FAITHS COME TOGETHER FOR SYRIA APPEAL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Faiths come together for Syria appeal

A toy collection is being held for children affected by the conflict in Syria.

Sharen Ravat, chaplaincy service manager at Leicester College, will be holding a drop-in session for members of the public to hand over unwanted or unused toys on Sunday, August 4, from 1pm to 5pm at St Philip's Church in Evington Road, Leicester.

Many different faith communities have already pledged support, including Leicester Islamic Centre, Leicester Cathedral, Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara and the Sikh Cultural and Welfare Society.

The toys will be given to the UK charity Hand in Hand for Syria, which will then distribute them at hospitals in the war-torn country.

Sharen said: "I decided to organise the campaign after being touched by the plight of children in Syria, many of whom have lost their loved ones, been injured, made homeless or just lost hope.

"The UN has already said that the Syrian refugee crisis is the worst since Rwanda with an average of 6,000 people fleeing every day.

"I am hoping that by offering toys to children, it puts an immediate smile on their faces."

For more information, call Sharen on 07919 290 313.

COLLEGE & TEMPLE JOIN FORCES OVER LUNCH

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

College and temple join forces over lunch

A Sikh temple provided a free lunch for hundreds at a college.

Staff and volunteers at Leicester College served about 500 people with vegetarian food donated by Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in Leicester.

The Langar on Campus – called after a Punjabi word meaning community kitchen – was organised by Leicester College's learner engagement and enrichment (LEET) multi-faith chaplaincy team.

It was the third hosted by Leicester College and took place at the Abbey campus. 

The lunch aimed to promote selfless service, equality and humanity and formed part of the celebrations of the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi, which began on April 13. 

Sharen Ravat, Leicester College's LEET student liaison officer, organised the event.

She said: "The chaplaincy team works together to promote harmony and respect in the college and the wider communities it serves.

"This was a great opportunity to sit, eat and engage together in an environment that ensures equality and provides a platform for inter-faith dialogue."

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."

SIKHS MARK ANNIVERSARY OF 10TH GURU

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Sikhs mark anniversary of 10th guru

People were invited to share a meal with Sikh worshippers to celebrate the anniversary of the 10th guru.

The celebration took place at Guru Tegh Bahadur, in East Park Road, Spinney Hills, Leicester, on Sunday.

Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru, was founder of the order of the Khalsa, a baptism which formalises a promise to fight injustice.

Members of the public were invited to share food in the gurdwara, which provides between 10,000 and 20,000 free meals a week.

Raj Singh Mann said: "Under the order of the Khalsa, Sikhs are given a kind of uniform, called the five ks, including shorts, a kind of dagger and a steel bracelet.

"From this point, you are duty bound to fight injustice and the reason the guru gave us this duty is because if you walk away from trouble when someone needs your help, people will see a Sikh walking away from trouble.

"That is why Sikh people often jump in to help when someone is in trouble."

The anniversary took place earlier this month, in accordance with the lunar calendar, but prayers were said on Sunday in line with the Gregorian calendar.

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.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

This email has been widely circulated today by Leicestershire Sikh Alliance after the public vigil organised by Leicester Council of Faiths for victims of the shootings in the Oak Creek Gurdwara, Wisconsin.

Members of Leicester Council of Faiths who attended the vigil appear to agree that the Council of Faiths did itself more good in the eyes of those present - City Councillors, local media - and especially the Sikh community of Leicester and Leicestershire - in 25 minutes last Sunday evening than it had in the whole of the last 25 years. This spilled over into social media, with a lot of traffic on Twitter and coverage on Facebook in particular.

Since this was an event illumined by open demonstrations of friendship, support and sympathy across the boundaries of culture, language, nationality and race, it's appropriate to see it (and its ramifications for our city's communities) in the light of this quotation from Bahá'u'lláh's Hidden Words that came to my mind while I was there: "words are the property of all alike, whereas such deeds as these belong only to Our loved ones". Actions speak louder than words.

And that links so aptly with the invocation that opens the message below. This may be translated into English as, "The Khalsa belongs to God, all victory is the victory of God."

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh

With hundreds of people in attendance, including all faith leaders, the vigil for the victims of the Wisconsin Gurdwara massacre was a resounding success.  In these dark hours, it was amazing for all communities to come together and start the healing process as one universal Leicester community. 

A big thank you to Cllr Manjula Sood and Leicester Council of Faiths for arranging this event.  And an even bigger thank you to Cllr Inderjeet Gugnani who was the unsung hero and hidden architect for the whole event.

Also it was great to hear Jon Ashworth MP's speech. "Tonight we are all Sikhs", was very touching.  Nice one Jon!  This massacre was the largest attack on the Sikh community within the western hemisphere for over half a century.  Is it therefore right that only one MP from the City and County bothered to show?  In one word, "diabolical!".

Pictures attached courtesy of Punjab2000

PukaarNews UK, online news channel

JonAshworth MP's speech, Leicester South

A few words from Surinderpal Rai, General Secretary GTBG

A few words from Amandeep Rai, Public Relations Officer LSA

A few words from George M Ballentyne, Equality & Diversity Officer LCOF

A few words from Sharnjeet Kaur

Thanks

Amandeep Rai (Public Relations Officer for LSA)

SOLAR POWER AT SIKH TEMPLE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Solar power at Sikh temple

A Sikh temple is harnessing the sun's rays to supply its electricity.

Leicester's Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in Evington, has installed 400 solar panels on its roof in what leaders believe is a first for any temple in England.

The £125,000 environmental project has been funded entirely by worshippers and the city's wider Sikh community.

Surinderpal Singh Rai, general secretary of the Gurdwara, in East Park Road, said the temple's spiralling electricity bill had forced them to take action.

He said: "It's a huge four-storey building which used to be a shoe warehouse.

"Our electricity bill was pushing £1,700 a month and it was becoming a real burden."

The temple welcomes more than 25,000 visitors a week for daily prayers, community meals, after school classes, a day care centre for the elderly and respite care for the families of adults with learning difficulties.

Mr Rai said: "The costs were becoming prohibitive and so when we saw this opportunity we went for it.

"The panels will power the whole building and save us about £600,000 over the next 20 years.

"They will have paid for themselves within a matter of years and the result is we can use the savings to invest in services for the community.

"On top of all that, we are also doing our little bit to help protect our environment."

Mr Rai said he wanted to thank supporters who had helped raise funds.

"We would like to thank the whole community for rallying around us," he said.

"We've been taken aback by their enthusiasm and generosity. It is a wonderful achievement and something everyone should be very proud of."

The panels were fitted by Midlands Solar Panels Ltd.

The Gurdwara has been praised by environmental campaigners for setting an example to other organisations and businesses across the city.

Gavin Fletcher, conservation team leader for environmental charity Groundwork Leicester, said: "You often see people who have lots of money invest in solar panels, but for a community to come together and pool their resources in this way is fantastic and a great example of what can be achieved.

"We'd love to feature the temple's story in our Eco-House in Western Park."

Rory Palmer, deputy city mayor with responsibility for the environment, said: "I would like to congratulate the Gurdwara for this ambitious and inspiring project, which will reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs.

"It's just the sort of action we want to see from organisations in the city as we look to cut our carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2025. The temple is setting a great example."

MY PICTURE OF THE WEEK

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

My picture of the week

This unusual shot of eight members of a Sikh temple up on the roof of their place of worship is the Leicester Mercury's Picture of the Week.

Photographer Mike Sewell created the fascinating image at Leicester's Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara in Evington.

Mike used a Nikon D3 camera and a 14-24mm wide-angled lens to get the shot of the temple members among the solar panels on the roof. He said: "I wanted to show the scale of the project so I placed members of the temple committee along each row of the solar panels.

"By putting Mangal Singh, the president of the committee, at the front it gives a focal point to the image. We got on to the roof by a little hatch on the top floor."

MAPPING FAITH & PLACE IN LEICESTER CONFERENCE

The Grand Hall in St Martins House is the venue for this conference, concluding the first phase of the University of Leicester's Mapping Faith and Place project. I haven't been in the Grand Hall before, but it's a setting that lives up to its name, one fit for a queen. Literally, in this case, as HM Queen Elizabeth II was served lunch here on her recent visit to Leicester which kicked off her Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. Some of those attending today were guests on that occasion.

Deirdre O'Sullivan (Lecturer in Medieaval Archaeology at the University of Leicester) welcomes attendees and introduces the project. The rest of the day is taken up with a number of presentations:

Heritage and Multi-Faith in Leicester, Canon Dr John Hall, Director, St Philip's Centre for Study andEngagement in a Multi-Faith Society

English Heritage Policy on Faith Buildings, Dr Lind Monckton, English Heritage

History and Interpretation, Surinderpal Rai, Chair, Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara

Leicester Perspective, CllrManjula Sood, Assistant Mayor (and Chair, Leicester Council of Faiths)

Jain Heritage in Leicester, Dr Atul Shah, CEO, Diverse Ethics

The Church of St Mary de Castro: a Document in our Midst, David Lamb, St Mary de Castro

An Archaelogical Approach to Understanding Religious Buildings, Neil Finn, Archaeological Consultant

The Story of Leicester, Sarah Levitt, Leicester City Council Arts and Museums Service

An interesting variety of presentations, to be sure, but it wouldn't be unfair to say that they're something of a mixed bag. Although the conference is sponsored by the University of Leicester, it's not, strictly speaking, an academic occasion, so it would be wrong to hold all the contributions to the kind of rigorous standard. Let's just say that the standards of preparation and delivery vary today.

Mapping Faith and Place in Leicester has been funded by the Art and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) within their funding stream, "Care for the Future: Thinking Forward Through the Past". After the end of this initial period of funding, the project moves into a new phase, focusing on the past, present and future uses of one faith-related site in particular: Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara on East Park Road.

The Council of Faiths has lent a hand at various stages of the Mapping Faith and Place in Leicester project (although if we'd grasped how significant it is, we'd surely have done more to help). I've posted entries about the launch event in October 2011 and the first, second and third seminars for the project in this blog. We borrowed the project's pop-up banners for our display at Highcross during Inter Faith Week 2011, when we also distributed many copies of the Leicester Faith Trail booklet (the second, updated edition of which is published today). Members of staff Deirdre O'Sullivan and Dr Ruth Young (Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and Director of Distance Learning Strategy) and students from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History took part in that exhibition. There are several members of the Council of Faiths here today and, of course, our Chair, Cllr Manjula Sood, is one of the platform speakers. But I can't help wishing we'd been able to make a more formal presentation. There were some questions from the floor about inter-faith issues in Leicester that some of the platform speakers were unable to answer, that would have surely been part of a proper presentation by the Council of Faiths (regarding consultation with the city's decision-making bodies, for example).

I've enjoyed being involved in this project. It's opened some doors for me and introduced me to some good people I might otherwise never have met. I hope that I (and Leicester Council of Faiths) can play an active part in the project's future development and even find new ways to contribute and collaborate.

As I do at the end of all my blog posts referring to St Martins House, I refer any reader wondering about the omission of the possessive apostrophe from the building's name to a letter from Rev. Peter Hobson, Director of St Martins House, published in the Leicester Mercury, 29 March 2011.

BUILDING SHARED HERITAGES: CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN LEICESTER

At the University of Leicester (Fielding Johnson Building) this morning for an open day: Building Shared Heritages: Cultural Diversity in Leicester.

Building Shared Heritages is a co-sponsored project at the University of Leicester. Along with the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the University of Leicester is assisting local groups to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to explore their local heritage.

The University of Leicester has a wide range of expertise and resources relating to local and community history in Leicester and Leicestershire. It is looking to widen access to these resources. The key areas that it is interested in developing with community groups are as follows:

• Trading heritage in Leicester
• Sport, music and social heritage in Leicester
• Civic and public heritage in Leicester
• Open spaces and the built environment in Leicester
• Memory of community, home, and local area heritage in Leicester

It’s the last of these five categories that offers potential for the Council of Faiths to get involved.

Deirdre O’Sullivan (Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology) gives a half-hour presentation to the audience of 80 or so about the Mapping Faith and Place project and the Leicester Faith Trail. She made several complimentary references to Leicester Council of Faiths during her presentation. she also described the next stage of the project, which is going to change tack from the general and historical to the particular and contemporary. They'll be focusing on one particular place of worship, Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara on East Park Road. They'll keep updating  the Faith Trail, of course, which will include publishing a new version of the booklet.

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.

MAPPING FAITH & PLACE: 2nd SEMINAR

At St Philip's Parish Church, Evington this morning for the latest seminar in the University of Leicester's Mapping Faith and Place project. Mapping Faith and Place is funded by the Art and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) within their funding stream, "Care for the Future: Thinking Forward Through the Past".

The core aim of the project is explore the significance of South Asian religions and cultural heritage in Leicester's urban landscape. The wider context for this work, of course, includes the other aspects of religious and cultural identity and life in the city. There's more to the diversity of Leicester in terms of faith and belief than just the South Asian representation - as the project acknowledges, both in these workshops and in its print and online publications.

This is the second of three seminars for this project. You can read earlier blog posts for the first seminar (which I didn't attend) and the launch event (which I did), both of which took place in October last year. The third seminar will be held at the University of Leicester on a date yet to be decided, followed by a final conference in the summer (although it's hoped that the project will continue beyond that period of initial funding).

Leicester Council of Faiths lent a hand at various stages of this project (although if we'd grasped how significant Mapping Faith and Place is, we'd surely have done more to help). We borrowed the two pop-up banners for our display at Highcross during Inter Faith Week a couple of months ago, when we also distributed many copies of the Leicester Faith Trail booklet. Members of staff (Dr Deirdre O'Sullivan and Dr Ruth Young - both of whom are here today) and students from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History took part in that exhibition. I'm returning the banners today.

Jen Dickson (Lecturer in Geography at the University of Leicester) kicks off the day's proceedings, outlining some key academic ideas relating to this second seminar. Today we're considering how people develop a relationship with a place, a sense of belonging to a place (and of a place belonging to you). This sense of identity is complex and contested. It's no longer tenable to believe in a discreet, fixed, lifelong identity (which leads only to stereotyping). It's not simply a case of having a single identity, made up of different elements, more a case of multiple identities, which change in relation to space and time; not so much about possessing particular characteristics, more about how we perceive ourselves, especially in relation to others.

Our senses and emotions help determine whether we feel included or excluded in a place or a community associated with it, attached to or detached from them (applies to places and/or objects near and/or far). This brings to mind the particular example of RNIB College Loughborough's Faith and Reflection Room (see blog entry, Friday 16 December2011).

We discuss how contemporary politicians are co-opting debates about belonging, inclusion and exclusion, manipulating power and/or processes that permit inclusion or exclusion, in relation to Big Society, volunteering or where it is or isn't acceptable to dress or behave in certain ways (e.g. wearing the burka). We consider how individuals and groups resist such manipulation in modern society (e.g. Occupy movement)

There are 18 attendees here today, of mixed ages, backgrounds, cultures, faiths and traditions (though I'm sorry to note that there's no one from the Jain Centre or the Nagarjuna Kadampa Buddhist Centre, since they're both such prominent faith sites in the city centre). We’ve each been asked to bring an object with us that connects us to somewhere sacred. Now, I’m sure I don’t need to explain here that "sacred" means "set apart". This seminar is about sacred places, but it also helps shows us in what ways all sorts of things could be considered sacred. That can include things more abstract, including ways of being or doing, feeling, speaking and thinking. It could even be a narrative (I like that - it means even my blog could be considered sacred!)

The Leicester Bahá'í community has no public centre or place of worship these days, although I do mention on occasions such as this that the Bahá'ís had their own official meeting place in New Walk for several years from 1957, before there was a single gurdwara, mandir or mosque in Leicester. Despite this present lack (and without mentioning the historical anomaly) the Bahá'í Faith has its own page in the Leicester Faith Trail booklet published as one of the outcomes of this project.

Similarly, Bahá'ís tend to be "artifact-light" (I just made that up, but I'm sure you get my meaning) at least of the kind that fit into the typical resource boxes you might find in schools or museums. There's little to put in display cases in settings such as the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art in Glasgow for example. There's irony here, inasmuch as the Bahá'ís were one of the most enthusiastic and supportive organisations behind the creation of the museum, but once the decision was made to concentrate on artifacts and objects, then it was a foregone conclusion that they'd be virtually excluded from representation in it.

Bahá'ís have always had a very rich historical self-awareness, consciously collecting, deliberately preserving and systematically archiving material items of all sorts. This is done nationally, internationally and locally, as anyone who has visited the International Archives at the Bahá'í World Centre on Mt Carmel, or has seen items from the British Bahá'í community's archives collection, such as those put on display at the National Bahá'í Centre in London during the recent celebration of the centenary of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's first visit Britain (see blog entry, Saturday 17 September 2011) will know.

But these are sacred items, relics, one-offs; they may amaze, inspire or thrill Bahá'ís but may appear trivial or incomprehensible to others. They aren't things used every day, nor are they everyday things that are used by Bahá'ís in their practice, individually or collectively.

So, within the parameters of the Mapping Faith and Place project, in what sense are the Bahá'ís a community when, for the most part, there are no physical centres, no meeting places for collective worship, when they gather in each others' homes or in rented or borrowed venues? I long ago understood (in my own limited capacity) what it means to be a community of common commitment, of ideas, of love for the same Beloved. We can be the exception that proves the rule here.

When I arrive this morning, Revd. John Hall has thoughtfully collected a small number of Bahá'í books and leaflets from the library in the St Philip's Centre next door and laid them out on display, in case I wanted to draw on them today. That's as close to artifacts as Bahá'ís ever get!

The kind of objects people have brought with them today include books, items of clothing, physical artifacts ancient and modern, original or replica, photos etc.

When we're called on to do pairs work about our object, I'm teamed with Surinder Pal Singh, General Secretary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, East Park Road. While he doesn't have any one particular object with him, he describes how the five Ks are the objects of belonging and identity, not attached to any particular place, but which he takes with him everywhere - which make his whole body a sacred site.

We're asked to consider the following questions in relation to the personal object we've brought with us today:

1. How does it represent you?
2. What aspects of your identity in particular does it highlight?
3. What does it say about you personally and as a member of a community?
4. How does it represent your relation to Leicester?
5. How might it represent identity in the past, present and to future generations?
6. If it does not represent past, present or future identities, why not? What object would?

I had no trouble choosing my object for this exercise today. When I asked Clare to guess what it would be, she said, "I bet it's your bloomin' iPhone!" And it is. Here are a few of the reasons why this is the object I've brought to this event today. I'm not expecting anyone else to agree with me (or even to understand my explanations):

• Google Maps. I prefer to walk wherever I can in Leicester. Even if it takes an hour or more, I'd rather walk. I would describe myself as a flaneur. Baudelaire defines the flaneur as "someone who walks the city in order to experience it." This is definitely the case when going to (and often returning from) the 19 Day Feast. Beware any routes described by Google Maps as "beta versions". "Use with caution" indeed. First time I looked up the walking route to one venue for the 19 Day Feast and it sent me one way that took more than 45 minutes. Next time, it showed me a route that took 24!
• Podcasts. I usually listen to podcasts of Astronomy Cast on my iPhone while on my way to the Feast. 'Abdu'l-Bahá instructs us that, "before entering [the Feast] free yourselves from all that you have in your heart, free your thoughts and your minds from all else save God, and speak to your heart". Odd as it may sound to you, faithful reader, listening to my favourite podcast, about the origin, history, present condition and future of the universe helps give me a sense of my place in the scheme of things. I don't see how anyone could attend to such matters and still consider themselves the centre of creation. It's like the Total Perspective Vortex from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (but in a good way!)
• Twitter. I can connect with Bahá'ís in other places, who are similarly anticipating or preparing for their 19 Day Feast, or who may recently have held theirs. It's not just those Bahá'ís whom I follow on Twitter or who follow me; I find the unpredictability, the randomness, not knowing who will see or respond to the hashtags #Bahai or #19dayfeast while on my way to the Feast genuinely intriguing and connecting.

I'd like to think that this will connect with the topic of the next seminar, which will consider how new technologies can be used to represent place.

After lunch, we further explore the articulation of identities, specifically religious identities, through the mind, body and the senses. We ask:

1. How are religious identities articulated in private home spaces through food and fasting; dress; music; dance; ritual practices?
2. How can religious identities or belief systems be articulated though the body in public spaces?
3. How can religious identities or belief systems be articulated through time and place in public and private spaces (e.g. birth; coming of age; marriage; death)?

It seems to be taken for granted by those participating in this part of the seminar that the challenge facing religious people today is that of maintaining practices or traditions exemplified and transmitted in the home and family, against the malign influence of a changing society, maintaining momentum gained over generations. There were fewer thinking of how many people, newly awakened to the religious life (or who switch religious affiliation) are challenged to establish new practices, for oneself and/or one's children, from a standing start. So I challenge that first assumption (in typically courteous fashion, of course).

In the photo above: Dr Chris King (who began the processes that have led to the Mapping Faith and Place project at the University of Leicester, but is now attached to the University of Nottingham); Dr Deirdre O'Sullivan; Jen Dickson; Dr Dr Viv Golden; Dr Ruth Young.

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.

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

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."