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LA NRI Sikhs to celebrate 545th jayanti of Guru Nanak at LA Convention Center
Los Angeles, Dec. 14, 2014
NRIpress-Club/Karen/Gary Singh
American Politicians extended their warm and cordial greeting to NRI Los Angeles Sikh Community on the occasion of 545 birth anniversary of fist sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The Los Angeles Convention Center is one of the most technologically advanced convention and exhibition centers in the world. It attracts over 2.5 million visitors annually and is renowned internationally as a prime site for conventions, trade shows and exhibitions.
LA Sikh NRIs celebrate Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on the full moon day in the month of Kartik. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was born on 15 April 1469 in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present Shekhupura District of Pakistan, now Nankana Sahib. His birth is celebrated on Kartik Poornima, the full moon day in the month of Kartik. In the Gregorian Calendar, the celebration usually falls in the month of November, but the dates are varies from year to year, based on the traditional dates of the Indian calendar.
To mark the important occasion of 545 birth anniversary of first sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev ji, the Prabhandak Committee of Vermont Gurdwara, along with other Gurdwaras of Southern California, have joined hands to make the celebrations a grand success.
The Prabhandak Committee of Vermont Gurdwara and Gurdwara Supporters include- Jawahar Lal Saini, Ronak Singh, Baldev S. Johal, Buhpinder Dhillon, Santok Singh, Dr. Jaswant Dhillon, Dr. Piara Singh, Harbajan Singh, Manjit Singh, Gurdev Singh, Gurdev Singh, Dr. Amarjit Singh Marhwa, Dr. Amrit Singh, Baljinder Singh, Amarjit Singh, Darshan Singh, Harniak Singh Thiara, Harjinder S. Malhi, Iqbal Sumra and Gurdeep S. Johal.
Other Gurdwaras Participate in this event:
The name of Gurdwaras/and other associations are as follows:Gurdwara Walnut, Gurdwara Buena Park, Gurdwara Buena Park (Stanton Rd.), Gurdwara Sarab Sanjha Darbar, Gurdwara Valley Sikh Temple, Gurdwara Lankershim, Gurdwara Riverside, Gurdwara Hesperia, Gurdwara Nanak Sadan, Gurdwara Guru Ram Dass Ashram, Gurdwara Santa Ana, Gurdwara Alhambra, Gurdwara Apple Valley, Gurdwara Norco, Gurdwara Palm, Spring, Gurdwara Temecula, Gurdwara Ventura, Gurdawara AVS Lancaster, Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Gurdwara West Covina, Bhai Mardana Academy, I.I.G.S and Bhai Sohan S. Rasia and Jatha
LA American politicians greets Sikhs on Guru Nanak Dev birth anniversary:
The following American politicians participated in the event and greeted NRI Sikhs and around the world on the birth anniversary of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak Dev ji.
- Judy May Chu, democratic, Congresswoman for California's 27th district since 2009, said in her speech, “ this day is a reminder of the Sikh community’s commitment of highest standards of service, courage and consciousness.”
The American Sikh Congressional Caucus is co-chaired by Reps. Judy Chu with other members. Comprised of 42 bi-partisan Members of Congress, the Caucus seeks to educate Members and the general public about Sikh issues and support the Sikh American community.
- Councilman Curren D. Price Jr. became the 17th person elected to the Los Angeles City Council representing the 9th Council District on July 1, 2013---
His primary focus for the 9th is improving the quality of life for all residents in the district.
- Paul Koretz. is a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the Fifth Council District. He was previously a member of the California State Assembly and the West Hollywood City Council.
- Jim McDonnell for Los Angeles County Sheriff has served as Chief of Police for the city of Long Beach, the second largest city in Los Angeles County, since March, 2010. He previously served as the second in command in the Los Angeles Police Department.Chief McDonnell began his law enforcement career in 1981
“This was such an unbelievable experience that literally opened my eyes to a very different level of kindness. The Langar is a vegetarian meal cooked by volunteers and offered for free to every visitor without any distinctions of race, religion, gender or age," said Ramesh Gupta who brought 5-6 students from his class of local University. "We found it very welcoming and peaceful. People were very friendly and seem to be very nice.”
On the occasion of Guru Nanak’s 545th birth anniversary, the Sikhs, like every year, opened their arms to Christians, Hindus, Muslims and other relegions. The sikh student, Ravinder Singh, 15, with an orange turban, boasted that their festivities were open to all. “There are no differences between us as we are promoting humanity.”
“We are hearing and seeing an increase of other nationalities frequenting gurdwaras specifically for langar,” said Ravinder Singh, an engineer in LA city Deptt. “Sikhs welcome anyone into the gurdwara as long as they are not drunk, they remove their shoes and cover their head, adding: “It’s not a free buffet, it’s a way of serving the community.”
Sikhism has, from its inception, been welcoming to all religions, and many of the verses in the Guru Granth Sahib were written by Muslims and Hindus. The four openings at the Harimandir Sahib invite people from all directions and walks of life.
Delicious vegetarian food was served. The food include pakodas, samosas, ladoos , jalebiyan, gulabjamans, kaali daal, raajma chaawal and pulao etc. The program ends with the ‘Guru ka langar’ around 5.30pm.
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