Sikh Parade 2000, Yuba City, California

Press Release

Sikhism, one of the youngest of the world religions, is barely five hundred years old. It’s founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469 AD. Guru Nanak spread a simple message of “Ek Ong Kar”: we are all one, created by the One Creator of all Creation. Sikhs were the first south Asians to migrate to this land of freedom (America), starting 1880’s. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in world (source: adherents.com) and second largest faith in Yuba -Sutter area. On Sunday, November 4, Sikhs from throughout the United States and other parts of world will participate with the estimated 10,000 local members of Yuba-Sutter community to celebrate their religious sacred scripture, Guru Granth Sahib. This marks the 22nd anniversary of the Sikh Parade in this area.

The Sikh parade committee wishes to invite the all Americans--our neighbors and friends--to join us in “Nagar Kirtan’ (City, Singing) to share the message of universal love and brotherhood/sisterhood as taught in the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book)

The parade, which draws an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people, commemorates the receipt by Sikhs of the Guru Granth Sahib, in 1708. The Guru Granth was given to the Sikhs by the faith’s tenth and last human Guru, Gobind Singh and it incorporates the teachings of 37 people, including Hindus, Muslims, rich and pauper and people of all class levels in addition to Sikh Gurus. The Guru Granth Sahib is beautiful spiritual poetry free from bias, animus or controversy. It affirms the fundamental unity of all religions and the unitary character of all mystic experience.

The parade caps a week-end long celebration of readings, devotional singing and conferences which will begin at 32 year old Sikh Temple Gurdwara, Yuba City. The parade is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am Sunday and end at 4 pm.

There will be a special open house for American friends of all faiths and the Media on Saturday (November 3^rd) at 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. in Dashmesh Hall, 2468 Terra Buena road, Yuba City, CA 95993. There will be an educational PowerPoint presentation in English for our guests and an open question answer session. Free meals will be served to all visitors. Actually, over 100,000 free meals are provided to guests and visitors at Gurdwara over the weekend.

Please come and join us in this great celebration.

You may contact us at 530-682-9444, 530-701-1400, 530-632-6255, 530-632-5315, 530-701-3971, or email at sikhparade@yahoo.com. For more information about Sikhism, you may visit www.sikhnet.com, sikhe.com, or punjabiamericanheritagesociety.org.