By Mitchell Clarke
The Officer Sikh temple is getting into the festive season, proposing to provide free lights to houses across the shire in a bid to celebrate multiculturalism and stand united among all cultures and faiths.
The idea came about in a discussion between volunteers of the Officer Sikh temple and Cardinia Shire Central Ward councillor Michael Schilling.
The temple received a grant of $6000 from the State Government to celebrate the 550th birthday of the founder of Sikh faith – Guru Nanak Dev.
Community spokesman Harpreet Singh said the funding proposal was titled as ‘Building awareness of Guru Nanak’s Sikhism’.
“The key principles laid by our first Guru (teacher) include spreading love and harmony, and respecting all human beings equally,” Mr Singh said.
It’s understood some of the funds would be used for this project with the temple asking the wider community to light their houses for a number of festivals in a show of celebrating each other’s culture.
It’s asked that residents display their lights for Diwali on 27 October, Guru Nanak Devji’s Birthday on 12 November, Christmas on 25 December and New Year’s Eve on 31 December.
“The light display is not a competition of any kind but a simple display of our commitment to harmony and co-existence,” Cr Michael Schilling said.
Participants are asked to install and display the lights and poster at a location where it is visible to the general public, and publish a photo on social media.
For more information, contact info@sgnd.com.au or call 0447 028 688.
