WASHINGTON.July2,2012:Washington-based Sikh organization
EcoSikh is appealing to Sikhs around the world to celebrate Mar 14 as a
Sikh Environment Day for the second year.
Guru Har Rai, a nature and animal lover, became the seventh Sikh Guru on this day in 1644. EcoSikh has set the goal of enrolling more than 700 Sikh institutions and Gurdwaras all over the world to celebrate the day this year, up from 450 who celebrated last year. It is urging them to start the signing up on Jan 31, the birth date of Guru Har Rai. This year it also plans to approach Sikh-owned businesses to join in this endeavour. According to Dr. Rajwant Singh, President of EcoSikh: "This will be perhaps the largest direct action event by the Sikhs worldwide to help preserve the natural environment of Mother Earth." EcoSikh has already received confirmation of participation from many Sikh institutions, gurdwaras and Sikh-run schools and colleges in India and abroad. EcoSikh has a website for gurdwaras and Sikh institutions to register their participation internationally. Bandana Kaur, New York based programme director of EcoSikh in North America, said: This is a positive way to connect Sikhs in the diaspora to be aware of environmental issues facing in their own localities but also be conscious of challenging state of ecology in their own spiritual homeland."
