The Town of Halton Hills is commemorating Sikh Heritage Month by flying a flag at Town Hall.
Several members of the Sikh community, Mayor Ann Lawlor, a few councillors and Town staff were on hand to observe the flag raising ceremony on Friday.
“Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world,” said master of ceremonies Nanki Kaur. “It preaches equality, justice and peace for all regardless of your colour, your orientation, your caste, your creed, your religion, your occupation or your gender.”
To the outside observers, the ceremony appeared to be merely about raising a flag. However, there is significant spirituality and history behind the ceremony.
April was chosen as Sikh Heritage Month because it was then in 1699 that the 10th guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, created the Khalsa Panth.
This is an order into which Sikhs are ceremonially initiated and earn the names Singh (for men) and Kaur (for women). They were commanded by Guru Gobind to wear the five K’s: Kesh (uncut hair), kangha (comb), kara (bracelet), kachera (an undergarment) and a kirpan (a dagger).
Initiation also comes with sacred duties.
“The Khalsa was created to uphold these very principles: To never attack the innocent or meek but to always protect them," said Kaur. "To never ever strike first when faced with an attack, but rather act in defence. To feed and nourish everyone while sitting on the same level as everybody else.”
Ontario became the first Canadian province to celebrate Sikh Heritage Month when then-MPP Jagmeet Singh passed a motion to designate April as such. Since then, the commemoration has risen to the national level.
Mayor Ann Lawlor, and some Town councillors, were on hand to raise the flag. Sikhs traditionally raise a flag called the Nishan Sahib above their gurdwaras (houses of worship). A Nishan Sahib was not raised at Town Hall, but a similar consecrated flag was used instead; hence why Mayor Lawlor and anyone who touched it wore a head covering.
“I recognize and appreciate the tenets of the Sikh faith,” said Lawlor. “These tenets resonate with me and as the leader of the Town. I believe that healthy communities are built on the tenets of kindness, volunteerism, engagement and collaboration."
“When we take time to recognize special entities, we come to appreciate their contribution and the similarities that we have with one another. That brings us all together rather than pulls us apart,” Lawlor added.
