It was the sweets and sugared water that excited Avtar Gidda as a boy.
Growing up in the Punjab region, the sun would beat down on the streets, warming the air to 40 degrees Celsius. On the martyrdom of the fifth Guru Guru Arjun Dev Ji families poured out of their homes to honour the Guru's death. Food was shared and the sugar water, kept nice and cold with ice cubes, flowed.
On Sunday, June 24, the Squamish Sikh Society is inviting the community to celebrate this anniversary. At 10:30 a.m., starting at the Sikh Temple at 37947 Fifth Ave., a parade will set out. The procession will travel downtown with a presentation at the O'Siyam Pavilion. And like every anniversary of the fifth Guru, there will be sweets, Gidda said.
Our tradition is to share the food, he said.
Guru Arjun Dev Ji taught people the value of love, peace, equality and liberty, Gidda said. The three-day celebration honours his devotion to the one Lord and equality, he continued.
There are prayers being done all three days, Gidda said.
Guru Arjun Dev Ji was executed in 1606 because of his religion. He was made to sit on a hot cauldron and hot sand was poured over his body. Guru Arjun Dev Ji became the first martyr among the Sikhs.
Also called the Light of all Lights, Guru Arjun Dev Ji is said to enlighten the whole world and envelop humans with his powerful rays of synthesis, harmony, love and amity.
Guru Arjun Dev Ji was ahead of his time when it came to his beliefs on equality, Gidda said. He hopes the community will come out and celebrate together.
I am very lucky because I am in a very beautiful country, where I can enjoy all our human rights, Gidda said.
