Minister Nazri launches Taiping Sikhs’ 100 year celebration

The 100th celebration of the organisation powering the Gurdwara Sahib Taiping will be a good excuse for Malaysians to travel to the historic town in Perak while at the same time will attract Sikhs from around the world.

“Sikhs from India, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States can visit the Gurdwara here,” Minister of Tourism and Culture Nazri Abdul Aziz said at the event in Taiping, Perak, on Sunday (16 Oct 2016).

The minister was present to officially launch the 100th Year celebration of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Taiping (SGSS Taiping), the organisation that runs the local gurdwara.

In his speech, Nazri said Sikh places of worship nationwide, numbering around 120, can serve as a tourist attraction, especially for Sikhs from around the world.

“It will be a good opportunity for visitors from overseas to come here,” he said.

Also present were Orang Kaya Menteri Paduka Wan Mohd Isa Wan Razali and Taiping Municipal Council chairman Abd Rahim Md. Ariff.

SGSS Taiping has planned a one-week celebration on Nov 7-13 that will coincide with the gurpurab (birthday) celebration of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru.

In 1916, SGSS Taiping was formed by local Sikhs who then successfully build a Gurdwara (at the current location) in 1921. A new double story building was built in 1971.

“We had a multiracial crowd joined us commemorate this auspicious event,” SGSS Taiping president Balraj Singh tells Asia Samachar.

The program began with the singing of Malaysia’s national anthem Negaraku. Also on the itenerary was dhol (drum) beats and performance by Punjabi class students.

After a cake cutting ceremony, the minister signed off a time capsule.

The minister also visited the exhibition which included chapati making, antique bicycle used by milkman in early days, musical items and making of charpoy (Punjabi bed).

Taiping is about 270km from Kuala Lumpur. The event comes on the heels of recent centenary celebrations of gurdwaras in Kampar in Perak and Kuala Pilah in Pahang.

The series of events in Taiping will begin with daily Satsangs, or congregational prayer programmes, in the evenings of Nov 7-10.

This will be followed by an akhand path, the continuous reading of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, on Nov 11-13.

One major event will be a Nagar Kirtan on 12 Nov where a kirtan procession will be held around town starting from the Gurdwara compound.

There will also be an exhibition on the arrival of Sikhs to Tanah Melayu and a display of Sikh darmik (religious) items. On 13 Nov, an Amrit Sanchar will be held for those wanting to partake the khanda-da-pahul.

The “100 Years 100 Donors” blood donation drive will be held on 12 Nov where the organising team hopes to get at least 100 blood donors.

ASIA SAMACHAR – 17-Oct-2016