Sports
The Sikh Motorcycle Club
by CHARLIE SMITH
A big portion of South Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) turned into a massive street party today with the annual Vaisakhi parade.
The event attracted a couple of hundred thousand people, who gorged on free food and enjoyed lots of street entertainment.
The festival commemorates the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh.
At the time, he asked that anyone willing to give his life for the service of humanity should step forward.
One man volunteered and followed the Guru into a tent. The religious leader them emerged with blood on his sword.
Four others stepped forward in succession, and each time the Guru came out with more blood on his sword.
Finally, all five men stepped out of the tent dressed in blue, and were baptized and given the name "Singh" (lion) to demonstrate their courage.
The annual parade began in Vancouver in 1979, according to Joginder Singh Sunner, general secretary of the Ross Street Gurdwara.
In an interview, Joginder Singh said that the Sikh faith celebrates the equality of all people. He emphasized that Vaisakhi is a time for people to share with those who are less fortunate.
Hence, all the free food being given out today along Marine Drive, Main Street, East 49th Avenue, and Fraser Street.
THE SIKH MOTORCYCLE CLUB
Members of The Sikh Motorcycle Club followed the ceremonial Vancouver police motorcyclists at the start of the parade.
Club spokesperson Azad Singh Sidhu said that there are now 95 members. B.C. law allows Sikhs to wear turbans rather than helmets when they ride.
The Sikh Motorcycle Club was established in 2002 when a Surrey Radio Broadcaster, Harjinder Singh Thind, invited a small group of motorcycle enthusiasts to make a documentary on Sikh motorcyclists who wore turbans. The Sikh Motorcycle Club is the only one of its kind in Canada. In the Province of British Columbia, Sikhs are legally allowed to ride motorcycles while wearing a turban, according to the Provincial Motorcycle Act.
The mission of the club is motorcycle safety, helping injured motorcyclists in cooperation with AIM (Association of Injured Motorcyclists), and enhancing the communication with mainstream societies to bring awareness about Sikhs and Turbans. The Club has a commitment to participate and outreach to other community organizations. Also, the Club holds annual family gatherings to encourage the cohesion of the Club members.
It was Sardar Avtar Singh Dhillon who campaigned single-handedly to earn the right to ride a motorcycle with a turban in BC for Sikhs.
In the summer of 2003, Avtar Singh Gill, Harjinder Singh Thind, and Malkiat Singh Rai started meeting on a regular basis to ride motorcycles as a group under the name, "Royal Enfield Riders." A few months later, a large number of Sikh motorcyclists held a meeting and inaugurated the "Sikh Motorcycle Club" under the leadership of S. Avtar Singh Dhillon. Azadwinder Singh Sidhu, Baldev Singh Mooker, Bhupinder Singh Uppal, Jaspal Singh Bahga, Harjit Singh Sihra, Amritpal Singh Randhawa (Jagga), Kulwinder Singh Khangura, Ranjit Singh Garcha, are some of the founding members of the club.
At every Vaisakhi celebration, Sikh youths entertain the crowds. This year's festival included bhangra dancers and kids putting on other forms of street theatre.
Meanwhile, some of the floats in the parade carried serious messages. The vehicle promoting the Guru Nanak Elementary School float, for example, warned that the "world is going up in flames", which is why it's so important to shower it with mercy. The float also carried a message about the dangers of nuclear radiation and the problems facing Japan today.
[Courtesy: Georgia Straight & The Sikh Motorcycle Club. Edited for sikhchic.com]
April 17, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: N. Singh (Canada), April 17, 2011, 7:31 PM.
Okay, great! Very macho. Why no women?
2: P. Singh (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), April 18, 2011, 2:03 AM.
Because in the motorcycle-riding population at large, there are very few women who ride. Given that the Sikh Motorcycle Club constitutes such a small fraction of motorcylists in BC, it should not be shocking that there are no women who are part of this club (at the moment). I am sure that if any woman wishes to be part of the club, there would be no problem. Very macho, very open-and-inviting, and very awesome ;)
3: Dupinder Kaur Sidhu (New Jersey, U.S.A.), April 18, 2011, 10:40 AM.
First thing came to my mind - same question as posed by N. Singh. Great looking 95 Sikh men, but why not a single woman? I am sure there are some who love to ride motorcyles! I have heard great things about the Vancouver Vaisakhi parade and plan on seeing it someday.
4: Sukhindarpal Singh (Penang, Malaysia), April 18, 2011, 11:48 AM.
Where can I get the SMC patch to adorn my jacket? If any of you want to do some all-year-round riding, join us. We have a big, big group of Sikh bikers in Malaysia. You can always come down to Malaysia. Oops! Before I forget, this invite is to ALL Sikh bikers: Sardars and Sardarnis!
5: Preetpal Singh Dhillon (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), April 18, 2011, 8:48 PM.
A couple of quick comments. First of all, I just want to confirm that the Sikh Motorcycle Club is in fact open to both men and women. We actually do have a female member of the club that has recently joined, and we are looking forward to having many more sisters join as well. Secondly, logos for the Sikh Motorcycle Club are definitely available - either as stickers, or logos for sewing onto you jacket. If you would like more information regarding the logos, please send me an e-mail at preet.dhillon@telus.net
6: Barninder (Belleville, New Jersey, U.S.A.), April 19, 2011, 10:44 AM.
I am a "remote" member of the Sikh Motorcycle Club. I wish there were enough Sikh bikers in the New Jersey/ New York area so we could start another chapter in this region. Anyone?
7: Jaspreet Singh (Chandigarh, Punjab), April 19, 2011, 1:37 PM.
My question to Sukhindarpal Singh ji: is it legally allowed to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet in Malaysia, while wearing only a turban/ dastaar (as in India)? If it is, I would definitely like to visit Malaysia just to ride some big bikes!
8: Gurwinder Singh (Malaysia), April 23, 2011, 2:50 AM.
Yes, in Malaysia, it's written in the law that Sikhs are allowed to wear a turban when riding a motorcycle - and are not required to wear a helmet.
9: Sukhindarpal Singh (Penang, Malaysia), April 23, 2011, 5:44 AM.
Jaspreet Singh ji, the answer to your query is: Yes, it is legally permissible to ride motorbikes with a dastaar as the Sikhs are exempted from the helmet requirement in Malaysia.
10: C.C. (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), May 18, 2011, 11:05 AM.
Yes, in British Columbia, Canada, a person who is a practicing Sikh, with unshorn hair, can ride a motorcycle wearing a turban, and without a helmet, because the law makes an exception for Sikhs. Link for the law: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/30_237_99 - it states The Motor Vehicle Act Motorcycle Safety Helmet Exemption Regulation - Exemption: 1) The following persons are exempt from the requirements of section 221 of the Motor Vehicle Act: (a) a person who (i) practices the Sikh religion, and (ii) has unshorn hair and habitually wears a turban composed of 5 or more square meters of cloth. [Provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 318, relevant to the enactment of this regulation: section 221 (3)]
11: Harpreet Singh (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada), March 29, 2012, 11:11 PM.
As a Sikh, can I ride a bike wearing a turban?
12: Rajvir (Punjab), May 07, 2012, 5:49 AM.
I love being a Sikh.
13: Parminderpal Singh (Columbus, Indiana, U.S.A.), July 02, 2012, 12:17 PM.
is there any Sikh bikers club in or around Indiana, U.S.A.?
14: Randhir Singh (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), April 03, 2013, 11:24 PM.
Is there any Sikh motorcycle club in the Greater Toronto Area? Thinking of getting my M license and bike.
15: Dilbagh Singh (United States), June 08, 2013, 12:39 AM.
Want to know where I can buy the motorcycle jacket with the Khanda emblem.
16: Mandeep Singh (Guelph, Ontario, Canada), August 28, 2013, 2:07 AM.
So you can wear a turban instead of a helmet and ride a motor-bike in British Columbia? Can one do that in Ontario?
17: Harwinder Singh Dhesi (Turlock, California, USA), October 23, 2013, 12:35 AM.
Does anyone know if the Sikh Motorcycle Club will be coming to Yuba City for the nagar kirtan?
18: Mennesh Singh (Malaysia), February 05, 2014, 3:01 AM.
Malaysia Punjabi Bikerz have to replace their name with "Sikh Motorcycle Club". But 50% of Punjabi Bikerz use f Superbike and 50% use Harley Davidson. 100% Harleys will be awesome, like real Khalsa.
19: Harinder Singh (Riyad, Saudi Arabia), July 17, 2014, 6:19 PM.
Sat Sri Akal! Bha ji, thorrey din pehla hi tuhade club bare ch pataa laga buhat vadiya laga ji, tusi saare janey mil-ke buhat vadiya kum kar rahe ho. kum li te khud da v rides v enjoy kar rehe hu meinu v buhat shok c he ya keh sakde ho ki he je kaddo(n) moka mileya ta ji join karanga ga Sikh motorcycle club.
20: Manmeet Singh (Jalandhar, Punjab), October 27, 2014, 2:47 PM.
Chakk deo phattey poorey duniya vich ...
21: Ranjit Singh Dhillon (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ), January 13, 2015, 4:06 AM.
We now have "Punjabi Chapter Malaysia" which was established recently. We use only Harleys. Feel free to come to Malaysia and enjoy the beautiful mountain rides.