For the second weekend in a row Sikhs in Williams Lake celebrated Vaisakhi, this time at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple on Mackenzie Avenue.
Temple member Surinderpal Rathor said with the arrival of a new priest,= reading of the holy book began on Monday, April 25.
On Saturday afternoon, April 30, local Sikhs as well as visitors from 100 Mile House, Clinton and Abbotsford, gathered for tea, with sweets and savoury snacks, prepared by women in the kitchen at the temple.
For Kulvinder Khakh it was a nice opportunity to catch up with his lifelong friend Jaspaul Mudhar who brought his family from 100 Mile House for the celebration.
“We are old time friends who grew up together in Williams Lake,” the two men said smiling.
Just before 5 p.m. people gathered outside to prepare for the raising of the flag, which is replaced with a new one each year.
The flag pole is covered with a bright orange cloth and some of the women wrap bright orange ribbons all along it.
A procession from the temple led by five Sikh leaders representing the five beloved ones exited the temple followed by a drummer and a group of women - all singing.
“Our flag is raised to indicate there is a Sikh temple there and that it is a place you can come for help, shelter or refuge,” Rathor explained. “If someone comes to the temple, they know they will be protected.”
After the flag raising everyone returned inside the hall to enjoy a dinner prepared by the women.
Vaisakhi is a festival which marks the beginning of harvest and a new business year, as well as the time when Sikhism was born as a collective faith in 1699.
Three principles of Sikhism Rathor wanted to share include working hard and honestly, sharing your earnings and praising Almighty God.
There are two Sikh temples in Williams Lake - the other one is located on Pine Street.
This weekend Sikhs in 100 Mile House will host a Vaisakhi celebration.
A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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