GurSa Singh
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Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa Wahegur Ji ke Fateh
If we all know this happens year in year out and it shouldn't then why is the cream of Educated Sikh sangat from the Middlesex area sitting lame on this. Do you think that Guru Sahib will accept us as Sikhs where the (prabhat fari) from which the nagar kirtan stems that bolyaa and bhangra is happening. We remain silent and on the chardi kala 50% side .Personally speaking nagar kirtan should happen without bhanhgra it should happen with only one thing being sung GURBANI with massive projections of translations in English throughout the parade for everyone to see and sing from. But that's only day dreaming, one town in the UK needs to make this difference others could follow suit. Otherwise this'll get so worse as it already has and it'll be like a notting hill carnival. What will the chardi kala types be classed as then ....neither here or there..Apologies for being abrupt but I am included here too for criticism.
Khalsa Ji, You said the right things!!!
Sorry to say this, but sometimes Southall feels like one big let down! The politics lets the place down, that's why the elders don't seem to get anywhere.
Banning the dhol may alleviate the problem, but there are floats which pump dharmic geet which some people seem to think they can dance to.
I think the culture confusion is still the biggest problem, generally people do not seem to know the line where Punjabiness ends and Sikhi begins. The Southall Nagar Kirtan has gradually over the years provided an environment for the punjabi activities to carry on. Each year seems to get worse and worse. People do not really understand why they are there. Let's face it, the Nagar Kirtan is now seen as a Carnival by many, commercial advertising, food stalls, it's like one big party. Most people aren't there for Guru Ji, but for the free food.
There were only 2 stalls (one by BOSS and one by GURSEVA) giving out free literature this year as compared to dozens of food stalls, which were packed out.
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vaheguruuuu ji ka khalsa vaheguroooooo ji ki fateh......
Nagar kirtan was amazing yesterday, luckily I saw inly the positive aspects of it because of being at the front. I was the small singhni wearing nihung stylee distaar holding hands with my two brothers, keeping sangat at bay..lolll....it was good fun and also felt reali reali kool being amongst such chardiklaaa people......
The kirtani were tooooo chardiklaaaaa and all sangat was singing along. Funny thing when Davinder singh ji walked past us ..we were all like woowwww its davinder singh, davinder singhhh!! and then 5 mins exactly later harbhajan maan the singer walked past and no one recognises him..and until he is escorted quite dramatically through where the sangat was standing. .......
All in all it was amazing if you were in the firt 50% of the sangat or doing seva back at gurdvara sahib......hopefully the Sohi Crew get it right nx time.... yeh...we'll jus keep wishing hey!!
No doubt there was chardi kala sangat there. I still find it amazing to see the sewadars barefoot cleaning the floor for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Mahraj. The front of the Nagar Kirtan is always amazing.
Harbhajan Maan was stormed by the crowd. Just before Maharaj's Sawari came there was a large crowd of screaming Punjabis gathering around him. I think he was uncomfortable about all the people so he was rushed off by his bodyguards.
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There's loads of manmat stuff that was done before the creation of the "Khalsa", don't mean we have to get involved in it.
If theses "traditional jatts" (as you put it) want a bhangra party, then why don't they organise their seperate event, with their money!. Instead why ponce off the Sangat's funds. There's Vasakhi Bhangra gigs on all week around the UK. They can go to them! They don't need to hang around Nagar Kirtan waiting for a dhol to bang so that they can bust their dance moves.
The funny thing is my 3 year old daughter went to the Nagar Kirtan and asked
"Daddy, is this the Nagar Kirtan?". To which I replied "Yes!", to which she said "But where's the Kirtan?!"
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http://www.panthic.org/news/124/ARTICLE/2388/2006-04-09.html
Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Bhangra & Kirtan ?
Sunday 9th of April 2006
Panthic Weekly News Bureau
London, UK (KP) - On Sunday, 9th April, 2006 took place the annual Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan. The Nagar Kirtan began at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Havelock Road. The route of the Nagar Kirtan was as follows: Havelock Road, King Street, The Green, South Road, High Street, Green Drive, and ending at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Park Avenue.
In previous years, the Sangat had raised the issue of manmat [unacceptable conduct] being allowed in the Nagar Kirtan by sending letters to the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Committee. In particular, Gursikhs were concerned with Bhangra dancers dancing in the Nagar Kirtan and singing Boliyan (song lyrics). Last year, Bhangra dancers and members from the Desi Radio station danced in the Nagar Kirtan to songs about the Shaheedi of the Sahibzaadey. It raised among many the questions, "Is Dharmik Geet to be listened and contemplated upon for its message, or to dance and jump and down to? How can this sacrilege by condoned by the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Committee who organised the Nagar Kirtan?"
The Sangat’s message to the Nagar Kirtan organisers admonishing their lack of responsibility of ensuring the Nagar Kirtan is done in accordance to Gurmat done last year fell on deaf ears. Little or nothing had changed this year.
View Video of Nagar Kirtan Sewadar participating in Bhangra
http://www.panthic.org/data/images/news/categories/cat_124/2388_nagar_bhangra.3gp
Bhangra dancers dressed in their costumes can be seen in the pictures dancing to the dhol (drum) and someone singing Boliyan. The boliyan were about caste, women and drunkeness, which nowadays comprise the themes of modern Punjabi song lyrics. The Bhangra dancers disrupted the the purpose of the Nagar Kirtan, and secondly they promoted Manmat at such a joyous occasion by singing lyrics about things which are condemned in Sikhi, and thirdly it gave encouragement and acceptance to the youth that it is okay to keep your head uncovered, dance to vile lyrics promoting alcohol and caste and show little or lack of respect to the singing of Shabads and Simran being done in the Nagar Kirtan.
When the Nagar Kirtan approached Green Drive going towards Park Avenue, Gursikhs noticed a group of clean-shaven men, some who didn’t even have the courtesy of covering their heads, dancing and jumping up and down to the beat of the Dhol. In between jumping up and down and dancing, they were shouting slogans of “Raj Karega Khalsa,” and “Khalistan Zindabad.” Gursikhs noted that one need to “become Khalsa” before shouting such slogans and that secondly, by dancing and jumping down and shouting Jaikaare at the same time, ridicules the seriousness of such Sikh slogans and violates the sanctity of the Nagar Kirtan and belitles the purpose and message behind such an event. Some wondered:" What does this demonstrate to the youth?"
More shameful was the behavior of a Nagar Kirtan sewadar from Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, wearing a Sewadar jacket, who was dancing with the group of men rather than asking them to stop this disrespectful dancing and instead encouraging them to sing along Gurbani or at least show respect and solemnity to the rest of the Sangat who are singing Shabad Gurbani.
Eventually the group of men stopped doing Bhangra after Gursikhs tried to explain to them that this was not the time nor place to do Bhangra. Furthermore, members of the Sangat who were standing right behind the men dancing were annoyed that there Shabad Kirtan was being drowned out by the shouting, dhol playing and dancing of these men. Members of the Sangat also approached the men to stop. It seemed the group of young dhol players was fuelling these men to dance. So Gursikhs asked the dhol players to not play for a while, let the atmosphere calm down and restore to the intended peaceful atmosphere of singing Gurbani and doing Simran in Sangat roop.
Editors can be reached at editors@panthic.org
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!
I have found out from discoversikhi.com that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was taken to Southport Theatre, Merseyside on 2nd April 05 for a wedding.
The Gurdwara responsible for this is:
Guru Nanak Culture & Recreational Centre
10 Tunbridge Street
Preston
PR1 5YP
There is no excuse for this committee, they we trying to do this beadbi last year in Hilton Hotel Blackpool, its because of corrupt committees like this one that beadbi continues.
If I remember, the family involved in Hilton Blackpool incident were more than willing to re-arrange the wedding to the Gurdwara. Its our so-called leaders who want to sell Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Sikh Principles!
Please ring the committee of Guru Nanak Culture & Recreational Centre and stop them from doing further beadbi this year!
01772 798 395
"Cultural & Recreational Centre"!!!!!!!!!!! What kind of name is this for a Gurdwara Sahib? Looks like this Committee did a Sikh/Bhangra event recently in Preston.
http://www.panthic.org/news/124/ARTICLE/2291/2006-03-05.html
Anyone know the Pardaans name, is it Gulab Singh?
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Amrit Sanchar on 14 April 2004 in Ilford.
Gurdwara Karamsar
400 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG3 4JG
Tel : 020 8478 8090
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
With the help of senior Nihangs from Budha Dal, a group of young British Sikhs finally managed to get an audience with Vedanti at the Sri Akal Takht Sahib a few weeks ago to raise awareness of the UK beadbi issues. This is the first meeting any of the UK naujwaan have managed to have with Vedanti.
To take this further the UK sangat need to keep applying pressure to Vedanti, the Jathedars of the other takhts and the SGPC (due to their controlling influence over the Akal Takht) to vocally and officially address the abuse of Akal Takht Hukumnamas in the UK.
GurSa Singh Ji
What was the response of Jathedar Vedanti ? and have any direct lines of communication been set up ? so issues can be raised directly with Vedanti instead of the Akal Takht Secetariat who really are in a shambles with thousands of petitions lying unanswered.
If there is an official line of communication then how can we raise issues to be forwarded to Vedanti ? In particualr I have this issue in mind and also issues like Sikh heritage.
Thanks
Kurtas.
Over the past year or so UK naujwaan have been trying to meet Vedanti in regard to the Halls issue. Vedanti's UK visits have either been discreet or due to time constraints Vedanti would not be willing to meet anyone.
Correspondence has been sent to the Akal Takht several times over the past 2 years with names of culprits who abuse the Hukumnama and other issues. Only once has a confirmation reply been received from the Akal Takht Secetariat. On 2 occasions the paperwork has been hand delivered by a UK Gurdwara Pardaan.
A number of UK Jathabandhis were approached, however, no one was able or willing to assist in setting up a communication or meeting with the Akal Takht Sahib.
Finally, during a visit to Punjab some Singhs from UK formed a relationship with the Buddha Dal Nihangs who finally managed to arrange a meeting with Vedanti on the Thurdays before Hola Mohalla to address the problems in the UK. The paperwork was personally handed over to Vedanti and the Buddha Dal Nihangs have promised to follow up with Vedanti.
The Buddha Dal Nihangs have advised that the pressure be kept by the UK sangat with correspondence also needing to be sent to Patna Sahib and Hazoor Sahib. With Guru Ji's kirpa the news of the Patna Sahib Jathedar's UK visit is great timing and full advantage of his presence in the UK needs to be taken.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
With the help of senior Nihangs from Budha Dal, a group of young British Sikhs finally managed to get an audience with Vedanti at the Sri Akal Takht Sahib a few weeks ago to raise awareness of the UK beadbi issues. This is the first meeting any of the UK naujwaan have managed to have with Vedanti.
To take this further the UK sangat need to keep applying pressure to Vedanti, the Jathedars of the other takhts and the SGPC (due to their controlling influence over the Akal Takht) to vocally and officially address the abuse of Akal Takht Hukumnamas in the UK.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Please urge anyone you know in the West London area who is an active GurSikh to meet with JathedarJi this evening and discuss the UK issues of Banqueting Halls and Gurdwara Community Halls serving meat and alcohol.
We need more elders taking up this issue as a pose to the youth ,who, from personal experience ,are not always taken seriously
It's a shame the visits of the Jathedars are never publicised in advance. Nevertheless, as Kurtas has mentioned please talk to whoever you think is a good representative to approach the Jathedar this evening.
Some young British Singhs have met up with Vedanti recently and a line of communication has begun. All further pressure will help accelerate the process of Akal Takht Sahib addressing the beadbi issues in the UK.
We all must take equal ownership in attempting to resolve the current beadbi taking place in the UK by corrupt Ragi Jathas, Granthis, Prabandhiks and fake Babay.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
About time some of the UK Gurdwaras Committees took on ownership of the problems facing Sikhi today! In most cases they need to realise they have been instrumental in creating the embaressing situation we are in. Let's hope it's not just a one-off statement/article, every single UK Gurdwara Committee should be supporting this.
Good luck to the Khalsa Alliance.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Is there a poster for the rally? The earlier this goes up the better, maybe by Vaisakhi. The Sikhs in the Square poster was a good poster and got everyone talking, shame that the rain turned out be be the sangats key decision maker in attending.
Need to get the awareness out in the non-Fed run Gurdwaras. Posters and Post Cards worked well in our local area.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Why is this so poorly publicised? Many of us unfortunatly do not know about this. Moreover the Fedy run Gurdwaras should have publicised this too.
Can the Feds put up their recurring annual events/protests so that the majority of the sangat can participate.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
There will be a Keertan Darbar tommorrow in East London following on from the candle light vigils held worldwide. Beanti to all the sangat, please try and come down. We will show some videos and will have some speakers too.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Rami Ranger is not a practicing Sikh. He is a well known NRI businessman and active member of the Conservative party.
He is also a represenatative of the British Hindu Forum and represents British Hindus on various issues. He sometimes uses the name Rami Ranger and sometimes Raminder Singh, usually the latter when he's supposedly representing a "sikh" issue.
He was one of the organisers of the Slough Sikh School fund raising dinner and dance in 2004, which with the help of booze and dance allegedly managed to raise £60k in the name of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The only way we could get our modern Sikh uncles & aunties to part with their money was to fill their bellies with booze and let them have a good dance.
Anyway, he's obviously a bollywood fan! Good luck to him.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
New poster for Keertan Darbar follow up to the Worldwide Day of Protest @ Ilford.
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
follow up to the Worldwide Day of Protest (17th January 2006)
on
21st January 2006
7pm to 11pm
at
Sri Guru Singh Sabha London East
722/730 High Road, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex. IG3 8ST
Contact Ropinder Singh 07956 535642
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
I think the Leamington Gurdwara committee remains as it was.
There's an article in this weeks PUNJAB TIMES with details and pictures about the meetings that the various Midland Gurdwara Sahib Committee represenatives had with the Leamington committee in relation to the open Meat & Alcohol abuse on the Leamington Gurdwara premises. Not read it all yet but it looks like it discusses the meetings in depth.
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http://www.panthic.org/news/124/ARTICLE/2015/2005-11-20.html
Sangat Victorious, Committee Looses Sharaab Rights
Sunday 20th November, 2005
Panthic Weekly News Bureau
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire - Today the Management Committee of Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara Sahib has been forced to pass a resolution by the Sangat, declaring the Gurdwara a meat and sharaab free zone. The Gurdwara, was the scene of violence last week as they hosted a party where meat and sharaab were served openly to “celebrate” Diwali and Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The incident highlights what Guru Sahib tells us:
ਸਰਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦੁਇ ਛਪਿ ਖਲੋਏ ਕੂੜੁ ਫਿਰੈ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥
Sharam Dharam due chhap khaloe, kooR phirai parDhaan ve laalo.
“O Lalo! Sharam (shame and modesty) and Dharam (righteousness and religion) both have vanished, and falsehood struts around like a leader.”
(Ang 722, SGGS)
On Friday the Gurdwara was visited by representatives from Gurdwaras in Coventry including Ramgarhia Gurdwara Coventry and Guru Nanak Parkash Coventry. This was followed by a visit from Gurdwaras from around the UK and Sangat from around the country. Gurdwaras visiting included High Street Smethwick, West Bromwich, and Willenhall to mention a few.
Today at the special General Meeting the Committee had planned to change the name of the room in the Gurdwara, to ‘community centre’, allowing the consumption of alcohol, meat and intoxicants. In a bizarre twist the plan fell on top of them as the Sangat didn’t let it pass. In fact the actual opposite passed. Gurbani says:
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਅਪਨੇ ਕਾ ਭਇਆ ਬਿਸਾਸੁ ॥ ਜੀਉ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਸਭੁ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਰਾਸਿ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਉ ਉਪਜੀ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ॥ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਹਾਰ ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਸਦ ਜੀਤਿ ॥4॥16॥18॥
Prabh apune kaa bheiaa bisaas. Jeeo pindd sabh tis kee raas.
Naanak ko upjee parteet. Manmukh haar, Gurmukh jeet. ||4||16||18||
“I place my faith in my Waheguru. My soul and body all belong to Him. This is the faith, which inspires Nanak: the self-willed Manmukhs will fail, while the Gurmukhs will always win. ||4||16||18||”
(Ang 867, SGGS)
No sharaab, intoxicants or meat will now be allowed to be consumed, served or promoted within the Gurdwara complex and also within two years the Gurdwara Committee will enforce a full ban on consumption of intoxicants and meat on all Gurdwara property, in particular the Tachbrook Centre hall.
The Gurdwara Committee have decided to form another Committee, which will build its own Community Centre separate and independent from the Gurdwara Sahib, and will not use any of the Gurdwara's funds.
This has been a great success for the Sikh Sangat of the UK who came together regardless of jathebandi (organisations), young and old together on one platform in ekta against anti-Gurmat practises. It is a happy day in the UK and a great victory for the Khalsa Panth, and inspiring to see how the Sangat came together as one.
The Editors can be reached at editors@panthic.org
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ki Fateh!
Good news. It's a shame it will still take 2 years for the alcohol & meat to stop at Tachbrook. But it's a start!
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/re...3A43%3A40%3A240
Media Sensationalisation once again. This was on the front page of the Ilford Recorder and the headline is plastered all over Ilford!
To use a blanket statement that "SIKHS" demand an apology is an irresponsible statement as well as incorrect. A majority of practicing/orthodox Sikhs don't even entertain the idea of eating meat. To sensationalise the story on the front page of the Ilford Recorder just uplifts the present tensions between Muslims and Sikhs within the national Asian community.
Phrases like "members of the local Sikh community" could have been easily used to make the statement instead of falsely categorising ALL Sikhs as meat eaters.
http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/re...3A43%3A40%3A240
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
The documentaries and discussions start at 7pm. Please come on time if you wish to view the documentaries.
GurFateh!
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
The documentaries and discussions start at 7pm. Please come on time if you wish to view the documentaries.
GurFateh!
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
7 quid to see some namdharis (the two guys on the side definetly look like namdharis)!
I suppose it's more than the 1 quid they would be getting if they were performing their kirtan in a Gurdwara diwan. It's a good way of getting a 600% pay increase, you move to "better venues" where the punters pay more for your performances!
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
21 Years - Delhi Riots Remembrance Programme @ East London on 5 November 2005 from 7pm to 2am.
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Article from Tapoban forum.
Author: Gurcharan Singh Kulim
Date: 10-26-05 17:59
The Guru Granth Sahib is no ordinary granth or book, as some may wrongly beleive.Sikhs have been ordered to revere it as the living Reflection of their Gurus and the Gurus message.
Yet we hear of some misled and misinformed Sikhs taking to the Guru Granth sahib as a book an ddemanding its presence in places which can be considered unclean or inappropriate.
I sometimes wonder and like to ask such people ..would you consider taking your young child to a hotel or a home which has been used as a haven for drugs and illict sex and if known as a prostitute hangout, even if someone assures that it has been cleaned for the day of all the viceful things and people?Would you, or anyone ?I am sure the answer will be in a chorus ..no!
So why such excuses are used for the supreme shabd Guru of the Sikhs and it is dragged for a few hours into a bar m or a place where vice takes place and smoking polutes the environment!
Recently it has been brought to the attention off the Panth about a Gurduara in the east end, where Birs of Guru Granth SAHIB HAVE BEEN LEFT TO SIT AWAY UN ATTENDED IN THE OLDER BUILDING AS ONE SAROOP has been removed for use in the new main hall.This nothing but absolute abuse of the Guru Granth sahib, and does NOT set a good example for others to follow .
Let me share something that happend back in the 1960s.There were up to five Gurduaras in China.After the Red revolution and deteriorating Sino Indian relations, people of Indian citizenary were asked to leave china.Almost all the indians settled in china up to about four thousand were Sikhs.The first step this Sikhs took was to ensure the Guru Granth sahib wa staken care of and sent off safely out of the country first to hong Kong , then on route stopping in Malaysia to Delhi.For a whole month flights arrived from HK into KL where the Guru Granth sahib was taken off , rested by the local sikhs before going on to India.About twelev such flights arrived within the month.Small numbers of Sikh families from China also accompanied these flights.A bir was always maintained in a Shanghai Gurduara to ensure the remaining Sikhs continued with its darshan and shabad kirtan.Then at last in March 1963, the last family and group of Sikhs left China, with them they carried the last Bir of Guru Granth sahib with great revearance.I understand the airport in KL was packed with Sikhs who gathered to welcome the swari of Guru Granth sahib, and pay homage before it went on to India.I believe similar may have happened in Singapore as well.
I can recall one incident when fire broke out in a Sikh Gurduara in Sungai Petani in the Malaysian state of Kedah,, the granthi sahib Bhai Harbans Singh first and foremost without any regard for himself removed the birs of Guru Granth sahib and saved what he could.I understand a bir was cremated in this fire.
Not too long ago ...we have seen live on TV Sikhs escaping from Afghanistan made treacherous treks over dangerous country and mountains with the saroops of Guru Granth sahibs and ensued the Birs were respectfully saved and handed over to their brethren in Pakistan, and safely transported to Panja sahib .These Sikhs cared more the Guru Granth sahib , but not their own lives.They made sure Guru Granth sahib was moved safely away from danger and they went back to their danger zones to help other sikhs and bring out more birs of Guru Granth sahib.We have seen many pictures of these sikhs ...Under a blue cloth lies one “refugee” from the war in Afghanistan that successfully crossed the closed border into Pakistan. It is a book. Not just any book. It is the holiest book of the Sikhs in Afghanistan’s eastern Jalalabad and rests under its special cover in a gurdwara, down a twisting network of alleys in the heart of the western city of Peshawar.
The book, Guru Granth Sahib, was taken out of Afghanistan for safekeeping by the dwindling Sikh community from well over 500,000, fearing for the future of the country as US warplanes rained bombs and missiles on the ruling Taliban.
“There is anarchy in Afghanistan now, so there is a chance of disrespect for the book,” said Bhai Sona Singh, head of Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh in Peshawar.
“We did it because of the US strikes,” he said.
“This is the most holy book for the Sikhs and is present in every gurdwara, said Sona Singh.
Sikhs in the eastern city of Jalalabad, one of the main targets of the US-led attacks brought it to the Pakistani border. “And we collected it there,” Sona Singh said. “We got permission from the local government.”
Sikhism, a monotheistic religion founded in the 15th century in India, was influenced by both Hinduism and Sufi Islam. Sikhs are easily identified by their turbans and beards.
Sikh leaders estimate about 1,000 to 2,000 Sikhs and Hindus lived in Afghanistan before the current crisis, down from 50,000 before Afghanistan spiralled into strife over two decades ago.
Thousands fled in the 1990s during fighting between the Mujahideen (holy warriors) and Soviet-backed former president Najibulla that left much of the capital Kabul in ruins.
Sona Singh said many who remain are fleeing or thinking of escape “I think more than 500 persons have come in this recent crisis. Most have gone to a gurdwara in (Pakistan’s) Punjab because it’s a very large one and they can be helped there.”
“We left because there was bombing and we were afraid it would come to residential areas,” said Rajindir Singh, who shared mats in the gurdwara with his parents, wife and two children.
Rajindir Singh wanted to stay to run his crockery shop, but was worried about the air raids and the Taliban reaction. “Business was fine, but their attitude was not friendly.”
Rajindir Singh said he and his family would stay in Pakistan and watch events unfold in Afghanistan.
“We have shops, we have homes, so definitely we want to go back. If there is peace and conditions are well, we will go.”
Sikhs in Afghanistan were traditionally involved in the cloth trade, but their dominance declined as their numbers fell.
“Most of them are shopkeepers. They’re still in the cloth trade but also things like general stores,” said Sona Singh.
He said relations between the Sikh community and the Taliban had been difficult but mostly not threatening. “Only when they asked minorities to label themselves, that was a worry.”
The order which asked are Hindus to wear yellow badges did not apply to Sikhs because they were already identified by their distinctive turbans.
Sikhs have been in Peshawar for centuries and their influence hit a peak in the first half of the 1800s, when they occupied the Peshawar valley, ransacked the city and ruled most of the Punjab, and also made in roads into Afghanistan, where they did not stay too long and left on their on.
More recently we have seen how Sikhs spent thousands to make sure they retreived and helped bring out the Holy Guru Granth from any further possible damage.Some attribute the floating of the Guru Granth all that flood and typhoon as a miracle.Whatever, it shows how much troubles sIkhs will go to ensure the Holy guru Granth is always erespected and kept safe.
During the 1960s police fired upon some sewadaars in Paonta sahib, and entered the darbar sahib, but the granthi Singh did not stir from his paath..as he was shot another Singh leaped up to the manji sahib to continue the chaur and paath in the face of bullets!
But today when we hear abuse of Guru Granth sahib by sikhs who have become used to the easy comforts of life , so much so they now feel confident to address the Guru Granth sahib as the "book"..I sometimes wonder if they are any different from the massa rannggerrs and the shaitans from the mughal regime!they are drunk in the nashaa of their wealth and defile the holy book, but they themselves will first dust a seat before they even sit their enlarged wealthy posterior upon it.Yet they allow many Birs of Guru Granth sahib tosit on shelfs with little respect and collect dust!
It is the most shameful act of such so called gurduara""" sewadaars""...sewadaar who are only always seeking a photo opportunity ...and dust the seat they sit upon!
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Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Bhangra & Kirtan ?
in WHAT'S HAPPENING?
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I suppose we seem to be focusing on only one of the negatives of the Nagar Kirtan. There is the problem of corporate advertising and the naamdhari's promoting their "satguru".
This year there was some literature handed out in Southall in response to the naamdhari parchar handed out last year. The naamdharis didn't do a float this year, but they did have their banners in the Nagar Kirtan promoting "his holiness satguru jagjit singh ji maharaj". There were 2 incidents I witnessed where some Singhs and naamdharis had heated debates within the Nagar Kirtan.
And then there were confrontations with the Western Union Guys, just like last year. How long can these confrontations carry on for? People walk past and accuse us of being fanatics. I was called a Khalistani by a group of ladies giving out their flyers for a free facial at their salon.
Sohi's committee and other Gurdwara committees should have the balls to release strict guidlines about what can be and cannot be part of the official Nagar Kirtan. No Bhangra, No Advertising, No Naamdharis or any other anti panthic groups. They are employees of Guru Maharaj, hence they are only answerable to Guru Maharaj, no one else.