Sikh Celebration in Yuba City

November 4, 2002

Source: The Appeal-Democrat

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/110402/110402Sikhs.shtml

On November 4, 2002 The Appeal-Democrat reported that "five men [representing five Khalsa - the first five soldier-saints baptized by the 10th and final guru, Guru Gobind Singh] stood and sang hymns with thousands of others at the Sikh Temple on Tierra Buena Road on Sunday before the 23rd annual Sikh Parade began. All praised Singh's last gift to Sikhs - a 1,430-page set of holy scriptures, called the Guru Granth Sahib. Tens of thousands of people lined Tierra Buena and Butte House roads to pay their respects to the scriptures, which play a large role in the everyday lives of Sikhs. 'To us this is a living guru,' said Harbans Sraon, who read a proclamation by Gov. Gray Davis before the parade began. Davis didn't attend the celebration. The ceremony was filled with prayer, songs and readings from the Guru Granth Sahib before the scriptures were lifted and carried outside. Scores of people entered the temple before the parade to kneel before the Guru Granth Sahib as a matter of respect and to donate money. They received a sacrament food called barshau in a napkin."