- Prabhu Nam Kaur singing at the Jaloose, photo by Dharma Kaur Khalsa
For almost 30 years, the Yuba City community has been celebrating Guru Gaddee Day with an elaborate and exciting parade that each year continues to grow in size.
Many people don’t know this, but it was the Siri Singh Sahib that inspired the first jaloose to be done in Yuba City to celebrate Guru Gaddee Day. Siri Singh Sahib Ji visited Yuba City whenever he came to the Bay area, and he always brought lots of his students with him. One day, while addressing the Sangat at the Gurdwara, he suggested: “Why don’t you have a celebration for Guru Gaddee Day? Show the community what our Guru is all about!” And that is how it all started!
It was small at first, carefully reaching just outside the Gurdwara grounds, and watching for how the community at large would react to it. But now, each year the parade gets bigger; thousands are served free langar over several days and hundred sleep in Dashmesh Hall.
Now it has become a familiar event & tradition for the Sikh community, and it is fully anticipated by the community at large, who line up along the streets to see the floats, colors and hear the music. And in times of difficulty, such as in 1984, just days after Indira Ghandi was killed, and after 9/11, it has been an opportunity for the Sikh community to reach out, serve, and show the spirit and beauty of the Sikh faith.
It’s a great example of the power of projection. Just one suggestion from the Siri Singh Sahib ignited a light that now shines for so many. Come and join us on Saturday & Sunday November 5 & 6th here in sunny Yuba City, CA!
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