Sikhnet

CommunitySikhismGurbaniDownloadsYouthShopping
HELP | DONATE
Community
  Recent News

Vaisakhi Fervor In Washington Gurdwara

Sikh: Race Was Factor In Arrest

U.N. Struggles Over How To Help Nations That Reject Aid

United Sikhs Relief Mission Collects Donated Items From Buddhist Maha Vihara For Transportation To Myanmar

Baba Santa Singh: A Small Memory Of A Departed Chief

Grooving With The Kids

Sikh Youth Group Donates Rm20,000

Struggle To Reach China Quake Survivors

Gurmat Camp Ii Held At Tagi Tagi Gurudwara Sahib In Fiji Islands

An Emmy Goes To "Sikhs In America" Documentary

Changing Expressions Of Punjabi Culture

'One Light' Shares The Message Of Guru Nanak With Students At Atlanta Film Festival

A Dream Comes True For 22 Couples

Turban Diktat Kicks Up Row In Punjab's Sikh School

Sikhs Shun San Francisco Airport Alleging Religious Profiling


You can add SikhNet news to your website or read it in your RSS news reader.

Receive SikhNet News Daily by Email




Search SikhNet News Archive


Sikhs Celebrate Visakhi in NSW Paliament

03/31/2006

Comments Email this Article
    by M. P. Singh (Sydney) http://ozsikhs.blogspot.com



    28th March 2006, will be marked as a special event in the history of New South Wales, Australia. For the first time Visakhi was celebrated in NSW Parliament with Hon John Aquilina (the speaker) as the guest of honour. This special event marked the beginning of celebrations of Visakhi which will go on for a month with Sikh games and other cultural programs around Sydney.


    The guests started coming in from 5:30Pm and were entertained by melodious Sitaar-Vaadan & Tabla by Bhai Rashpal Singh & Bhai Gulzar Singh. The program officially began at about 6PM with traditional Shabad Singing. S Moninder Singh, Co-coordinator of Punjabi Council of Australia, welcomed the guest of honor and all others.



    Almost all top speakers of Sydney were there and shared their view about significance of Visakhi and the contribution of Sikhs in Australia since the early migration in 1870. They included Giani Santokh Singh Ji (AKA mobile encyclopedia of Sikhism), S Manmohan Singh Walia, S Prabhjot Sandhu, Ms Lucky Singh, Ms Zeenia Singh Youth Ambassador and many others.



    Of course there was Bhangra and Gidha entertainment between each speaker’s time. The guests were seen thoroughly enjoying the beats by clapping and tapping their feet.




    Mr. Sujan Chenoy the Consul General of Indian High Commission in Sydney shared with guests that his first name Sujan was selected by his mother after getting influenced by a Sikh character named Sujan Singh in Sikh history.



    Another surprise dignitary was Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan (Lahore High Court) who attended the celebrations especially and informed the Sikh Sangat that there are still millions of followers of Baba Nanak in Pakistan.

    The guest of honour Mr. John Aquilina started his address with ‘Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa’ and the whole audience responded with big ‘Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh’. He thanked the Sikh community for their positive role in building strong multiculturalism in Australia. He emphasized on Australian Sikhs to be proud of their ancient heritage and should never be afraid to proclaim their faith and devotion.

    Other highlights:
    About 15 members of parliament and 10 councilors graced the occasion.
    The invitation was extended to all other communities and their overwhelming participation proved that Sikh Community belongs to all and all belongs to Sikh Community.
    Purely Punjabi culture with Turbans dominating the scene.
    A beautiful poem in English highlighting the significance of ‘Sikh artifacts of faith’ was recited by Ms Lucky Singh.
    About 10 events of Bhangra and Gidha beats.
    About a dozen books were presented to Hon John Aquilina for the NSW parliament library. Mr. Aquilina was also presented with a framed portrait of Harmandar Sahib.
    Vegetarian refreshments (w/o any liquor) – catered by Taj of Harris Park.

    See more snaps by clicking link below:
    http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/emmpee_singh/album?.dir=/6b30&.src=ph&.tok=phWEPoEBZW0AtdDj

Note: Comments do not represent the views of SikhNet. Comments containing
profanity, provocation or slandar will be removed by the moderators.





Search SikhNet News Archive

Email the News Editor Add SikhNet news to your website

Click here to support SikhNet
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




NSWBaisakhi.jpg