BY GINA DARGAN
PASADENA, CA- Since 1890, Americans from all over the US have tuned in to watch the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, which is a New Year’s tradition. The parade hits the streets every year not only to entertain, but also to educate and celebrate the history of Southern California and the country as a whole. This opportunity to shed light upon the Sikh heritage caught the eye...
PASADENA, CA- Since 1890, Americans from all over the US have tuned in to watch the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, which is a New Year’s tradition. The parade hits the streets every year not only to entertain, but also to educate and celebrate the history of Southern California and the country as a whole. This opportunity to shed light upon the Sikh heritage caught the eye...
of many prominent Sikh leaders and thus, the mission to create a Sikh Float began. And after many rigorous years of lobbying in government, 2015 finally marked the inauguration of the first Sikh Float, “A Sikh American Journey”.
For the past five years, organizations such as United Sikh Mission, SikhLens, Khalsa Care Foundation, and over hundreds of Sikh volunteers have made a collaborative effort towards crafting a float that encapsulates the culture of Sikhism, while also raising awareness of the community. From December 27th through Dec 31st, hundreds of volunteers gather day and night in preparation for this massive project. After observing all the time and effort participants dedicate towards this endeavor, the non-profit organization, Khalsa Care Foundation, took notice and began serving langar to the masses. It seemed to be the perfect additional opportunity to inform others regarding the Sikh faith and one of its tenets: langar, a communal meal and kitchen. “The whole idea of the Rose Parade is to let people know who we are and what we do,” said Gurdip Malik, one the major contributors towards this langar sewa.
This service initially started in order to feed the senior volunteers, but thanks to the non-profit and the efforts of many Sikh leaders such as Gurdip Malik and Manjit Singh, the langar sewa has expanded beyond expectations and has been a massive success within the past four years.
This year, Dr. Piara Singh is sponsoring the Sikh Float Langar in memory of his late wife, Dr. Kamala K Singh. Funded by him and the Khalsa Care Foundation, a team of 10 volunteers gathers groceries and prepares the food at the Pacoima Gurudwara hours prior to lunch. This communal meal, which is being served on December 27th and 29th, features a vast and traditional vegetarian menu including rice, dal, raita, salad, sabzi, and a sweet dish such as kheer. A tandoor is even brought on site in order to provide fresh roti and naan for the crowd to enjoy.
Within the past four years, it is estimated that around 700 people have been fed each time, and Manjit Singh predicts that this number will triple in the coming years. In previous years, the myriad of floats has always been constructed at two or three separate locations, but this time, the event preparation is occurring at only one site. So, with the overwhelming positivity from the past and the incoming influx of volunteers, Singh predicts that the number of hungry participants to satiate will reach an approximate 2000 people. Singh and the many other volunteers embrace this increase with open arms. “With the blessing of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, there are no challenges. Everything goes so smoothly, which is unbelievable,” Manjit Singh stated.
For the past five years, organizations such as United Sikh Mission, SikhLens, Khalsa Care Foundation, and over hundreds of Sikh volunteers have made a collaborative effort towards crafting a float that encapsulates the culture of Sikhism, while also raising awareness of the community. From December 27th through Dec 31st, hundreds of volunteers gather day and night in preparation for this massive project. After observing all the time and effort participants dedicate towards this endeavor, the non-profit organization, Khalsa Care Foundation, took notice and began serving langar to the masses. It seemed to be the perfect additional opportunity to inform others regarding the Sikh faith and one of its tenets: langar, a communal meal and kitchen. “The whole idea of the Rose Parade is to let people know who we are and what we do,” said Gurdip Malik, one the major contributors towards this langar sewa.
This service initially started in order to feed the senior volunteers, but thanks to the non-profit and the efforts of many Sikh leaders such as Gurdip Malik and Manjit Singh, the langar sewa has expanded beyond expectations and has been a massive success within the past four years.
This year, Dr. Piara Singh is sponsoring the Sikh Float Langar in memory of his late wife, Dr. Kamala K Singh. Funded by him and the Khalsa Care Foundation, a team of 10 volunteers gathers groceries and prepares the food at the Pacoima Gurudwara hours prior to lunch. This communal meal, which is being served on December 27th and 29th, features a vast and traditional vegetarian menu including rice, dal, raita, salad, sabzi, and a sweet dish such as kheer. A tandoor is even brought on site in order to provide fresh roti and naan for the crowd to enjoy.
Within the past four years, it is estimated that around 700 people have been fed each time, and Manjit Singh predicts that this number will triple in the coming years. In previous years, the myriad of floats has always been constructed at two or three separate locations, but this time, the event preparation is occurring at only one site. So, with the overwhelming positivity from the past and the incoming influx of volunteers, Singh predicts that the number of hungry participants to satiate will reach an approximate 2000 people. Singh and the many other volunteers embrace this increase with open arms. “With the blessing of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, there are no challenges. Everything goes so smoothly, which is unbelievable,” Manjit Singh stated.
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