IndiaPost.com - Over 80,000 attend Yuba City Keertan

India Post News Service

YUBA CITY, CA: The 28th Annual Nagar Keertan in Yuba City turned in record crowds last weekend, exceeding the expectations of organizers. Near perfect weather brought in an estimated 75,000 to 80,000 Sikhs and non-Sikhs to enjoy one of Sacramento Valley’s largest religious and cultural celebrations.

The Nagar Keertan was a grand finale to celebrate the 299th Gur Gaddi Divas of the holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. "God blessed us with a day that allowed us to reflect on and remember the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib," said Didar Singh Bains, President, Sikh Temple Yuba City and Parade founder and chairman. At its core, Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, honorable living, social justice and equality of mankind. No where was the reminder of the Sikh core values more prevalent than in the symbolism that went into the preparation and serving of more than 200,000 free meals.

"The tradition comes from Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji who used money his father had given him for buying goods and used it instead to buy food and clothing for those in need, (Sacha Saud )" said Jaswant Singh Bains, Director, Yuba City Sikh Temple Gurdwara. The festive day brought an end to 48 hours of non-stop prayer. As the main float left the Gurdwara grounds, flower petals rained down from a helicopter hovering above the ceremony and parade. The four and a half mile parade featured floats and a procession of thousands of Sikhs walking with the floats. In the Sikh tradition, anyone is free to join in at anytime.

Along the Nagar Keertan route, Sikhs families set up food booths and provided free drinks, snacks and prepared food for the throng of visitors. While tens of thousands lined the parade the route, many more thousands congregated at the Gurdwara to socialize and enjoy the langar. There was also a bazaar where vendors set up shop to sell a variety of items ranging from blankets to clothes to jewelry to religious items, books audio and video.

One particular booth from Los Angeles selling DVDs of "Amu", a movie that was shown at Yuba College on Nov 2 was a hot spot for many Sikhs. This movie deals with the carnage of 1984 in New Delhi Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike from throughout the United States, Canada, England and India attended the celebration to share in the day of devotion.

Although many younger Sikhs and their families have left Yuba City, the weekend of devotion makes for a homecoming weekend for many. "Sikhs first arrived in America more than 100 years ago to work on the railroads outside Sacramento, and Yuba City became their first home due to its rich agricultural land and likeness to their native land, Punjab," said Kuldip Singh Atwal, Secretary, Yuba City Sikh Temple. The spirit of Guru Nanak was felt throughout the weekend, which is: believe one Supreme Being, work hard, live an honest living and share your earnings with your fellow beings. The Nagar Keertan weekend started with the traditional 48 hours of prayer.

Later that evening more than 25,000 people gathered at the Gurdwara to enjoy dinner and watch a spectacular fireworks show. It was the largest turnout to date for a Friday evening fireworks show at the Tierre Buena Gurdwara. A HarleyDavidson Motorcycle team (Sikh Motorcycle Club) from British Columbia, Canada, with turbaned Sikhs from Canada also took part in the parade. Local law enforcement gave them special permission to ride their motor bikes with out helmets.

This event was covered by many mainstream TV stations and newspapers and the coverage of the Nagar Keertan can be seen on On-Demand on Comcast cable all over Northern and Central California over the next few months This weekend, the Gurdwara was bustling with activity again. There was an open house and seminar in English.

The event was attended by many non Sikhs including Lt. Governor of California, Mr. Garmandi and many other elected officials. Key-note speaker Prof Bruce Labrack, Professor of Anthropology at the University of the Pacific (UOP), literally stunned the audience with his great lecture on Sikhs. He said Sikh Americans have been in this country for one century and have faced all kind of discrimination and challenges.

He added, despite all odds against them, most are now very successful and among the wealthiest ethnic group in America. He eloquently compared 10 Sikh values with American values. Many elected officials were honored / recognized at the Seminar with plaques. Saturday evening was dedicated to spiritual singing where many devotional singers delighted the audience with classical ragas and a universal teaching of love and compassion as taught in Gurbani.

There were over 200,000 free meals or langar served to all guests irrespective their faith or background during the three day celebration. The spirit of Guru Nanak was felt throughout the weekend, which is: believe one Supreme Being, work hard, live an honest living and share your earnings with your fellow beings. Sikhs began arriving back at the Gurdwara with the start of the new week at 4 a.m. to help clean up not only the Sikh Temple grounds but also along the parade route.

The clean up usually takes three days to complete. Next year marks the 300th year anniversary of the Guru Granth Sahib This is perhaps the biggest gathering of Sikhs (and Indians) outside India. People came from not only all over California but from all over North America and also Europe. They came by road, train and by air,on commercial flights and also by private and chartered jets. Had it not been for the Sikhs Yuba City would be just another hick town in the boonies of Northern California. The Nagar Keertan (held every Nov ) and the Punjabi American Cultural festival ( held every May ) have made Yuba City an international destination.

These events attract thousand. The May festival is perhaps the largest ticketed event which attracts over twenty five thousand people every year. Likewise the Nov Nagar Keetan is getting bigger every year…this year’s modest estimate is about eighty thousand people. The official population of this town is about fifty thousand! Both the events are a big boost to the town’s economy. People come, they stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, indulge in minor shopping (candy and sodas, toiletries etc) and of course pump gas for their vehicles.

In addition to this all the preparations for the festival and the Nagar Keertan is done from locally procured goods…including all the food material and related stuff to feed eighty thousand people non stop for three days at the langars all over town.

Whilst this is the biggest event in Northern California, Los Angeles’ Darbar E Khalsa held every year on Christmas Day is Southern California’s biggest get together which draws a rolling crowd of over fifteen to twenty thousand people. Like always this year’s Darbar E Khalsa will be held Dec 25th at Mt San Antonio College in Walnut