Gurpurab Celebrations

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:46): The Sikh community displays the spirit of unity and selfless service throughout the celebration of Gurpurab. The community gathers throughout all the temples, called Gurudwaras in South Australia, to celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak Dev G and recall his teachings of keert ka-ro, which means earn an honest living, naam japo, praise and thank the almighty, and vand shak-o, share everything, whether big or small. The celebration is occurring all around the world, involving tens of millions of Sikhs participating.

The Gurudwaras practice langaar, this is the practice of serving free meals regardless of a person's background, religion or status. This act of service represents the inclusiveness we all strive for in a multicultural society. I have attended many Gurudwaras during prayers and I have seen firsthand kitchens in operation, and some of these are like a military operation. They feed not only members of the Indian community or the Sikh community, they feed anyone who comes through the doors. I have often seen homeless people being fed there and neighbours of the Gurudwaras enjoying a meal there at the hospitality of the Sikh community.

I would like to recognise their contributions across many sectors, ranging from health care and business to public service and education, and many other sectors. During the COVID era, the Sikhs stepped up to the plate and provided support for many members of the Indian community who were here on visas, international students who could not get back home and who were denied support by the then Liberal government, which just allowed these people to squalor, very often without money and a place to live.

The Sikh community got together and made sure the Sikhs were fed and also provided accommodation, where required, and any other support, including mental health support, which many of these poor Indian students and the like were suffering from during that quite long period.

Let us remember the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev G as we celebrate Gurpurab. Members from each of the Sikh temples in South Australia will come to Parliament House today to celebrate Gurpurab. They come from the city, they come from the suburbs, as well as from regional areas to commemorate this event with us. I would like to acknowledge each of these and pay respects to those who will be in attendance for tonight's celebration. They are:

Gurdwara Sarbat Khalsa Adelaide in Prospect;

Guru Nanak Darbar in Allenby Gardens;

The Sikh Society of South Australia;

Gurdwara in Glen Osmond;

Gurdwara Sahib in Modbury North;

Gurudwara Dashmesh Darbar in Virginia;

Gurudwara Sahib in Two Wells;

The Riverland Singh Society Gurudwara in Glossop;

Gurudwara Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahibji in Renmark.

Myself and the member for Torrens, Dana Wortley, have long been holding celebrations to commemorate this very important occasion. This year it is the 556^th birthday of Guru Nanak. We hold a very significant religious celebration in the Balcony Room, and the Sikh come there to celebrate this very auspicious occasion. We were the first parliament in Australia to hold these celebrations for the Sikh community, and I understand that, since we started, a number of other parliaments have started the practice also.

I extend warm wishes to everyone celebrating Gurpurab today, whether they are here in Parliament House, elsewhere in South Australia or around the world. There has been a relationship with the Sikh community for quite a long time. Back in the early part of the last century, during the First World War, Sikhs were there to support Australian soldiers during the Battle of Gallipoli. They used to go out during the battles and pull in and rescue young Australians and bring them to safety. Without their support, many thousands more Australians would have perished during that conflict.

Once again, I would like to congratulate the Sikh community on their very special occasion. I look forward to celebrating this occasion tonight with them.