By Jaime Polmateer
The local Clearwater Sikh community held its Baisakhi, also pronounced Vaisakhi, celebration on the weekend, where members got together to sing, pray, eat and celebrate the fruits of their labour over the past year.
This time around the group had to hold off on its celebration, which usually takes place in April, to assemble more members for the event.
“We had to delay the celebration a month to gather everybody; we waited until everyone was available, otherwise we can’t lower the flag,” said local Sikh, Narinder Heer, only half joking.
Lowering the flagpole is part of the celebration, when they take it down, wash the flagpole and replace its saffron-coloured covering and flag.
Heer, who came to the area in 1965, said there were roughly 55 Sikh families in Clearwater and the group opened its gurdwara in Clearwater in 1985.
The number of local Sikh families has declined to roughly five, but many of them came back from places like Kamloops, Merritt, Vancouver and as far away as Alberta to take part in the weekend celebration.
“Because we’re a Sikh community we get together—that’s what it’s all about,” said Heer.
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