She has large, dark eyes, black hair tied behind her neck, brightly colored clothes like all Sikh Indians, but an Italian name, because she was born in our country, 26 years ago. Simona Singh, with her contagious smile, told on Thursday afternoon in the Miretti hall in Savigliano what will happen on Sunday 28 April, when, for the first time, the Sikh community of the area will celebrate the “Nagar Kirtan” festival in the city of Santorre di Santarosa .
«My father Daljit – explains Simona – was among the first Indians from our Punjab community to emigrate to Italy, in 1986. Today, in the area between South Turin and the Cuneo plain alone, there are several thousand of us. We are an open, colourful, social and peaceful community and that is why we are pleased to share our moments of celebration with you.” Daljit Singh is president of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha association, a reference association for Piedmontese Sikhs, and the only one to have a temple, in Marene, where they can meet and pray. In Marene the Sikhs, with their colorful turbans, generous beards and moustaches, and the bright clothes of the women are now a common and well-integrated presence. Processions and moments of celebration are also shared and experienced by the local population.
«For a couple of years – continues Simona – the mayor of Savigliano Antonello Portera has been inviting us to organize something in the city too. The first event will be on Sunday 28 April. There will be a procession with our sacred book, written in 1699, from Piazza del Popolo along the streets of the city centre. Then the party in the square, where we will offer our typical dishes, but not only, to all those present.” Hundreds of Indians are expected, perhaps over 2,000, for an afternoon (from 12pm to 6pm) of colour, joy, moments of prayer and celebration.
The Sikhs come mainly from the Punjab region, where their religion is rooted. It is practiced by 2 percent of the Indian population, and it is the one that, in 1699, first abolished the caste system. For this reason, men and women are all considered equal, and have the only surnames Singh or Kaur (princess). They reject all forms of violence and follow the rules of the sacred book. «Working, praying and sharing – explains Daljit – are the three pillars on which our religion is based. We don’t eat meat, fish or eggs, but we are not vegan, because in our kitchen there is plenty of milk and cheese. In our processions we see acrobats with swords, but these are martial arts, not acts of war. We want to make ourselves known, tell our traditions to you Italians. It would be nice if many people from Savigliano participated in our celebration on Sunday 28th, as already happens in Marene.”
Tags: Cuneo Indians Sikh community celebrating Savigliano Sunday April Lets unite cultures
