Sept. 25, 2010: Oklahoma City Sikhs and others gathered Sunday at the Sikh Gurdwara of Oklahoma for the cause of peace.
International Day of Peace
The Sikhs said peace prayers in the Punjabi language. They sang songs of peace as women accompanied them on the harmonium, an accordion-like instrument.
About 100 people at the gurdwara, 4525 NW 16, joined with gurdwaras around the world in observance of the International Day of Peace.
The day of peace, Sept. 21, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 as a day to promote peace and non-violence.
Saab Singh, 66, of Oklahoma City, said this is the first year the gurdwara participated in the observance. He said the Sikhs who attend the gurdwara meet on the first and third Sunday of the month, so they chose the Sunday closest to the designated day to participate in the peace observance.
Starting with prayer
The observance service started with Sukhmani Shaib, a Sikh prayer for peace. Saab Singh said the prayer is recited at Sikh gurdwaras and in Sikh households anytime there is conflict or a need for peace.
"It is to bring peace within and without, because we believe if you are at peace within, that will result in peace within your relationships with other people."
Celebrating diversity
Orhan Osmun, a Muslim with the Interfaith Dialog organization, attended the event, as did Johnny and Ellen Mansfield, who attend St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.
The Mansfields said they met and befriended Saab Singh at an Amazing Faiths interfaith gathering and decided to accept his invitation to the gurdwara.
"I think we should celebrate our diversity instead of finding it threatening," Johnny Mansfield said.
The gurdwara's secretary, Obhrai Singh, and other leaders of the local Sikh faith community said they hope to be an example to others as they promote the cause of peace.
"Hopefully, we will celebrate from this day on," Obhrai Singh said.