ESTIMATED 50,000 SIKHS END A WEEKEND OF RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION WITH PARADE IN YUBA CITY, CALIFORNIA

YUBA CITY, CA., November 5, 2002 - An estimated 50,000 Sikhs, more than 10% of the US Sikh population, attended the 23rd annual parade today in Yuba City, California commemorating the receipt by Sikhs of their Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib, in 1708. Sikhs from throughout the United States, Canada, England and India attended the celebration.
"The Guru Granth Sahib reads like the US Constitution, advocating equality and justice for all," said Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang, parade organizer. "America should not live in fear of the turban and beard, because for Sikhs, the turban and beard represents honor and our duty to uphold justice and equality," said Kang. In America, 99% of people wearing turbans are Sikhs.
The four-mile parade, lined by an estimated 50,000 people, featured floats and a procession of parade participants. In the Sikh tradition, anyone is free to join in the parade at anytime. "By joining the parade, the event becomes truly a festive and celebratory walk through town by thousands of parade participants," said Didar Singh Bains, Parade Chairman. As the parade left the Sikh Temple Gurdwara grounds to circle the city, a helicopter dropped rose petals on the parade from above.
More than 100,000 free meals were consumed by visitors and guests this weekend. Again, in the Sikh tradition, Sikhs walked the parade route providing free drinks and food to the spectators. The free food signifies an openness to share. "At any time during the year the Sikh Temple Gurdwara is open to anybody who is in need of help," said Dilbag Singh Bains, President, Yuba City Sikh Temple Gurdwara. During the year, the Sikh Temple Gurdwara provides thousands of free meals for anybody who is in need or for anybody who just wants to come by to socialize.
Sikhism is over 500 years old, the fifth largest religion in world and the second largest faith in the Yuba -Sutter area. Sikhs were the first south Asians to migrate to America, starting in the 1880's. The event this weekend contributed an estimated $7 million into the local economy.

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