Colourful farewell to Gurbachan, 92, gran to a hundred
She was a great woman. It’s sad to see her go but we’re here to celebrate the long life she had Gurbachan’s grandson Hardeep Singh
AN incredible procession in memory of a ‘great woman’ who was a prominent member of Bristol’s Sikh community brightened the streets of Eastville on Friday morning.
Gurbachan Harbans Kaur Khalsa passed away at the age of 92 on March 1 after suffering from dementia. She had more than 100 grandchildren, including great-grandchildren, who turned out in great numbers to remember her extraordinary life.
Gurbachan was married to Shingara Singh Kalsa, who passed away in 2019, and founded the city’s first Sikh temple.
The pair were dedicated to helping others, and were described as “massive figures” in the Sikh community.
Her emotional send-off started at her home address on Glenfrome Road in Eastville. At around 11.45am, Gurbachan was transported to the Sikh Temple in Fishponds by horse and carriage, followed by a truck with a Sikh flag playing music, and a long line of funeral cars.
Her grandchildren followed the horse and carriage on foot singing traditional Sikh music and holding a painting in her memory, passing the Eastville M32 roundabout as motorists stopped to allow passage.
Two of her grandchildren lit colourful flares as they approached the Temple.
Gurbachan’s grandson Hardeep Singh said: “She was a great woman. She was very religious as a ‘khalsa.’”
“Khalsa is a group into which committed Sikhs can be initiated to demonstrate their devotion to their faith.
“But a few years ago she started deteriorating due to her age,” Hardeep said. “It’s going to be hard, but she’s gone to a better place.
“It’s sad to see her go but we’re here to celebrate the long life she had.”