Latest news with #NanakDarbar
RTÉ News
04-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Thousands attend Dublin's annual Sikh Parade
Over 2,000 people have gathered in Dublin for an annual Sikh Parade to mark Vaisakhi - one of the holiest days in the Sikh calendar. The parade, known as a Nagar Kirtan, made its way through Sandymount and Ballsbridge, and features traditional Sikh music, martial arts, and free vegetarian meals, reflecting the Sikh value of seva or "selfless service". First held in 2018, the event is organised by Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Ireland's only Sikh temple in Sandymount. Gardaí were in attendance this afternoon to direct traffic during the parade, which spans over four kilometers and typically lasts around two and half hours. Among those on duty was Ravinder Singh Oberoi, the first Sikh to become a member of the Garda Reserves. Mr Oberoi has lived in Ireland since 1997, and joined the reserves in 2021. He almost completed garda reserve training in 2007, until he discovered he would not be allowed to wear his turban as part of the garda uniform. He brought the matter before an Equality Tribunal and the High Court in 2013, which ultimately ruled that An Garda Síochána was not guilty of employee discrimination. However, in 2019, alterations to the garda uniform code were announced, allowing members to wear clothing relating to religious groups, prompting Mr Oberoi to try again. Now over four years in the role, Mr Oberoi believes the Irish and Sikh communities are more cohesive than ever, and he is proud to have played a role in that integration. "It's quite a proud moment for me to be able to police these kinds of events now as part of the community. I'm kind of the linkage between the community and An Garda Síochána." "When I came here first back nearly 28 years ago now, the Sikh community was very small, but since then it has grown quite big. Like today, you will see around 2,000 people congregating together for this parade. "And when I'm out and about on the beat as well, I get that positive vibe back again.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Inside Guru Nanak FC - the Kent club breaking down barriers
A Kent football club which started with a small group of Punjabi students kicking a ball around in a local park is celebrating its 60th anniversary this Nanak FC first formed in 1965 and the club now boasts around 160 players from across its youth and senior after the founder of Sikhism, the club's home ground is next door to the largest gurdwara in Europe, the Guru Nanak Darbar in Chattha, club chairman, said: "I think we're quite fortunate that we get kids turn up, players turn up from all ethnicities - the whole community flocks to this area." 'We fought against it' Nicknamed the Gurus, the club was one of the first to run and host tournaments for Asian clubs and players in the Atwal, who played for the club from the age of 19 and now coaches and volunteers, said the club faced a lot of racism in the 1980s and 1990s but they "fought against it".He added: "No-one wanted to play for us because we were all Indians and we always used to get called names and everything."But as time went past and they found out that we weren't so bad, we're all the same under the skin, and it sort of changed their minds about us."The same people are now our friends – we fought against it." The Gurus hit the headlines in 1998 when King Charles, then Prince of Wales, visited around the time of the World Cup in France that club now attracts a diverse range of players, fielding youth teams, senior sides and girls' and women's them all organised falls onto the shoulders of volunteers such as Jessica McQueen, club secretary for the senior teams. She said: "I love football and I hate it at the same time because it drives me crazy."It can be frustrating - but 60 people playing football every week can't be bad."Guru Nanak FC are planning a big celebration of their 60th anniversary in October, the club says, which will recognise its multi-culturalism, inclusivity and Shergill, who plays for the Guru Nanak Sunday Reserves, said: "This club symbolises courage, inclusivity and diversity."Everyone is welcome to play, anyone can come for a training session, sign up to play for a team, play in the league, play for tournaments and altogether its just a good vibe and good atmosphere week in week out."
