The general manager of the City of Bhangra Festival says she's sorry for the timing of this year's event.

It coincides with the 31st anniversary of Operation Bluestar, when the Indian army attacked Sikhism's holiest shrine. There was an official death toll of 575, according to a BBC report, but the number may have been far higher as pilgrims were caught in the violence. 

Anita Lal stated on the volunteer-run organization's website that it "sincerely" apologizes for the following:

* Hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community by hosting our City of Bhangra Festival on the same weekend as the 1984 Sikh Genocides.

* Not fully appreciating the level of sensitivity around the first week of June and hosting an event on these dates.

* Not having a clear conversation in advance to reschedule the 2015 City of Bhangra on a different weekend.

The City of Bhangra Festival runs from May 28 to June 6 in Vancouver and Surrey. Bhangra is Punjabi folk music, which in recent years has been blended with Western pop music, adding to its international appeal.

In the first week of June 1984, Indian troops conducted their raid against armed militants inside the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. A fiery Sikh preacher, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, died in the shootout. Bhindranwale remains a hero to Lower Mainland supporters of an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan, but his actions have been condemned by some Sikhs who oppose the dismemberment of India.

The attack on the Golden Temple triggered the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi four months later. This, in turn, resulted in a pogrom against Sikhs primarily in Delhi, but also in other parts of India.

The Sikh diaspora was appalled by the destruction wreaked on the shrine as well as the killings of nearly 3,000 people in the wake of Gandhi's death.

Their feelings of injustice were exacerbated by Gandhi's son Rajiv's cold-hearted response to the murderous spree, as well as the Congress Party's long-standing refusal to bring the organizers to justice.

Lal stated that when the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society realized that the festival's timing was such a matter of concern, it reached out to organizers of the 1984 Sikh Genocide Memorial.

"We put out a public statement, to apologize for the mistake, support the organizers of the 1984 Sikh Genocide Memorial this year, and ensure our dates would never conflict again in future years," Lal stated.

There have also been changes to the programming with a one minute of silence added to Downtown Bhangra on Saturday (June 6) to remember the victims. This will be accompanied by a one-minute video.

"Jaz Dhami will begin his performance with the song 'Saardari.' This song performance will be in remembrance of the 1984 Sikh genocide," she noted.

In addition, written material concerning the "1984 Sikh genocide" will be distributed at Downtown Bhangra.

The annual memorial for victims will be held on Sunday (June 7) in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery.