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CONTINUED: DR. KANG, NAGAR KIRTAN, and 100,000 PEOPLE
.... This celebration of Diwali includes a Nagar Kirtan - a parade which involves the chanting of prayers and, for the Sikhs, carrying their holy book, the Guru Granth, on a float through residential areas.
.... This celebration of Diwali includes a Nagar Kirtan - a parade which involves the chanting of prayers and, for the Sikhs, carrying their holy book, the Guru Granth, on a float through residential areas.
Lots of people and decorated trucks in that parade.
This year, it's estimated that 100,000 people attended over the weekend. The festivities began with fireworks on Friday night and ended with the Nagar Kirtan on Sunday. The number 100,000 is smaller than usual due to covid; more commonly, there will be up to 150,000 people who come not only from throughout California but also other parts of the USA and also abroad.
The Gurdwara at night, all decorated with lights.
I brought my mask (even though I'm fully vaccinated) but didn't need to use it as much as I expected because people do not crowd you and push and shove, even though so many are involved. I watched all parts of the parade, from the Sikh motorcycle groups that led it, to the gurdwara elders and the float with the Guru Granth, to other floats and the martial arts group, to the truck parade...and of course, many, many people from the gurdwara. Very impressive.
Here's one meal; when you're feeding so many people, simple is best: friend onions (just barely visible), rice, dahl, fried potatoes (spicy!), fried nan, and a sweet thing for desert.
Plus as is traditional for the Sikhs, everyone was offered free food throughout the celebration. That's LOTS of meals served!!!
