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Sikh community honours mothers at fundraiser

THE Sikh Welfare Society paid tribute to mothers during a fundraising event at SSU Kelab Aman in Kuala Lumpur.

In addition to celebrating the role of mothers in Punjabi and Sikh culture, the women-only event was held to raise funds to support Sikh families in need.

About 250 women took part in the fundraiser.

It started with a lunch of Punjabi dishes, followed by games, lucky draws, singing of traditional songs and dancing.

The society received a donation from the Inner Wheel Club of Kuala Lumpur to purchase new uniforms and shoes for 37 children.

The society’s vice-president and organising chairperson for the event, Balvinder Kaur, said, “The society currently supports 37 families. We provide aid of about RM10,000 every month.

“Many people lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic and there are families struggling to support children and care for elderly members.

“This is the first big event we have organised since the pandemic. It’s a celebration of the role women play in the home and in society.”

Socialising and celebrating Punjabi culture have always been an important part of the Sikh Welfare Society which was formed in the early 1980s.

According to its previous vice-president Rajinder Kaur Sachdev, in the early years, Sikh women raised funds by hosting prayers, lunches and educational talks in their homes.

The contributions, when combined, were enough to provide financial aid to poor families in need throughout Malaysia, including persons with disabilities and widows.

Society president Harbans Singh said, “We spend about RM120,000 a year supporting Sikh families in need. Almost all the funds we raise are from the Sikh community itself.

“Events like this are not just important in terms of fund-raising but also in bringing the community together.

“Sikh women, especially mothers, play a key role in the preservation of our culture so it is fitting that we should appreciate and celebrate them.”