Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
Sadaewatan@gmail.com
Punjabi Council of Australia arranged Vaisakhi Celebration in NSW Parliament House
Punjabi Council
of Australia takes pride to share that Vaisakhi was celebrated at NSW Parliament
on 8th May 2014. This was 9th celebration in a row and we really thank NSW
Parliament & Parliamentary host Hon Nathan Reese MP and Ex Premier for helping
us in organising the event.
Vaisakhi is an important day in Sikh Calendar being Birthday of Sikh Community
dating back to 1699. Vaisakhi is also a great cultural festival celebrated in
Northern India- when wheat crop is ready for harvest and farmers dress up in
bright colourful and dance with the beat of drum.
The guests started coming in from 5.00pm at the Parliament House. The program
officially began at 6.00PM with traditional Shabad Singing by Guru Singh Sabha
Revesby, youth group.
Dr Moninder Singh, Coordinator, Punjabi Council of Australia, started the
proceedings & welcomed the dignitaries including Leader of the Opposition Hon
John Robertson MP, Hon Kevin Conolly MP rep Premier Hon Berry O Farrell, Hon
Nathan Reese MP, Hon Sunjay Sudhir Consul General, Indian Consulate Sydney,
Consul AS Ranga, Mr John Kennedy President UIA. Other dignitaries present were
many Parliamentarians, leaders from Indian and Pakistani community, and
representatives from Sikh Centres, and Cultural Associations & Sports Clubs.
Highlight of the evening was the presence of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal Ji,
noted environmental activist. Also present were Mr Resham Singh, first Sikh to
raise awareness about his right to wear turban in Australia while on duty in
Ambulance services in Queensland and Mr Lakhwinder Dhillon- Honest Cabbie from
Melbourne- who made us all proud by returning bag full of cash which was left in
his Cab by a passenger going to Casino in Melbourne. These personalities were
facilitated by presenting Pride of Punjabis Awards.
This year is silver jubilee of Kabaddi in Australia which is back bone of Annual
Sikh Games in Australia. Members of the first Kabaddi team of Australia which
laid the foundation of traditional Indian sport Kabaddi 25 yrs ago were also
facilitated. Each member was presented a memento in the form of a group
photograph of the first Kabaddi team. Young lad Varun Tiwari who is a renounced
Punjabi dancer in Sydney was also facilitated.
Of course the guests also saw the glimpses from Varun Tiwari and his partner.
The event finished with light refreshments courtesy Royal Sweets Blacktown.
Events like the Vaisakhi Celebrations at the Parliament House demonstrate recognition of valuable contribution of Indian Community especially Punjabi Community in Australia. The invitation was extended to all other communities and their overwhelming participation proved that Punjabi Community belongs to all and all belongs to Punjabi Community. Presence of guests in large numbers ensured that Vaisakhi Celebrations should be repeated for many years to come.
