Sikh Community

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:52): I rise today to talk about the recent celebration of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550^th birthday anniversary. The history of the Sikh migration and settlement in Australia goes back more than 100 years. They have brought with them the best of their culture, and the values they live by make our state stronger. They have built harmony, understanding and friendship with other communities, which has enabled them to settle successfully in Australia. Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550^th birthday celebration gives us an opportunity to thank the Sikh community for all the positive contributions they make to our state.

Today, there are over 8,500 Sikhs living in and making valuable contributions to South Australia's economy. They are hardworking and value honesty and compassion, which are just some of the ways they are contributing to our positive multicultural community in South Australia. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first guru and the founder of Sikhism. His spiritual teachings embrace unity, compassion and equality of all humankind.

He rejected the notion of divisions between people based on religion and was against discrimination and did not believe in race, cast or status, believing that all human beings contain God within themselves. Undertaking at least four separate spiritual journeys, he continuously preached peace and harmony. His teachings called for the equality of women in society because he believed all human beings are born of women and so women should be equal to everyone they help create.

This year marks the 550^th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. His birth is celebrated every year on the Pooranmashi (full moon) day in the lunar month of Kartik, which is October and November, with the Guru Nanak Gurpurab festival. This celebration includes a religious procession led by Panj Pyare, the five beloved ones, carrying the Sikh flag, the Nishan Sahib. The celebration includes a free communal lunch, which reinforces the idea of unity irrespective of class or caste.

Guru Nanak and his friend, the Muslim servant Mardana, established a canteen where both Hindus of different castes and Muslims could eat together. Today, his birth celebrations represent his teachings and reaffirm his belief in equality. Four years ago, I was proud to be part of the first celebration of his birth at Parliament House in South Australia. I was pleased to recently host representatives and members of the Sikh community at Parliament House to celebrate this special occasion. The celebrations and festivals are open to all communities in South Australia, making this a proud multicultural event.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji's spiritual teachings are being showcased today through these celebrations as a sample of friendship, unity and harmony amongst all communities in South Australia. The birth anniversary is also a showcase for the best of the Sikh community, with one group, EcoSikh, bringing together all communities to plant 550 trees at 1,820 locations around the world, including in Australia. Once again, I want to congratulate all the Sikh community and the volunteers who have worked hard to bring these celebrations together and share them with all of South Australia.