get out of our heads and into the physical world (what John Crud’s MP calls "mentalists" - those who believe it's all about thinking rather than doing). What's needed for this work is to get people out of their rooms, out of their houses and get them to meet each other.

My favorite thing that I heard him say all day was a line delivered in a throw away fashion: "When it's all talk and no action, the band splits up."

Come 1520, we head out of the Hugh Aston and gather on the quad along with half a dozen or more friends who are joining us for the walk round various faith centers in this part of the city.

Our first stop is the prayer room of the DMU Islamic Society. There are rather too many of us to fit comfortably in there, so I remain outside.

Second stop on our walkabout is the Jain Centre on

Oxford Street

. We're received at the door by Smita Shah, President of Jain Samaj Europe and Treasurer of Leicester Council of Faiths. Dr Rameshbhai Mehta acts as our main guide round the Centre. I've been here many times (must be a dozen or more now) but the beauty and the spiritual power of this place never palls. For many of those on the visit today, it's their first time here - and their first significant encounter with Jainism and Jains. At the end of our visit, Dr Mehta gives us his formula for Jainism in a nutshell: J is for justice; A is for amity; I is for introspection; N is for nobility.

We move on to the Cathedral, where I manage to buttonhole Lord Glasman for a brief private chat. Just a few minutes, but definitely worthwhile from my point of view. If I'd let the day pass without doing this, I'd have regretted it.

Lord Glasman's final stop is at Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones, whence he catches a taxi to the railway station. There are several more stops on the tour as planned, but we're already a long way behind schedule and I have to quit at this point too.

15,000 SIKHS IN CELEBRATION

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

15,000 Sikhs in celebration

A rainbow of colours brightened the streets of Leicester yesterday as thousands of Sikhs celebrated the birthday of the religion's founder.

Floats led a parade of up to 15,000 worshippers from the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road, to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, at Holy Bones, near St Nicholas Circle.

The Nagar Kirtan event, which has been held in Leicester for more than 20 years, marks the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

After prayers and hymns at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, the procession took three hours to snake its way through the city.

Worshippers continued the celebration with more prayers and food at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara.

Sukhwinder Kaur, 44, of the East Park Road area, followed the procession with friends.

"I've been in Leicester for 26 years and every year we celebrate," he said. "We all feel proud to take part."

Friend Raman Kaur, of Evington, was there with her ten-year-old son, Onkar Singh.

Onkar said: "I like to walk with everyone and I like the nice food too."

Nagar Kirtan is the second of two religious processions by members of the Sikh community in Leicester every year.

The first is Vaisakhi, the religion's new year, which takes place in April.

Sisters Sonia and Kiran Punia, of Rushey Mead, were among those enjoying the celebrations. Sonia, 23, said: "It's just about celebrating the day and everyone coming together as a community.

"You get a real sense of pride walking through the city with so many people."

Kiran, 24, added: "We do this after the service at the temple in the morning. It's a big celebration all day."

Mohinder Sangha, the former president of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, also took part in the parade.

He said: "We get people not just from all over Leicester but from outside as well participating in this procession. It is a big celebration."

Ajmer Singh, education secretary at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, took part in the parade alongside dozens of children from the Khalsa Education Centre Punjabi School, which is based there.

Mr Singh said: "This is about involving all the community in Leicester regardless of religion, it's about celebrating."

Student Jagjit Kaur, 13, from Oadby, said: "It's about celebrating and the food is really nice. You get nice chocolate bars."

US ROTARIANS VISIT GURU NANAK GURDWARA

A group of Rotarians from South Carolina, USA, are on an exchange visit to the East Midlands. At lunchtime today, they're visiting the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones. Mrs Surinder Sandhu has asked me to come to the gurdwara and be part of the small group receiving the visitors there.

The Guru Nanak Sikh Museum, which occupies the first floor of the building, was the first Sikh Museum in Europe. It opened in 1992 and its tenth anniversary was marked by a visit from the Queen – her first visit to any gurdwara on British soil. The museum recounts the narrative of Sikh history and the most important and influential figures in that narrative, mostly through paintings and photographs. So many people in these pictures, all of them important to the people here – and I know nothing about them. Humbling, really, to recognise such a big blank in my own knowledge; rather the way I felt when I saw the Fluying Sikhs documentary.

Also on display are models of The Golden Temple at Amritsar, Nankana Sahib (birthplace of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism) and five other distinguished Sikh shrines in different parts of India, known as Takhats (Seaats of Authority). The photographic gallery displays photographs dating from as early as the 1840s of those people who took part in the struggles faced by the Sikh Nation and also commemorates the role played by Sikh servicemen in both World Wars and in the struggle for India's freedom. A selection of Panjabi handcraft (Phulkaris), ancient Sikh coins, hand-written manuscripts and more are also on show.

Surinder has asked for me to provide copies of the leaflets on the Sikhs which have been produced by Leicester Council of Faiths. I also bring along the banner from our (newish) exhibition, which I get to put up in the gurdwara (and leave on show over the weekend).

I'm honoured to be asked to be present for this visit, although the visitors don't get to stay very long and don't have the chance for much interaction. We receive langar together; a table is set out for our American friends, who dine together, separate from their hosts, most of whom sit on the floor to eat. I'm not very good at sitting on the floor, so I take the chance to push in (politely) and chat with a few of our guests over the vegetarian meal. I discover that they represent six Rotary Clubs from different districts around the state of South Carolina. I ask if they're aware of a Sikh community in their own neck of the woods. They rell me that there's a gurdwara or Sikh centre in the state capital, Columbia (later, I google this and find a very interesting link, that I've included below – as well as the picture above, reproduced from the website of the the Pluralism Project at Harvard University).

I get the feeling that our visitors today are rather disoriented. On tours like this, a lot gets crammed in, but the few I speak to – it really seems like their heads are spinning! Or maybe that's just Leicester ...

Today, for the first time, I get to meet a couple who are frequently namechecked at places I go to or events I attend. Freda Hussain, MBE, former High Sheriff of Leicestershire and retired Principal of Moat Community College in Leicester, is here. The itinerary for this group of visitors has been organised by her husband, Asaf Hussain, Chair of the Scoeity for Interculutural Understanding in Leicester. He's calling this programme a "safari". I don't know how our paths haven't crossed before, but I'm glad to meet them both here today.

Find out more about Sikhs in South Carolina (and in the US in general).

VAISAKHI

The annual Vaisakhi parade has, in the past few years, become one of the most notable faith community events in Leicester. Its route takes it through the city centre from Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones (starting at 1130) then on eastward to Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara in East Park Road (ending at 1430). Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi  as the holiest festival of their calendar. It commemorates the founding of the Khalsa (the community of saints) by Guru Gobind Singh, tenth and final living Guru, in 1699.

The Leicester Mercury (Monday 19 April) reported the parade thus:

Sun smiles on festival day as 20,000 Sikhs celebrate in Leicester

Streets were transformed into a rainbow of colour as thousands of worshippers from all over the country flocked to Leicester to mark the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.

Up to 20,000 people yesterday joined a parade in glorious sunshine led by five Panj Piara, or the beloved ones, while crowds lined the streets and music rang out from decorated floats.

The procession started at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones at 11.30am and snaked its way through the city for about three hours before arriving at the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road.

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar, celebrating harvest time in India and marking the creation of the Khalsa, the Sikh baptism ceremony.

Steward Kuldip Kooner said: "It's a very important event and the parade also helps teach other communities as well as ours what it is all about."

Kam and Suky Garcha, of Scraptoft, joined in the parade with their children, Simran, 13, and Kamran, 11.

Mrs Garcha, 40, said: "It's nice to bring the kids to make sure they learn about our religion and it's a beautiful day as well."

Gita Bagrah, of Braunstone Town, also attended with members of her family.

The 38-year-old said: "I haven't been for a few years because I work shifts . I got the opportunity to come and I didn't want to miss out again because it's a great way of getting the community together."

Jaspal Minhas, president of the Leicestershire Asian Business Association, also took part. "I join in whenever I can and I think it's fantastic how the community comes together. It's one of the biggest events in the Sikh calendar and it's a great way to celebrate."

Spirits were high as the colourful procession lit up the streets.

Gurmeer Singh, 19, of Evington village, said: "So many people have come from outside – Peterborough, Manchester, London – which shows how big it is.

"It's a really enjoyable, peaceful and spiritual day for us."

Teacher Gurwinder Obhi was taking part in the parade with pupils from the Khalsa Education Centre, in East Park Road.

"It's important for the children to celebrate," she said.
Kawalpreet Singh, 23, one of dozens of volunteers helping to hand out refreshments, said: "It's taken lots of hard work but it's worth it."

Mohinder Singh Sangh, president of the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara, said: "It's a beautiful day and thousands of people have turned up."

While I wouldn't claim to have walked in the parade today, I did trail along behind it for 20 minutes or so.

RED LETTER DAY ON SIKH CALENDAR

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Red letter day on Sikh calendar

Thousands are expected to take part in a procession to mark the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi tomorrow.

It will start at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Holy Bones, Leicester, at 11.30am.

A route through the city centre will end at the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara, in East Park Road, at about 2.30pm.

Vaisakhi celebrates harvest time in India and also marks the creation of the Khalsa, the Sikh baptism ceremony.

It is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar and about 15,000 people are expected to take part in the celebrations in Leicester.

Police are warning motorists to expect delays.

Inspector Jason Ross said: "Vaisakhi is the most important date for the Sikh community worldwide. We hope everyone who participates in this year's event, or watches the procession enjoys the celebrations.

"If motorists find themselves caught up in traffic, we would ask that they be patient until the procession ends."

Traffic diversions will be in place and officers will be patrolling to ensure a steady flow of traffic.

Organisers have encouraged participants to park near East Park Road and have arranged a shuttle bus to take them to Great Central Street.

Temporary no-waiting restrictions will be in place along the route of the procession but will be lifted afterwards.