From the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Society of Victoria:
The Gurdwara Singh Sabha Society of Victoria has received permission from the City of Victoria to host the second Khalsa Day Parade (Nagar Kirtan) on Sunday, April 28th, 2019 in Victoria, BC.
We humbly request members of your community to come out and join in the celebrations.
We look forward to seeing you all come out and enjoy the festivities including variety of Indian (vegetarian) food at the Khalsa Day Parade.
Please find attached the parade route information and material explaining Sikhism.
The parade caps a week-long program of events:
- April 22–26th (Mon-Fri), 6 pm to 8 pm (Rehraas Sahib, Katha & Kirtan)
- April 27 (Sat), 9 am to 8 pm, (Katha, Kirtan & Dhadi)
- April 28th (Sun), 5 am to 4 pm (Nitnem, Asa Di Var, Kirtan & Dhadi)
Gurdwara Singh Sabha Society of Victoria
470 Cecelia Road
Victoria BC
V8T 4T5
- Tel. 250-475-2280
- 250-216-6362
- 250-818-8172
- 250-216-8993
- Web: www.Gurudwarasinghsabhavictoria.com www.facebook.com/SinghSabhaYYJ
Background information
- What is a Nagar Kirtan?
Sikh communities celebrate festivals by holding public processions and sharing their joy with other communities:
Nagar = town
Kirtan = singing of spiritual hymns
Nagar Kirtans come from ‘Parbhaat Pheri’ in Punjab when Sikhs would wake up before dawn and join groups to sing God’s praises on the way to the Gurdwara. - Nagar Kirtans are led by the Sikh scriptural Guru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and Five Khalsa (Panj Pyare), representing the spirit and body of the Guru.
- Why Sing Kirtan?
All of the Guru’s writings are in poetry. Singing these divine songs of love lets us see through the Guru’s enlightened eyes. We sing in groups as this is the fastest way to experience and fall in love with God. This is when our spiritual life begins. Deep down, our soul loves and thirsts for God. Temporarily, the world might distract us from this thirst but, without this divine experience, we remain unfulfilled. - Why all the free food (Langar)?
This is a form of selfless service (seva) that was actually instituted by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru. All Gurdwaras must serve free langar to all visitors regardless of race, religion or social status. It has three main reasons: - Fight Hunger
- Equality in Action
- Teaching Compassion