The Province 

Allegedly killed by depressed father

A bright ray of sunshine on a snowy day.

That's how the 200 friends and family, who packed the Riverside Funeral Home in Delta yesterday, chose to remember little Rajvinder Kaur Kahlon.

The two-year-old was found dead in her North Delta home a week ago. She had been reportedly stabbed to death with a kitchen knife.

"It was a really good service," said mourner Ruby Saini, 21, following the 45-minute service conducted in Punjabi.

"She was a really nice kid. She was always laughing a lot and smiling."

Another mourner, who asked only to be referred to as Raj, succinctly summed up many people's sentiments: "It was a nice service -- a fitting tribute to a lost little soul."

The toddler's small, white casket sat at the front of the funeral home with large photos of her, smiling and waving, on either side. Rows of white candles and bouquets of flowers sat beside the coffin.

With female mourners sitting on the left side of the home and men on the right, one of the highlights of the memorial service came when the dead child's older sister addressed the emotional congregation.

"It's a very sombre occasion," said another mourner, who asked to remain anonymous. "That poor little girl."

At the conclusion of the service, mourners shielded themselves from the cold and snow and headed to Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh temple, where prayers were held.

The toddler's father, Lakhvinder Kahlon, 47, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the child's killing. He has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment.

Friends of the family said the father, a drywaller who suffers from depression, was upset about the birth of his third daughter when he had wanted a male child, often seen as more desirable in Indo-Canadian culture.

Lakhvinder remains in jail and he is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 15.

Mother Manjit Kaur Kahlon told the Surrey Now newspaper that her husband had been depressed since 2004 and had once tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge.

Even after hanging a Baba Budha (a Sikh saint whose shrine in the Punjab is visited by couples trying to conceive a male child) in their home, Manjit said her husband never complained to her about having three girls.

"He never complained over the female children," Manjit told the Now. "He was not at all upset due to her birth."

Manjit said her husband was depressed over his medical condition that was preventing him from working, and he would lock himself in a room and cry often.

Earlier this week, Manjit, a seamstress, released a statement to the media saying she and her two daughters "continue to rely on the love and support of all to get through this difficult time."

Despite Manjit's denials, family friend Surinder Johal said just after the murder that Lakhvinder told her husband he was depressed about not having a son.

Last year was a challenging one for many in the Indo-Canadian community. A wave of domestic violence between the fall of 2006 and early 2007 left four women dead and rendered one totally blind. Community forums were held to discuss the issue.

A trust fund to aid the Kahlon family in Rajvinder's name has been established at TD Canada Trust (account 6401672).