A few days before thousands of people filled the streets of Vancouver to celebrate Vaisakhi, students at Queensborough Middle School held their own celebration to mark the birth of the Sikh faith.
Last Wednesday, students in Queensborough Middle School’s Punjabi class invited the entire school to an assembly to celebrate Vaisakhi. The students led the assembly, explaining the significance of the annual celebration to those in attendance, according to Punjabi Language Education Association president Balwant Sanghera.
“The whole school was buzzing with Vaisakhi-related activities. It was great to see the students greet guests with ‘Happy Vaisakhi’ at the main entrance to the school,” wrote Sanghera in an email to the Record.
Students entertained guests with bhangra dancing, speeches, poetry reading and other cultural performances.
Parents and members of the local Sikh community, meanwhile, took part by preparing a South Asian feast, featuring samosas and sweets.
“It is a commendable way of creating more pride amongst students about their cultural heritage in the Canadian context. Programs, activities and gestures like these go a long way in creating a positive image of our community and enhancing opportunities for cross-cultural understanding. The organizers, (the school) and the New Westminster school district must be commended for promoting Punjabi and celebrations like this,” Sanghera wrote.
