Sikhs represent pilgrim city at green conclave
Thursday, 03/11/2011
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HC/2011/11/03/ArticleHtmls/Sikhs-represent-pilgrim-city-at-green-conclave-03112011002042.shtml?Mode=1
The inaugural conference of Green Pilgrim Network (GPN), organised by Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), opened in Assisi on Wednesday.
Eleven world pilgrim cities of different faiths are participating, including Amritsar, represented by Sikhs at Assisi in Italy.
The conference began with a procession from Basilica of St Francis, Assisi, led by Royal Princess Michael, Duke of Kent.
Religious leaders of major faiths in their traditional robes and attires joined the procession.
The event witnessed participation of Sikhs, Baha'is, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Dao of China, Mongolian Buddhists, Church of Armenian, St. Albans, Anglican Church, Jews and Shintos from Japan.
A press release issued by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) said that high-school children from Assisi carried flags containing symbols of different religions.
The Sikh religion was represented in the procession by Dalmegh Singh, secretary, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) along with KS Pannu, chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board; Dr Rajwant Singh, president, EcoSikh, from Washington DC and Ravneet Pal Singh, EcoSikh project manager from India.
The press release further said that the procession culminated at the conference hall, where prayers by leaders of different faiths were recited. Dr Rajwant Singh recited hymns from 'Aarti', from Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the assembly, signifying the importance of nature in the universe.
“Amritsar, the city of Golden Temple, is the only Indian city of pilgrimage to join the green network so far. SGPC has been instrumental in the matter of joining the green network spearheaded by EcoSikh,“ said the press release.
