One of the great thing about being a city-centre synagogue
is that there’s a lot going on around us. Today – Sunday, 3rd May –
just round the corner in Albert Square Manchester’s Sikh community celebrated
Nagar Kirtan. It’s part of the festival of Vaisakhi, traditionally a harvest
festival in India and in particular, the Punjab.
We were treated to a procession in which the lead float
housed the Sikh holy scriptures.
Not only that, but that Albert Square was awash with colour
and spectacle.
And of course there was food – masses of it, as hospitality
is a central part of Sikhism. We enjoyed pakoras, samosas and curry – all vegetarian,
of course.
It’s great to live in a city where religious communities
share their faith and practices (and cooking.)
We ought to do the same.
