Jaspreet (22), Jaskarn (21) and Manpreet (20) in fron the the Novellara Gurdwara.
A bus in Correggio advertising for the upcoming Baisakhi Festival, which celebrates the birth of the "Khalsa", the "baptised" (Amritdhari) members of the Sikh community. Every year, up to 20,000 people gather in Novellara to celebrate.
From the left, Majenk (17), Hindu Indian; Hassan (15) from Pakistan; Sunny (17) and Gagandeep (16), both Sikh Indians, playing cricket in a public garden close to the school complex of Correggio. This sport is very strong in the Indian and Pakistani community of the province.
Surrinder Singh, 21, showing his tattoo with the name of the father. His father is an orthodox Sikh and does not approve of the life of the son.
Sukhi, 25, and Manveer, 22, inside the Gurdwara "Singh Sabha" of Novellara, one of the largest sikh temples of Italy and Europe, built in 2000. Today in Italy there are about 70,000 sikh Indians, and about 22 Gurdwara, mostly present in northern Italy. The Italian one is the second largest Sikh community of Europe, after the UK.
Arvinder, 22, Indian Sikh, in front of the Gurdwara "Singh Sabha" of Novellara, one of the largest sikh temples of Italy and Europe, built in 2000.
Paramjeet and in the background the image of Guru Nanak, the first guru of the Sikhs. RDF is a factory producing metal parts. Of the about 70 workers, almost 30 are Indian Sikhs from Punjab. The owner, Francesco Dotolo, emigrated from Ariano Irpino, in southern Italy, when young. Leaving his land and starting a new life is one of the reasons why he accepts so many immigrants in his factory. "I came from a difficult situation, and so did they, these Indian women and men".
The Nagar Kirtan, the procession done for Baisakhi, which renovates the birth of the "Khalsa", the "baptised" (Amritdhari) members of the Sikh community. Every year, up to 20,000 people gather in Novellara to celebrate.
Paramjeet Singh and his daugther. Paramjeet runs a large sweets store, selling to families especially on the week end, after the visits to the nearby Gurdwara (temple), but also delivers his products to Indian stores in the region and in Italy, and sometimes in Germany and other parts of Europe.
Arvinder and Narinder at home with their parents and their cousin.
A man at the Sikh temple of Novellara.
People wash with milk the Nishaan Sahib, the main mast symbol of the Gurdwara, to begin the celebrations of the Baisakhi, which renovates the birth of the "Khalsa", the "baptised" (Amritdhari) members of the Sikh community.
Inside a room of the Gurdwara (temple), food is being cooked for the upcoming Baisakhi Festival, which celebrates the birth of the "Khalsa".
Two Sikh men apply a turbant. Orthodox Sikhs are called Khalsa and need to show the five Ks: a long beard (kesh), knee-long trousers (kachh), a metal bracelet(kara), a cmobb to hold the long hair (kangha), and a curved knife (kirpan).
The Nagar Kirtan, the procession done for Baisakhi, which renovates the birth of the "Khalsa", the "baptised" (Amritdhari) members of the Sikh community.
Barefoot women clean the road before the passing of the sacred book, called Guru Granth Sahib, during the Nagar Kirtan, the procession done for Baisakhi.
The Nagar Kirtan, the procession done for Baisakhi.
Sikhs during the Nagar Kirtan, the procession done for Baisakhi.
Leaving the roof of the Gurdwara, after lowering the Nishaan Sahib, the main mast symbol of the Gurdwara.
 |                    |  |
