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Source: Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.存倉Nov. 01--A message to any wary westerner uncertain of how to approach the 34th annual Nagar Kirtan and Sikh Parade this weekend: All are welcome, and the learning curve is not steep."The Sikh religion is one of the more open religions. The founder of the religion said, 'There is no religion; there is God,'" said Tej Mann, a Yuba City councilman. "You're not any less welcome because you have a different faith, or you look different."Mann said there are only two practices required to ensure respecting the Sikh culture: Don't drink alcohol or smoke while attending the weekend's festivities, and always remove your shoes and cover your head when entering any Sikh temple."That's it," Mann said.For the remainder of the weekend, attendees can enjoy free, vegetarian meals and complimentary, nonalcoholic drinks while wandering the bazaar packed with more than 100 vendors at the Tierra Buena Temple or enjoy the main attraction of the weekend _ the Sikh Parade, which commemorates the consecration of the religion's holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, in 1708."Everybody loves seeing non-Sikhs there," Mann said. "They're happy to share their faith and show them around."The only other consideration event organizers are requesting is that visitors take advantage of the free shuttle services, which will be based from River Valley High School.On Sunday, the shuttle is especially important. Mann said cars won't be able to get within a mile of the temple that day, which marks the culmination of the weekend.The event kicks off with a fireworks show at 9 p.m. today at the Tierra Buena Temple, followed by worship, or kirtan, expressed in songs based on the scripture. Worship based in song is considered by Sikhs to be the highest form of devotion.Saturday is more of an open house, where attendees can wander the bazaar and explore the temple, Mann said.At 9 a.m., there will be the Nishan Sahib flag raising ceremony, which will be followed by morning worship.Nishan is a word with Arabic roots and means flag, or insignia. Sahib means master, or Lord. Such a flag flies at the highest point at every Sikh festival in a tradition that dates back to 1606, when Sixth Guru Har Govind raised the first Sikh flag over the Akal Takhat seat of authority in Amritsar, India.At 6 p.m. Saturday, there will be a late-night worship service known as the Rain Sabaee, which literally means "night so beautif儲存l." During this worship, which lasts until midnight, devotees sing divine hymns from their sacred text.At 11 a.m. Sunday, the 4.5 mile parade begins at the Tierra Buena Temple.More than 100,000 free meals will be served to the guests and visitors at the Sikh Temple Gurdwara during the weekend and an estimated 80,000 are expected for the parade.CONTACT reporter Andrew Creasey at 749-4780.Shuttle service available on SundayYuba-Sutter Transit will operate an off-site parking lot shuttle service for the Sikh Parade on Sunday. Up to 25 buses will provide continuous service from 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. between River Valley High School at 801 El Margarita Road and the intersection of Hooper Road and True Road, just a short walk from the temple site.From the high school, passengers will board in the small visitor parking lot on Spirit Way between Harter Parkway and El Margarita Road just south of Colusa Highway.Parking is available in both the west and east high school lots along Spirit Way, and overflow parking is available nearby. Changeable message signs on Highway 20 will direct visitors to the pick-up location at the high school where staff will be standing by to assist.This service is being operated as an extension of Yuba-Sutter Transit's regular fixed route service, but the parade sponsor has purchased 7,000 round trip tickets that will be made available free of charge at the pick-up location.The pre-purchased round-trip tickets will be provided to each passenger while supplies last, after which Yuba-Sutter Transit's regular fixed route fares will apply._ Appeal-DemocratRoad closures scheduledColusa Avenue Frontage Road will be closed 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday for east/westbound traffic on the east side of the intersection with George Washington Boulevard.Jefferson Avenue at Stonegate Drive will be screened for eastbound traffic and restricted to local residents and church parishioners.Colusa Avenue frontage road at Harter Road will be open to bus traffic only.Butte House Road at Royo Ranchero will be screened for eastbound traffic and restricted to residents and church parishioners.Residents are encouraged to enter and leave the area using Butte House Road.Any questions, call the Yuba City Police Department's Traffic Unit at 822-4795.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, Calif.) Visit the Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, Calif.) at .appeal-democrat.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉