Dear Manvir
Although very late I thought I would write a response
to your article.
What we must remember are the advantages of Nagar
Kirtan and I will list these, as I see them.
1. One must not always be overly critical, unless
you see something totally outrageous or disrespectful
going on.
2. The fantastic community spirit and the joining
of all communities irrespective of background, race,
color etc. etc. ( not sure you will find this anywhere
but southall). Even the different Gurudawaras get
together!
3. the excitement of joining in what is after all
a celebration of the glory of our Gurus and Sikhi.It
really is a truly lovely site when you go to southall
early morning on the day of Nagar Kirtan and you see
people setting up stall and preparing food, young
and old smiling and talking and helping each other.
4. The Nagar Kirtan encourages the young to take
part in the celebrations without fear, embarrassment
or ridicules from any other faction of society.
5. Yes the youth get excited and yes the youth want
to dance and yes they can be told that Bhangra is
not appropriate, but are they doing something terribly
wrong?. The youth can be lectured and educated at
all other times and venues and most importantly by
their parents from birth.
6. What is very important is to remember that we
today live in a free society and actually have freedom
to have a Nagar Kirtan and you cant get any bigger
than the one in Southall. This simply did not exist
in the 60's - 80's. Thank God we are able to do so
now.It always amazes me that we as a society are so
tolerant, especially in Southall.
7. As long as the Nagar Kirtan is safe it is one
of the most exiting processions of whole year. What
should not be tolerated is the drinking and smoking
and any inappropriate behavior towards women and children.
Thank you
Jaswinder Kaur. 10/2/06
* Name_First: jaswinder, LAST:
kaur, City, Country: England, EMAIL: ,
jkkalsi@hotmail.com, Telephone:
07956271516, Name of this Article:
