Special to WSN by: Amarjit Singh Buttar
NEW YORK: The Annual Sikh Day Parade in New York City was held on April 24, 1993. In perfect weather conditions, thousands of Sikhs young and old, men, women and children in Kesri turbans, dupattas and patkas came from Vermont, New Hampshire in the North east and as far as North Carolina in the Southeast of America. The parade started exactly at 1:00 p.m, from Broadway and 40th Street and ended around 3:30 p.m. on 14th Street at Union Square Park. The entire route was one grand spectacle of Sikhs celebrating Basakhi and renewing contacts with old friends. There was a marked increase in the number of Sikh men, women and children donning Kesri turbans, dupatias and patkas this year, The parade was lead by Panj Pyaras with Nishan Sahibs along with Giani Daljit Singh Ji, the newly appointed head Granthi of Richmond Hill Gurdwara Sahib followed by a tastefully decorated Palki of Siri Guru Granth Sahib living Guru of the Sikhs, Following immediately behind was a large float carrying a replica of Siri Darbar Sahib Amnisar. Then there were Sikh Societies, Institutions following in the parade. Most notable were Sikh forum, Long Island Singh Sabha Flushing, Guru Nanak Sikh Society Deptford, New Jersey, Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, Sikh Center Flushing, Sikh Mangat, Washington, D.C, Siri Guru Singh Sabha New York, Mid-Hudson Sikh Cultural Society, Fishkill, New England Sikh Study Circle, Milford Mass and a large contingent of Sikh Cultural Society of Richmond Hill, New York. There were some new entries this year, notably Afghan Sikh Society, New York, United Sikh Association, It appeared to a layman in the street that Sikhs have taken over the city and the entire atmosphere was permeated with calls and sounds of Sikh issues Kirtan and slogans, etc.
When the parade reached Union Square Park, the sing at was entertained to langar by the organizers. It was addressed among others by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, U.S, Rep. Dan Burton, Dr.Rajwant Singh, Satjiwan Singh Khalsa, Bhai Satinder Pal Singh, Member Panthic Committee, S.Amarjit Singh Buttar, Ms.G Brooks, Deputy Burrough President and Ms.Virgo Lee from Mayor Dinkins’ office.
Dr.Gunmit Singh Aulakh, while introducing Rep. Dan Burton,em phasized peaceful mass movement as the only way to achieve Khalistan. Congressman Dan Burton in a hard hitting speech, criticized Indian Government’s record of tortures, rapes and Murders of innocent Sikh men, women and children, While quoting from Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, Congressman Burton said that “Sikhs can’t live under tyranny forever and as long as I am there shall continue to fight.”S.Amarjit Singh Buttar exhorted to the Sangat to recognize their duty at the critical juncture the same way asdidSukha Singh, MehtabSingh, in Sikh history and Beant Singh, Satwant Singh, and Sukhdev Singh and Harjinder Singh in the recent Sikh history and support the Sikh Cause,
The Sikh Cultural Society New York team of G_S:Sandhu, J.S.Sabharwal, S.S.Dhami, B.S.Boparai, deserve special thanks for making this annual event a great success.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 30, 1993
