Sikh Religious Society participates in Fourth of July parade

Sikh Religious Society of Chicago Palatine Gurudwara organized the participation of its community members in the Independence Day parade Saturday, July 2, in the village of Palatine.

This annual parade with more than 80 entries was organized by the Palatine Jaycees.

Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz and other local dignitaries watched the parade from a reviewing station. U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk marched in the parade along with his contingent.

The parade ended near the “Hometown Fest” at Community Park, where a weeklong festival of food booths, arts and crafts, entertainment, shopping, carnival with rides and fun-filled activities for all was in full swing.

The mission of the parade is to celebrate community and the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday weekend.

Members from Palatine Gurudwara led by President Harkirat Singh Sandhu finely displayed their presence in the village of Palatine with a colorfully decorated float, two more decorated vehicles, a marching unit of about 100 Sikhs, Punjabi Dhol, and a Sikh martial art “gatka” demonstrations.

The Sikh Americans marched with pride with American flag along with “Nishan Sahib” and distributed candies to the children.

Thousands of local resident families lined up along the parade route to enjoy the parade, and a beautiful sunny holiday.

The spectators watched, waved and cheered the Sikh Americans walking down the parade sporting flowing beards and colorful turbans. Some of them inspired by the beats of the dhol drum joined the Bhangra dancers in the parade.

“We must participate in the local mainstream events like these, if we really want to be an integral part of this society and the land we call home,” said Harkirat Singh Sandhu, president of Sikh Religious Society in Palatine. Palatine is home to Sikh Religious Society Gurudwara.

The parade organizing committee included S.R.S. board members, President Harkirat Singh Sandhu, Tarlochan Singh Dhillon, Surinder Singh Bhatia, Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, Iqbal Singh Sodhi, Pardeep Deol, Sukhmel Atwal, Ajmer Kaur Gakhal, Ryan Singh, Anmol Singh, Shera Singh, Jujhar Singh, Rajinder Singh Mago and many more humble volunteers.

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