Sikh splendour
Stunning, vibrant colour, noise, knife fight demonstrations and a sea of happy faces were all part of Te Puke’s first Sikh Parade on Saturday. The parade left Gurudwara Temple in No 3 Rd and made its way along Te Puke Highway to the town centre before making the return journey back to the temple.
An estimated 2500 people brought a riot of colour and no small amount of joy to Te Puke at the weekend as the town played host to its first Sikh Parade.
As the parade made its way from Gurudwara Temple on No 3 Rd, onto Te Puke Highway to the town centre, participants handed out fruit, drinks and snacks to those on the roadside watching or in cars awaiting the parade’s passing.
The parade — or Nagar Kirtan in Punjabi — is a Sikh custom that involves taking the holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, into the community. Traditionally, the procession is led by the saffron-robed Panj Pyare, the five beloved of the Guru, who are followed by the Guru Granth Sahib Ji placed on a float.
The road before the procession was washed by water from a truck and cleared by Sewadars.
Organiser Kulwinder Sodhi said Saturday was a big day for the Punjabi community in Te Puke.
“We had a great time and everybody was happy and we had no problems,” he said.
He thanked the local community who went a long to watch and share in the parade.
People travelled from the wider Bay of Plenty as well as Hamilton, Auckland and the Hawke’s Bay to swell the numbers.
Kulwinder said the success of the parade means he hopes it will become an annual event.