Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
International

Sikh-American Delegate Harmeet Dhillon Begins Republican Party Convention 2nd Day With 'Ardaas'

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Jul, 2016 12:12 PM
    In a first for the Republican Party, a Sikh-American woman opened the second day of the national convention here with the 'Ardaas'- a Sikh prayer.
     
    Harmeet Dhillon, vice chairwoman of the California Republican Party, delivered the Sikh prayer on the national stage here in Punjabi and then translated it into English.
     
     
    It was the first such instance for the Republican National Convention but it was not the first time the 47-year-old San Francisco lawyer upended expectations, the Los Angeles Times reported.
     
    Born in Chandigarh, she emigrated with her parents to England and then to the Bronx, New York.
     
    Her father, an orthopedic surgeon, soon moved the family to rural Smithfield in central North Carolina.
     
    Taking the stage minutes before Donald Trump was officially nominated as the party's candidate for president, Dhillon led the convention in the Sikh prayer yesterday.
     
    After the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem, Dhillon took the stage and explained that it was Sikh custom to wear a headscarf for the traditional prayer.
     
    Dhillon, a delegate from San Francisco, covered her head with a shawl after stepping up to the podium.
     
    "I've said this prayer before I could walk," she said.
     
     
    The prayer- called Ardaas- is a Sikh prayer that is recited before performing or after undertaking any significant task. And Dhillon hoped her reading it would show that the Republican Party truly does have a big tent.
     
    "I think this is an inclusive party. I've never felt anything but included since Day One," Dhillon was quoted as saying by The Mercury News.
     
    Trump today clinched the Republican Party's presidential nomination to run against Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November polls, a stunning rise for an outsider after months of controversial campaigning that saw him crushing 16 well-established party rivals.
     
    Diversity was showcased by the party in Cleveland as when California's Republicans formally proclaimed their support for Trump, the state party turned to Shirley Husar, who is black, to make the announcement.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Docs 'The Pearl' And 'the Pearl Of Africa' Chronicle Lives Of Transgender Women

    Docs 'The Pearl' And 'the Pearl Of Africa' Chronicle Lives Of Transgender Women
    The East African country is notorious for anti-LGBTQ laws which criminalize same-sex relations. After Kambugu was outed by a tabloid, she went into hiding, relying on her family to bring food and supplies.

    Docs 'The Pearl' And 'the Pearl Of Africa' Chronicle Lives Of Transgender Women

    'Bregret' After 'Brexit': Nearly 2.3 Million Britons Regret Voting For 'Leave' Says Survey

    'Bregret' After 'Brexit': Nearly 2.3 Million Britons Regret Voting For 'Leave' Says Survey
    Nearly 2.3 million people in the UK regret voting for Brexit from the EU in last week's historic referendum, a trend which has come to be referred to as "Bregret", a new survey said today.

    'Bregret' After 'Brexit': Nearly 2.3 Million Britons Regret Voting For 'Leave' Says Survey

    Malala Yousafzai Becomes Millionaire With Book Sales, Lectures

    Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and her family have become millionaires as a result of income from her memoir describing life under Taliban rule in Pakistan's picturesque Swat valley and appearances on the lecture circuit around the world.

    Malala Yousafzai Becomes Millionaire With Book Sales, Lectures

    US Asks China To Allow Muslim Citizens To Worship Freely

    US Asks China To Allow Muslim Citizens To Worship Freely
    The US today asked China to protect religious freedom and allow citizens to worship freely amid reports that the Communist country had banned fasting in its Muslim-dominated Xinjiang region.

    US Asks China To Allow Muslim Citizens To Worship Freely

    Indian-Origin Web Expert Faces Jail For Fraud In UK

    Indian-Origin Web Expert Faces Jail For Fraud In UK
    A 31-year-old Indian-origin web manager charged with siphoning off nearly 100,000 pounds from his boss' firm is facing jail in the UK.

    Indian-Origin Web Expert Faces Jail For Fraud In UK

    Favorability Ratings Of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Increased: Gallup Survey

    Favorability Ratings Of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Increased: Gallup Survey
    The favorability ratings of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have increased since they clinched the presidential nominations of the respective Republican and Democratic parties, a Gallup survey said today.

    Favorability Ratings Of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Increased: Gallup Survey