By Ravinder Singh Robin

Yuba City (California) Nov 2 (ANI): Over a million Sikhs from across the United States took part in the 30th annual Sikh Parade at Yuba City in California on Sunday.

The nearly five-mile religious parade was taken out to mark the tercentenary celebrations of Guruship of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs.

Amid the chants of “Satnam Waheguru” and repeated slogans of “Bole so Nihal” the Punj Pyaras or, the five Sikh clergies led the parade and carried the Sri Nishan Sahib, the religious flag of Sikhism.

As the procession stared from the Sikh Temple of Yuba City, a helicopter hovering above the ceremonial parade created a rain of flowers from high above the procession.

Tajinder Singh Dosanjh, a senior member of the committee said that the Parade helps people to meet each other and witnessed a large religious gathering and offered a platform to the Sikhs to discuss their issues.

“Besides the religious function the people opine that the procession also demonstrates their political and economic strength along with the unity among the Sikhs,” Dosanjh added.

John Singh Gill, a leader of the Sikh community in Yuba city said that by doing such events the community would stepping ahead to create awareness sin USA about Sikhs so there would no more hate crime against Sikhs due to mistaken identity.

Many U.S Congressmen and representatives of the Governor’s office attended the parade besides the Sikh devotees.

Wally Herger, member Congress said that after 9/11 we have been facing a lot of challenges and it is important that we should not mix up out friends (Sikhs). We need a continued efforts to make sure that American public is made aware about the Sikh community.

Each year Sikhs travel to Yuba City from all over the world to participate in one of the largest devotional celebrations in the Western Hemisphere. It’s expected to generate 20 to 30 million dollars into the local economy. (ANI)