The North Park Student Newspaper Since 2023
Sikh Student Association presents an informational Gatka event
GENERAL NEWS
Yashita Bhardwaj & Amira Ali
6/11/20261 min read
Since April was Sikh Heritage Month, the Sikh Students Association hosted an event to teach students about Sikhi. On April 23, students from the SSA brought in an organization, Baba Deep Singh Ji Akhara Gatka. In the gym, the SSA presented the history of Gatka, and after, members from the BDS Gatka performed Gatka. At the end of the period, students had the opportunity to test their knowledge through a Kahoot, and the winners received prizes!
The SSA held this event because they “Wanted to do these events to raise awareness about Sikhism and spread the love during Sikh Heritage Month,” said Manraj, a person from the SSA. This event was educational for those who were interested in learning more about the religion.
The event started off with a presentation held by the SSA about the background of Gatka. It is a martial art that derives from the historical practice of Shastar Vidya, which means weapons training. Due to British intervention, traditional weapons such as Kirpans had to be replaced by a stick called a Gatka, which then turned the practice into a martial art. Students were told that they would be tested on this knowledge after the Gatka performance through a Kahoot.
The BDS then held an extraordinary 10-minute performance showing how Gakta was done. They used many different moves and props. After the performance, the students were tested on Gatka knowledge through a Kahoot, where the winner would win snacks! After an intense match of Kahoot, three winners won a prize. “Gatka was very interesting, and the presentation taught me a lot. I’m excited to see an event like this next year,” said Ekam S, the winner who came in third place on the Kahoot.
The event was overall a success, and students had a great time. “I learned a lot about Gatka, and the event was overall enjoyable,” said Hibah Atif. The students had a great time and learned a lot about the history of Gatka. Overall, both students and the SSA members left the event satisfied with the great performance.