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Over 15,000 Expected to Attend Annual Los Angeles Baisakhi Event on April 8, 2007.
During the event, select Sikh organizations will be honored with The Spirit of Baisakhi award, including United Sikhs, Sikh Coalition, SCORE, SALDEF and SikhNet. This award, given by Sikh Dharma International, recognizes outstanding service to the Sikh community and to humanity. “Since September 11, Sikhs have been the targets of hate crimes,” said Kirtan Singh Khalsa, spokesperson for Sikh Dharma International in Los Angeles. “Just last week, a man in Redding, California did considerable damage to a Sikh temple by repeatedly ramming a front loader into the newly constructed building, saying that, ‘…he thought they were Arabs’ in the temple. The Spirit of Baisakhi award will highlight certain Sikh organizations serving to increase awareness and understanding of Sikhs among the general public. Many Sikh organizations are working hard to increase understanding about Sikh identity through their humanitarian service and social activism.” In keeping with the Sikh spirit of service and as a lead-up event to the Baisakhi celebration, the Los Angeles Sikh community is donating and serving 1,000 boxed Subway sandwiches to the homeless at the Fred Jordon Mission at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 7. “Serving food is part of our Guru’s tradition; and serving food to the homeless is a way to express our gratitude for all our blessings,” said Gurdip Singh, one of the organizers of this project and the coordinator of the Nagar Keertan. Baiskahi commemorates the day in 1699 when the 10th Teacher, or Guru, of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, created a fellowship of men and women dedicated to selflessly and fearlessly serving all humanity in the Name of One Creator. It was on that day that the turban and uncut hair, as well as other articles of faith for the Sikhs, became a mandatory requirement of the tradition. Since 1980, the Sikhs in Los Angeles have worked together to host the premier Baisakhi celebration in the Western United States. This event is the result of a nearly year-round working collaboration among over 15 Sikh Gurdwaras (Sikh Places of Worship) and centers in California, along with the support of Sikh leadership throughout the country. It is broadcast live via the Internet (www.sikhnet.com) with thousands of viewers to the world-wide Sikh community every year. It draws over 15,000 attendees, as well as dignitaries and leadership from the United States and India. The program for the Baisakhi celebration this year begins at 7:30 am and will include the following: • Special Keertan (Sikh sacred devotional music) program • Spirit of Baisakhi Award presentation • 1:15 p.m.: PRESS CONFERENCE: Update on the status of hate
• In addition, food (Langar) will be served continuously all day. For more information about the Baiskahi celebration, or The Spirit of Baisakhi awards, contact Kirtan Singh Khalsa at (310) 990-4573. Note: Comments do not represent the views of SikhNet. Comments containing profanity, provocation or slandar will be removed by the moderators.
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