White House marks Guru Nanak b'day

In a befitting gesture reproving hate crime against Sikhs in the United States and across the world, the White House this week celebrated the 544th birth anniversary of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev.

This is the first such event after Barack Obama was re-elected President, and assumes significance in the backdrop of the tragic incident at a Sikh shrine in Wisconsin that left six devotees dead in August. The event was jointly hosted by the Obama administration and the United Sikhs, a non-governmental organisation. Sikhs in large numbers from all over the US joined in the celebrations that was held at the Eisenhower executive office building within the White House.

Obama read out the message before a huge congregation of Sikhs where he referred to the tragic incident in Wisconsin. The President said: “I cannot think of a better way to honour their memory, and to join our Sikh friends as they mark this sacred time, than to recommit ourselves to the spirit of pluralism, equality and compassion that define both the Sikh community and our nation.”

Responding to Deccan Herald on Tuesday morning, an official spokesperson of United Sikhs said, the event was a collaborative initiative with the Obama administration. “United Sikhs has been asking for recognition of Sikh festivals and events and the administration is receptive to the proposal,” he told Deccan Herald. He said, this was the fourth such event at the White House.