Sikh community inaugurates wall mural in Perth

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, July 16

The Sikh community in Western Australia’s Perth has inaugurated a wall mural depicting the Sikh identity.

‘Unveiling of 1st ever Sikh Mural at Gurdwara Sahib Canning Vale,’ the Indian Consulate in Perth posted on X about the event on Tuesday.

The Consulate went on to praise Sikh Association of Western Australia (SAWA) and said, ‘Well done SAWA for presenting Sikh heritage and culture to wider Western Australia multicultural society’.

The SAWA have got the mural made. Its Facebook page described the mural as “a unique and bold statement of a long history, welcome and belonging of the Sikhs in Western Australia”.

The symbols emerge out from the wall at the Gurdwara in Perth. “They represent the past, present and future of Sikhs in Western Australia as well as values all woven together with the fabric of the Sikh Dastaar (turban) and Choonni (headscarf). Flowing fabric is a constant element of the Sikh community – a requirement to enter the Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) is to wear a head covering”.

The blue and orange are the colours of Sikhi, it said adding the flow is also reminiscent of the five rivers of Punjab. The central circle is a steel Kara worn by most Sikhs as a reminder to do good and be in a constant relationship with the eternal. On it is written the statement said in daily prayer by Sikhs – ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’ – a wish that all people and all creation receive the blessings of goodness.

The Mural also recognises the aboriginal, the original, people of Australia. It depicts three hands in the colours of the Aboriginal flag acknowledging the land of the Noongar people of this land.