Dozens of small flames flickered in the darkness outside the Sikh Temple of Spokane Tuesday night, while inside the gurdwara, families prayed, chanted, dined and lit candles together as they celebrated Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights.
In India during this time of year houses, shops and public places are decorated with diyas, or small oil lamps, to symbolize the victory of good over evil.
On Wednesday evening nearly 300 people crowded into the Sikh Temple of Spokane to mourn those killed while worshiping in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin over the weekend.
After lighting candles in their memory, local Sikhs and non-Sikhs sat side by side in the Spokane Valley gurdwara and sang about their concord, “the clay is the same, but the fashioner has fashioned it in various ways.”
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Baldev Singh isn’t bothered when he gets quizzical looks or double takes from strangers. It’s not his olive skin or full beard that turn heads, it’s usually his turban.</p>
Evangelicals, Catholics and nones (non-religious) dominate Spokane. So Baldev Singh isn’t bothered when he gets quizzical looks or double takes from strangers.