WOODBRIDGE - Students, families, staff and community members came together last weekend to celebrate Sikh heritage and culture at a Sikh Heritage Month event with a focus on Preserving our Past.
The first Sikh Heritage Month event in York Region District School Board, it provided an opportunity to celebrate Sikh histories, language, culture and identity. The event featured student artwork, music, guest speakers and a Gatka performance. Gatka is a traditional martial art. Pardeep Nagra from Sikh Heritage Museum provided a keynote address and brought a display highlighting the history of the Sikh community in Canada.
Students who attended the event at Woodbridge College shared that they liked being able to share their Sikh heritage with their friends, learn more about their own Sikh history and culture, watch the Gatka martial art performances, and see their identity affirmed.
“It was a really good event,” said Rajveer, a Grade 9 student at Maple H.S. “I really enjoyed the history and the Gatka performance, which was really nice as my parents were telling me really reminded of how in India and now how the culture has stayed strong and heritage has been brought here and how important it is to share with others across the world. “
“This event is really meaningful to me because I’ve never seen anything like this in York Region,” said Simranjit Goraya, a teacher at Red Maple P.S. “Growing up in York Region, I always felt like I was the only one in my culture, my representation was not there. Today I’m taking back a lot of community vibes, feelings that there is a sense of community with me. I feel a sense of belonging in this community."
“I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with the Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada display,” said Sonya Venugopal, a Child and Youth Worker from Unionville Meadows P.S. “I really enjoyed watching the martial arts demonstration because often that’s not what we associate with Punjabi culture in the mainstream media, we often see the Bhangra dancing, so it was very nice to bring in the martial arts component. It was great to have everyone experience that and learn something new about the culture.”
Sikh Heritage Month is recognized every April.
