Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSikh drummers Parvinder Singh, second from left and his nephew Sahibpreet Singh, second from right, play a Nagara drum as they ride in the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostAmerican Sikhs take part in the Vaisakhi ceremony inside East High School before the second annual American Sikh day parade on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The Vaisakhi is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSimrat Kaur marches with other Sikhs during the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostJessie Singh, 4, middle and other Sikhs, line up behind the float carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, during the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSikh Panj Pyare, or swordsman, take part in the second annual American Sikh day parade on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The Vaisakhi is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSikh women line up behind the float carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, and sing as they march during the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostHundreds of American Sikhs march down Colfax avenue as they take part in the during the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostHundreds of American Sikhs take part in the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBhai Avtar Singh, a Sikh holy man, waves feathers over the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, during the Vaisakhi ceremony outside of East High School before the second annual American Sikh day parade on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The Vaisakhi is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSikh children and women take part in the during the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostYoung Sikh children sit on top of a car as they watch the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSikh children and women line up behind the float carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, during the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSikh women line up behind the float carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, and sing as they march during the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSikh women line up behind the float carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, and sing as they march during the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSikh Panj Pyare, or swordsman, take the Vaisakhi ceremony inside East High School before the second annual American Sikh day parade on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The Vaisakhi is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBhai Avtar Singh, seated in the middle, a Sikh holy man, puts fabric onto the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, during the Vaisakhi ceremony inside East High School before the second annual American Sikh day parade on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The Vaisakhi is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Sikh drummers Parvinder Singh, second from left and his nephew Sahibpreet Singh, second from right, play a Nagara drum as they ride in the second annual American Sikh day parade march by on May 28, 2017 in Denver. The Sikhs hold the parade each year as a way to create awareness and understanding about their culture in America. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. 300-400 Sikh families live in Colorado. Their core beliefs are devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity. They share basic values with Americans: the importance of equality, religious pluralism and justice for all. In America, 99% of the people you see wearing turbans are Sikhs. The parade is part of the Vaisakhi which is a historical and religious festival and marks the Sikh new year. The parade started and ended at East High School after winding it's way down Colfax to Emerson then onto 16th street and back to the high school.
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By The Denver Post | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
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Denver’s Sikh community on Sunday celebrated the founding of the religion, bringing attention to the faith at a time of heightened animosity toward immigrants in the U.S., with a religious service and other events at East High School and a parade through the City Park neighborhood.
It was the second annual celebration held in Denver of Vaisakhi, a religious holiday, celebrated by Sikhs worldwide.
While it is widely known that Sikh men wear colorful turbans and don’t cut their hair, Sikhs often are mistaken for Muslims, said Amarjit Singh Sandhu, 58. They have been subject to incidents of violence in America. Shortly after 911, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh-American gas station owner in Mesa, Ariz., was murdered, according to the web page of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. In 2012, a man with white nationalist ties fatally shot six people and wounded four others in a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis.
There have been other incidents as well, Sandhu said. “We lost so many Sikh people because of this, innocent people.”
