The Squamish Sikh Society is hosting a celebration and would like the entire community to join in the good times.
The group is holding a community celebration and parade to commemorate the Shaheedi Gurpurb, or martyrdom, of Fifth Guru Arjun De Ji on Saturday (June 25).
The Sikh community will celebrate the anniversary with a street parade through downtown Squamish and associated short readings and verbal presentations at the pavilion between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
As this will be a very joyous event for the Sikh community, we are hoping to have the support of the Squamish community at large, said Squamish Sikh Society president Makhan Sanghera. The Squamish Sikh Society would be pleased and honoured if you would find the time in your busy schedule to attend the parade.
Expected to attend the event are Squamish mayor Greg Gardner, West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP John Weston and West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre.
There will also be a Guru Ka Langar, or free food, along the parade route. The route runs from the Sikh Gurdwara on Fifth Avenue to Victoria Street, down Third Avenue to Main Street and up to Cleveland Avenue.
According to Sikh belief, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was the fifth Guru of the Sikhs and first Sikh Martyr Guru. He went through untold bodily sufferings for freedom of faith and worship and condemned the rulers and the riches tyranny over the people, placing in peoples hearts a sense of dignity and self-respect. He also refused to give up his faith and embrace Islam and so was ordered put to death by torture by Emperor Jahangir.
The preparation of the Holy Book was the greatest achievement of Guru Arjan Dev. With three things in his mind, he initiated the compilation of the Holy Book, the present Guru Granth Sahib. The Hymns revealed through the first four gurus were being amalgamated and distorted by imposters. He also wanted to bestow the faith with everlasting guiding light, a physical and spiritual phenomenon. Thirdly and most of all, the Guru wanted to establish the credibility of the Sikh religion as casteless and secular society.
Please join us in making the parade a memorable event, Sanghera said. We hope to see you there.
