Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 46

8 StatesmanJournal.com SOUTH SALEM WEEKLY Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Statesman Journal YOUR NEIGHBOR All Jacuzzi i Sj-- rr for. 1 cgy Spas On Sale! Valley's Largest Selection! stock or special order. in time for the Holidays, 2520 Silverton Rd. NE Salem Hours: 9-5 Sun Closed iiTiwiiiir' J. 'if Billiards Dart Board Electric Flame Fireplaces 40 Off Poker Tables Foosball Tables Table Tennis Our Family Serving Avtar Kaur of Beaverton (front left in blue) watches as the Nishan Sahib, or flag, is hoisted during a ceremony at the Dasmesh Darbar Sikh Temple in Salem Sikh parade through Salem celebrates founder's birthday IMlRAiB 503-370-9355 r.TrrrriT.-TTirfrTr'Tiai 1-800-364-7946 tours since ixts KOBBI R.

BLAIR I Statesman Journal inside the temple that Sikhs are fearless people who have no anger. "We're not going to be damaged by the challenge of the times, he said. Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore, Mayor Janet Taylor and others said Salem stands behind the temple and welcomes the congregation. "We accept the full responsibility for you to have a safe community, so you can prosper, but we need your help," she said. Temple President Bahadur Singh said earlier that temple members want to increase awareness of Sikhism in the area.

That is one of the reasons for this year's parade, which followed a 4-mile route around South Salem. "This year especially, we want to teach our community about us and who are the Sikh," Singh said. "We want to teach who they are and how they live, how they appreciate their gurus." mmmm, Event also raises local awareness of new Salem temple By Eunice Kim Statesman Journal Amagit Clar, 46, usually goes to a Sikh temple in her home state of Washington, but Nov. 4, she made a special trip to the Dasmesh Darbar Sikh Temple in South Salem. So did hundreds of other Sikhs from the Northwest and beyond.

"This is a big day, our (first) guru's birthday," said Clar, who lives in Kalama, Wash. "It's a day of celebration." Sikhs gathered at the temple on Oak Hill Road SE to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the religion's first guru. Donning colorful head coverings called turbans and chunnis, Sikhs of all ages participated in the festivities, which included prayers, speeches, free food and a parade. In the early afternoon, they gathered outside for a flag-raising ceremony More than a dozen Sikhs cleaned the flagpole with milk and water before tying their holy flag, or Nishan Sahib, around the pole. The triangular flag opened, letting loose a shower of flower pedals, and flapped in the wind, revealing the Sikh religious symbol, the Khanda.

"(The flag) is an amazing symbol to us now that we're in Salem and have established our church," said Karen Johal, 15, of Salem. "It's nice to finally have our church and everyone together." The temple was established in October 2005. In July, the flag was burned in what is considered a hate crime. A floodlight was smashed, flower beds were damaged and a pipe fitting was pulled from the side of the building. The FBI has offered as much as $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the people responsible for the attack.

On Nov. 4, temple member Satvinber Singh Sandhu told dozens of people seated or (503) 399-6721.