Our Bureau
Queens, NY
On Saturday, June 14th, under steady rainfall and rising political pressure, Richmond Hill’s Sikh and Hindu communities came together in an extraordinary show of solidarity and grassroots power. Phullan da Pul / Phoolon Ka Pul: A Day of Action and Togetherness brought neighbors, artists, city officials, and community advocates together—not in response to a crisis, but in defiance of one. As immigrant communities face heightened surveillance and outside forces attempt to divide diasporic South Asians along religious lines, this event stood as a public affirmation: we will not be pitted against each other. We will rise together.
Organized in partnership by Hindus for Human Rights, The Sikh Coalition, and supported by the NYC Commission on Human Rights and the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, the event featured powerful artistic performances, legal empowerment workshops, a hot meal service, and a civic resource fair. All activities were held outdoors under rain-soaked tents—but nothing dampened the spirit.
Community in Action Amid Storms—Literal and Political
In a time of escalating political hostility toward immigrants and growing efforts to sow division between communities, Phullan da Pul / Phoolon Ka Pul offered a bold alternative: shared space, shared purpose, and shared joy.
Attendees heard from local government officials and grassroots organizers, including:
– Erica Ware, Deputy Executive Director, NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes
– Orlando Torres, Managing Director of Outreach & Racial Justice, NYC Commission on Human Rights
– Vrinda Jagota, NYC Organizer, Hindus for Human Rights
– Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights
– Rucha Kaur, Managing Director of Education & Community Development, The Sikh Coalition
They addressed the critical need for unity, knowledge-sharing, and resistance to discrimination.
Performances That Stirred Souls and Stopped Traffic
Highlights included:
– Sonny Singh, whose rousing set featured spiritual-political compositions inspired by Guru Nanak. His music brought passersby from across the park into the tent—drawn by sound, moved by meaning.
– Pandita Pratima Doobay, offering devotional music that braided tradition and activism in one voice.
– Parijat Desai, whose participatory dance-in-the-round invoked the rhythms of interdependence and joy.
The performances were more than cultural—they were spiritual, political, and deeply human.
Care in Every Gesture
Volunteers from South Queens Women’s March distributed pantry bags and rain-ready smiles. Sakhi for South Asian Women hosted a resource table offering support, safety information, and sweets—showing how community care shows up in every detail.
A warm vegetarian lunch was served to all—a gesture of hospitality rooted in tradition and dignity.
Why It Mattered
In a moment when immigrants are under attack, and outside forces attempt to fracture our neighborhoods, this event was a testament to what solidarity really means. Rain couldn’t stop it—nor can fear, division, or hate. Phullan da Pul / Phoolon Ka Pul was a demonstration that communities can come together not just in defense, but in celebration and co-creation.
