On an intermittent rainy saturday, I ventured out to midtown having gotten a call from a good friend. Clouds covered the taller buildings in NY and the gray canopy produced a misty wetness. AS I was appraoching my destination, 25th and Madison, near Madison Park, I felt a sudden warmness in the atmosphere. The park was lined with chartered school buses and luxury ones. Each one had a loudspeaker blaring punjabi songs, I assume some kirtan music. AS I met up with my friend, I found myself among a sea of Sikhs enjoying Sikh Day parade in NYC.
There were kids running around in traditional outfits, there were women all dolled up and looking soni soni in their salwar kameezes. Every one was in a festive mood. WE went to many stalls set up by the various area gurwaras, serving langar. The food was excellent. At that time, I was joined by two other friends who were also coming.
We hung around, watch the young boys and girls put on a bhangra show on the stage set up, got a couple of plates of chole bhatooray and marveled at the bon homie among the people all around us. From the families exhibiting the enjoyment through their loving embraces for their kin. To the single men who worked in various capacities in the city, each cackling and jostling with their friends.
A hindu, a muslim and two sikhs were sitting in the rain, saying Sat Sri Akal and taking it all in and in love with humanity.
Man, this is going to frustrate all those people who think America is filled with FBI and rednecks looking for reasons to pick on other cultures, should have posted this in WA...
matsui if I didnt know any better I would have to assume its the first time you've been with two different races. Leave the hijab alone. *smacks matsui *
minah, there are many points there…cross culturalism in nYC, friendships beyond religion, canvas of NYC on a rainy saturday and Sikh’s fukkin rock!! :k:
MQ< Sikhs and muslims and hindusa re different religions..not races. I think you are ripe for an inspection.
Actually this is the 4356th I have shared on gupshup. Muslims are humans right? I am sure they are great at multicultural experiences. But thanks for clarifying. Unless you mean multispecies experiences, then I would say you are indeed unique. :k:
Dunday yaar, Didn’t know that Sikhs celebrated Greek Easter too. Thanks for sharing. I am totally tipsy. Started drinking Ouzo after midnight mass last night, and continued until (oh well late tonight). It’s Greek Easter today, and my brains are very happy. I wana meet some Sikhni to whip me in shape. Speaking of which where’s Roman?
PD, I attended a similar thing over the weekend.. actually it was a family friends engagement party... muslim/hindu (paki/indian).. it was sooo colourful.. it was really nice. Like there were two different cultures, but still the one.. bhangra, dholki, clothes, food.. so nice..
