While thousands of Indo-Canadian Sikhs were celebrating Khalsa Day on April 30, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, lauded the contributions of the community and told that the country’s strength lay in its diversity.
On a cold and windy day, Nathan Philips Square was transformed into a sea of colorful turbans and traditional Indian salwar-kameezes, when thousands of Sikh families gathered to witness the cultural programs and performances. A mile-long parade has walked 3 kilometers to come and join the already gathered in front of City Hall to swell crowds to more than 60,000 despite the weather.
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“Canada is strong not despite its differences, but because of them,” Prime Minister Trudeau said to the crowd.
Numerous stalls served langar around the square, prepared by families and served by children and adults, to the Sikhs and curious non-Sikhs.
The parade has been an annual feature for decades, according to Ontario Police officer I. Ghatti, this was his 13th year attending it. He and some other Sikhs were busy putting up a stall to serve tea, samosas and laddoos
“Usually the crowd is more than 70,000 in previous years,” but today is a cold day, Ghatti said. Judging from the parade down University Avenue which converged at City Hall, it probably equaled past years. Next weekend, another parade will be held in Etobicoke, in North Toronto, which also to be a massive gathering.
Mayor John Tory said about the values Sikhs have contributed to the city of Toronto and quoted a passage from Guru Arjun Singh. He read out a proclamation declaring the day Khalsa Day, marking the founding of the religion by Guru Gobind Singh. Toronto’s motto is “Diversity is our strength,” and is considered a model city where all beliefs and faiths are accepted, Tory said.
Greater Toronto has one of the largest concentrations of Sikhs, though Vancouver in British Columbia takes first place and the West Coast is where some of the earliest Sikhs came from.
Surinder Kaur and Sukhdev Singh Dhillon who have made Canada their home some 10 years ago, said that they had driven from the suburb of Toronto for today’s parade. They have been attending it for the last 7 years, they said. “Sikh philosophy says – do labor, remember God, and serve the neede,” Dhillon said, and that is what this gathering wanted all Canadians to see.
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Organized by the Ontario Sikh and Gurdwara Council, the donations during the parade will be donated to Hospital for Sick Children or Sick Kids Hospital as it is popularly known. It is one of the premier health facilities dedicated to children, just a few blocks away from City Hall where Khalsa Day was celebrated.
A turban tying stall was busy with a long line. It included women and men, including this correspondent. “It makes you feel proud,” said the volunteer.
By Premji
