Sikhs in Montreal celebrated the birthday of their spiritual leader Guru Nanak Sunday by raising funds for Sun Youth, as well as increase awareness of the importance of helping others.
To honour the founder if the Sikh religion, Nanak Dev's birthday is a day of goodwill and charity, explained Prithvipal Singh Saluja, the president of Gurudwara Quebec of Montreal.
"One of the fundamentals of our faith is to share our blessings with the less fortunate ones," he said.
The Sikh community, which now numbers about 10,000, has raised over $200,000 in 24 years for local charities.
The Gurudwara Quebec of Montreal on Wellington St. in Point St. Charles, added another $3,500 to the pot this year.
"(Guru Nanak) taught us three basic rules: to share with others, which we do every year through Sun Youth, to have an honest living and remembering God's name," said temple member Siftie Kaur Banga.
The money will help Sun Youth buy food for fire victims, a donation that's sorely needed, said Sun Youth founder Sid Stevens.
"In the past ten months, Sun Youth has responded to a fire every 36 hours, which shows by our statistics we've gone through 176 fires, helping 775 victims. The gift from the temple is of vital importance," he said.
Food banks are overwhelmed by a sluggish economy and in turn are receiving fewer donations, making the temple's donation that much more appreciated.
"Everybody needs to come together and help others. If we're fortunate enough to have enough on our table, than we can always take a small part of it and share with those than don't even have the chance to have that," said Kaur Banga.
