Search SikhNet News Archive

10/29/2007

Comments Email this Article

YUBA CITY, CA., November 2, 2007 – The Sikh community begins celebrating a weekend a religious and cultural devotion Friday morning with the traditional 48 hours of prayer which will lead to the 28th Annual Sikh Parade on Sunday November 4th. The event produces one of the largest parades in the Sacramento Valley with an estimated audience of 75,000 lining a four and one half mile parade route. On Friday night, everyone is invited to enjoy free dinner and watch a free fireworks show at the Sikh Temple.

Starting Friday morning and continuing through the weekend, volunteers will be preparing more than 200,000 free meals which will be served to everyone attending the events this weekend. This is in the spirit of one of the Sikhs most important values, Seva, or selfless help to humanity, and the value that inspired the Red Cross & other humanitarian aid organizations.

Parade Chairman, event founder and well-known farmer and civic leader, Didar Singh Bains recalls back 28 years ago when the first parade was held. “The seeds were planted in the fertile Sacramento Valley for Sikhs to prosper and contribute to the area’s agricultural prosperity”, said Bains. “Although Sikhs have been in the Valley for more than 100 years, this is the event that brought this community together as one”, added Bains.
Sikhs are celebrating the values that are part of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Book), including the sharing of one’s wealth as demonstrated by the free meals. The events this weekend are a celebration to commemorate the receipt of the Guru Granth Sahib. Sikhism is the second largest faith in the Yuba -Sutter area and the fifth largest religion in the world.

We invite you to the start of the event by coming out to the Sikh Temple and joining the activities which include:


• the start of the 48 hours of prayer,
• the preparation of meals,
• the quarter million Christmas lights that light up the Sikh Temple grounds, and
• the spectacular Fireworks show and free dinner for the entire community tonight.

New Shuttle Bus Service This Year: Due to the ever increasing crowds each year, the Sikh Temple has established two new shuttle bus locations. The first location is at River Valley High School, 801 El Margarita Rd. And the other location is at the corner of Pease and Tierra Buena Roads. A total of five shuttle busses will be in service throughout the day taking festival goers to and from the Sikh Temple grounds.

About the Sikh Parade and significance of this weekend

Sikhs return to Yuba City each year during the first weekend in November to celebrate the commemoration of the receipt of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Book) in 1708, presented by the Sikhs tenth and final Guru (spiritual teacher) as a perpetual spiritual guide. The weekend begins on Friday morning with the traditional 48 hours of prayer and the reading of scripture from the Guru Granth Sahib and ends with the four-mile long parade through the streets of Yuba City on Sunday.

More than 200,000 free meals will be served to visitors and guests over the weekend as Sikhs honor their commitment to a core value of Sikhism called Seva (say-va), which means daily selfless service to humanity. And the value that gave spark to the Red Cross & other humanitarian aid organizations.

How much food will be used to prepare 200,000 meals?

30,000 pounds of rice
40,000 pounds of lentils
60,000 pounds of wheat flour
10,000 pounds of lettuce
40,000 pounds of potatoes
10,000 pounds of carrots
40,000 pounds of cauliflower
30,000 pounds of onions
20,000 gallons of water, soft drinks and tea

Email the News Editor Add SikhNet news to your website


Become a SikhNet Supporter
Make a one time contribution or sign up as a monthly SikhNet donor.
History - Donation - Privacy - Help - Registration - Search


Copyright © 2007 SikhNet
Phone: 505-753-3117 - Email SikhNet Support