A culture of light, hospitality, and festivals can all be visited this year at Folklarama in the Punjab Pavilion.

Tej Bains, once a social worker and now President of the Punjab Foundation of Manitoba, has called Winnipeg Manitoba home for 57 years.

"I came in 1962 and went to the School of Social Work here at the University of Manitoba," says Bains who immigrated from the northern Indian state in her twenties to attend university and meet with her husband.

Along with her husband, Bains found a great tension between her new Canadian life and teaching their children about their Punjab culture.

"We celebrate the important days of Sikhism ... and we tried to teach them some Sikh prayers and we tried to speak Punjabi with them that didn't work very well. At that time, we had to get settled in Canada, so we had to brush up on our English.

"Even though we both were educated in English, but conversational English is very different. So we were trying to practice English, therefore we mostly spoke with our kids in English and very little in Punjabi. So they are kind of limited in the Punjabi language."

Bains tells of a conversation she had with her adult son on a walk: "My younger son said to me once, ' You know Mom, you and Dad have been very good parents, but I have one complaint: You didn't teach us Punjabi very well,' and that is true."

The Punjabi population in Winnipeg has grown since the 1980's according to Bains.

"The population has grown so much," says Bains. She and her husband were married in Winnipeg. "Ours was the first Sikh wedding in Winnipeg," she says.

Since then the Sikh and Punjab culture have grown exponentially with ten Gurdwaras - temples in Sikhism - now in Winnipeg hosting numerous events, weddings, and festivals.

Festivals

Diwali and Baisakhi are just a few of the events celebrated in Punjabi culture.

Bains describes a night lit up all over the town she grew up in during Diwali. "I remember that at Diwali time, which is September or October and is a festival of lights - we celebrate it here too. We have all our houses whitewashed and painted fresh. And everybody gets new clothes, outfits, and lots of sweets."

Bains remembers one Diwali while she still lived in India, "I remember at one Diwali ... my sister and I, we both got beautifully-made lime green outfits and we were going out to visit and my younger sister fell in a puddle of water and she wasn't happy. That was a memorable thing."

The Winnipeg Punjab community celebrates festivals together at their centres and temples together too. Celebrating many Sikh holidays - like Baisakhi - throughout the year is a great binding agent for the community and promotes their culture to their youth, says Bains.

Culture

Punjab is the northernmost state of India, bordering Pakistan. According to Bains, there are two factors that set it apart from the rest: "Primarily, the culture and the language. Religion, even though Sikhs are the predominant religion in Punjab, we are not the only one.

"Every religion is reflected in Punjab - every religion. From Christianity to Jainism to Islam, Hinduism and Sikhs."

While some Indian cultures are known for being intellectual and reserved, according to Bains,"Punjabis are known as being very friendly people. ... Whenever there are Punjabis you see them laughing and talking - very light-hearted individuals."

Since arriving in Canada, Bains and her family have made a point of returning to India on a regular basis. They do not, however, necessarily go back for a taste of the familiar or nostalgia.

Bains says, "Mainly, we go there as tourists because India is so diverse. There is so much to see. We go there and we plan out trips, we visit with our friends, and go around to see the different important places."

 Folklorama

Bains describes the Punjab community as always being involved in Folkalarama - even before there was a Folklarama.

When different ethnic communities would just gather on Portage Avenue and share the food and culture they had, the Bains were there.

"We just had a couple of tables and we cooked food at home, went there, sold it, and as it caught on in liking ... we have been involved over 50 years in Folklarama," says Bains. 

This year, at their centre on 1770 King Edward Avenue, Bains describes your possible experience at the pavilion: "When you come in, you are greeted by our ambassadors and you are guided to your seats. There is a full display in the back and there all kinds of food items there. Lots of snacks - vegetarian and non-vegetarian."

The show, full of music and dance, is made for everyone says Bains: "You have to come and experience it, it is pretty hard to describe. Bring your friends and family - it is a very family-oriented function."

A special attraction may bring in those interested in history and music Bains says, "It's mainly dancing. ... But we are adding a special item which is very old instruments. When I say 'old', they really are old. Some of them, I saw them for the first time here.

"Some people have a passion to revive the old customs and old culture, so they have brought those here. ... At the end of the show, we have a public dance and people stay and dance ... That's what it is all about. "

Having been a part of Folkalarama for so long, Bains is confident in their pavilion and Winnipeg's love for culture to be a great match.

Bain says, "I think Punjabi culture is quite familiar in Winnipeg, but some people come for the first time and are amazed that Winnipeg has so much to offer. ... I think Winnipeg is very rich culturally."

Visit the Punjab Pavilion during Folklorama at the Punjab Cultural Centre (1770 King Edward Street) from Sunday, August 11 to Saturday, August 17, 2019.