Over 160 children and young people attended the Sikh Education Council ‘Fun Day’ at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Hitchin today. It was a momentous occasion marking an end to hopefully the last of the Covid-related lockdowns of the previous year and beyond that has impacted everybody worldwide.

The purpose of the SEC ‘Fun Day’ is to provide a fun and safe environment in which children and young people can play, creating positive associations and memories for each individual with their fellow Sikhs and the Gurdwara itself. The date of the event, the first Wednesday in August, marks the national day of ‘play’ and so was perfectly apt at a time when there is deep concern that the restrictions placed upon the movement and interactions of children and young people across 2020 and 2021 will have repercussions on their growth for some time to come.

Sikh Education Council co-ordinator Sanjeevan Singh said, “This was an important event for us to put on for the young people in this area who have had to deal with a difficult time throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns. We’re pleased that the SEC was able to facilitate such an exciting day and thank the committee of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Hitchin for working with us.

There were a range of activities and games to get stuck into from bouncy castles to rifle shooting, face painting to PS5 gaming, archery to ball-pits, as well as a wonderful live animal show. Fresh fruit and refreshments were served throughout with stone-baked pizzas coming fresh from the Gurdwara’s unique pizza oven particularly popular, as was an exquisite cake.

Chair of the Sikh Education Council, Dr Pargat Singh offered his thanks by saying, “This event was successful thanks to so many volunteers of both the Gurdwara and the SEC who ensured it was safe and enjoyable throughout. We are grateful to Mandeep Singh Basra, pardhan of Singh Sabha Hitchin for facilitating this event at the Gurdwara Sahib.