Sikhs to Celebrate Birth of Faith with Sport

April 11, 2008

Author: RICHARD VARA

Source: Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5693865.html

Houston's Sikh community will celebrate the birth of its religion with a special service and by introducing the Indian sport of kabbadi to the city.

"This will be the first time in Houston," Harjit S. Galhotra, spokesman for the Sikh National Center, said of the game on April 19.

The sport is popular among Indians in Chicago, New York and Canada, he said. It is also played in Southeast Asia, Japan and Iran.

About 20 players are coming to Houston from the San Jose-San Francisco area and three from New York for the Houston celebration of Vaisakhi.

More than 2,000 Sikhs are expected to attend the Vaisakhi celebration at the undeveloped grounds of the future national center at 7500 N. Sam Houston Parkway W.