First Published: Thursday 24 April 2008, 11:14
Trafalgar Square will host London's official celebration of Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year festival, next Sunday (4th May).
London's celebrations will begin at 11.30am with prayers, hymns and messages for peace performed by groups from London Gurdwaras. Later in the day there will be performances of traditional and modern Asian music and dance and DJ’s from Sunrise Radio including UK Asian Music Awards newcomer award winner H-Dhami, R&B artist Jay Sean and vocalist Alyssia.
Young achievers from the Sikh community will be presented with with awards for their achievements in the arts, sport and education or for the contribution they have made to their community.
Throughout the day free vegetarian food provided by the Sikh community will be served.
The free event is organised by the Greater London Authority in association with the Vaisakhi in London Committee. The Committee's Chair, Manjit Singh Buttar JP said the ceremony was important "for all Sikhs around the world and promotes friendship, mutual respect and peace along with the core values of equality, diversity and tolerance for all, which are vital for a multicultural city like London."
"Londoners of all backgrounds are welcome to enjoy the celebrations on Trafalgar Square to learn more about Sikhism and enjoy a fun day out with all the family."
2. at 3:24 on Monday 5th May 2008, Cockney Geezer wrote:
Sounds like Voting4Ken doesn't have to pay Council Tax, or just likes spending other peoples money.
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1. at 13:00 on Thursday 24th April 2008, Voting4Ken wrote:
This will be the last of these festivals if Boris Johnson wins. Here's Ken's press release:
"Boris Johnson has threatened to withdraw public funding from the entire range of festivals celebrating London's diverse communities. He has tried to cover this up by saying at an Evening Standard event that he will continue to 'put on some festivals', but only if 'he can sponsor them with private cash rather than public funds'. That is just a weasel-worded way of saying that a Johnson Mayoralty would end the support to the festivals for London's communities that are enjoyed by a huge number of Londoners and are highlights of these communities' years.
Following the comment made in the Evening Standard, Boris Johnson's campaign has refused to answer questions from journalists as to whether he will maintain the current levels of funding to the range of festivals staged by London's diverse communities.
This ending of GLA support would effectively eliminate all the main festivals celebrating London's communities, as they all rely on the public funding provided by the Mayor, either to go ahead at all, or to achieve the large scale of event that means they are open to all Londoners.
The festivals currently receiving financial support from the Mayor include: Chinese New Year; St Patricks Day; St George's Day; Vaisakhi; Africa Day; Baishakhi Mela; Pride and Soho Pride; Rise; Carnival del Pueblo; London Mela; Notting Hill Carnival; Liberty - disability arts festival; Thames Festival; Trafalgar Square summer festival; the Jewish Simcha on the Square; Chanukkah; Black History Month events; Diwali; Eid; Celebrating Sanctuary (refugee festival); Capital Age; Festival of Youth Arts.
Most of these are dependent upon the funding delivered via the Mayor's Office or London agencies like the LDA.
The proposal to have a cultural policy in London that will be funded only by private sponsorship, and withdrawal of GLA support will strike a huge blow to London's communities."