Community Voice

28 October 2006

14th Katak, 538 Nanakshahi

Valencia Sikhs Thank Donors for Emergency Gurdwara Appeal

Valencia Sikh Community Moves into New Gurdwara in Time for Religious Celebrations and Appeal Ends

Valencia, Spain: The sangat of the Guru Nanak Association Gurdwara in Valencia, moved into their new Gurdwara last Saturday in time for the Sikh religious festival of Bandi Cchod. The president of the Gurdwara, Kulwinder Singh, has conveyed thanks on behalf of the community, to the donors who answered the UNITED SIKHS appeal for emergency funds to move into their new Gurdwara.

“We did the first parkash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji to celebrate Bandi Cchod at the new Gurdwara on Saturday,” Kulwinder Singh said in a telephone interview.

“We will be able to raise the remainder of the funds we require to fully equip the Gurdwara ourselves,” he added.

Donations came from individuals across the world from places as far away as South Korea and from members of various religious communities. The sangat of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Coventry in the UK who had gathered to celebrate Bandi Cchod donated £830. In total, €4794 was raised in response to the Community Voice UNITED SIKHS issued over a week ago. UNITED SIKHS launched the appeal to help the community meet the urgency and since the objective has been met, the appeal has been closed.

The Gurdwara, as previously reported, is central to the lives of the Valencia Sikh community, so the fact that the community were able to do the first prakash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (the Sikh scriptures and eternal Guru of the Sikhs) in time for the festival of Bandi CChod, raised the community’s spirits.

“The generosity we have witnessed from people across the globe for the Valencia Sikh community has been amazing and has shown just how much we can achieve in a short space of time. This generosity has been shown by both Sikhs and non-Sikhs and is testament to growing goodwill regardless of religious, cultural or any other differences”, said Jagdev Singh, UNITED SIKHS project coordinator based in Spain.

The Valencia Sikh community and UNITED SIKHS once again thank every one who has responded by either giving a donation or publicising the appeal.

To read the previous Community Voice for this appeal please click https://unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/COMVCE-14-10-2006-00.htm

Issued by:
Meerat Kaur
Executive Director
UNITED SIKHS

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