InderjitS

Agreed good turn out and fantastic weather. Brilliant job by all sevadaars and the weather compared to last year held out :biggrin2: . Got some good pics this time. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27751455

Panth Time International on Sikh Channel - from Council House in Birmingham discussing the attack.

In the end the cruelty perpertrated by these daemons will be punishable under Dharam Raja, they do not realise what terrible karams they have amassed yet!!. As Guru Sahib writes in Babar Bani, no one will remember these miserable dogs and true achievement is his Who dieth unto his self And uttereth the holy Name. (Rag Malar, ang.1288) Deers, falcons and government officials are known to be trained and clever. When the trap is set, they trap their own kind; hereafter they will find no place of rest. He alone is learned and wise, and he alone is a scholar, who practices the Name. First, the tree puts down its roots, and then it spreads out its shade above. The kings are tigers, and their officials are dogs; they go out and awaken the sleeping people to harass them. The public servants inflict wounds with their nails. The dogs lick up the blood that is spilled. But there, in the Court of the Lord, all beings will be judged. Those who have violated the people's trust will be disgraced; their noses will be cut off.

More embarrasing pics from the Daily Mail. Apologies for the formatting. If this was a micheivous act by agencies then Pendu mentality Sikhs fell for these stunts before, today and will in the future. Guru Kirpa no one gets heated on Sunday in London!! What happened to unarmed combat..hehe SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message Violent scuffle: At least six people were injured as dozens of Sikh radicals clashed with supporters of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) at the Golden Temple, in Amritsar SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message +13 SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message 'Today we were supposed to have a solemn remembrance for the martyrs of 1984, so what has happened is very sad,' Prem Singh Chandumajra, a spokesman for Punjab state's ruling party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), told reporters. 'The Temple has once again been dishonoured today,' he added. SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message +13 Angry: Operation Blue Star saw the Indian Army storm the Golden Temple to flush out Sikh separatists and arrest Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale a Sikh leader and his followers who had initiated a movement for a separate Sikh state SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message +13 Sword swinging: At least six have been reported injured in the clashes SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message Inside the walls: The violence soon grew out of control, spilling inside the temple's walls Peace has since been restored, said an official, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media. 'The violent clashes will be investigated and action will be taken against those who are accused,' said Giani Gurbachan Singh, a leader of the SGPC, the elected body that manages Sikh temples. Operation Blue Star was one of the most contentious episodes in India's battle against Sikh separatists in the 1980s. SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message +13 Remembering a bloodbath: It is understood the scuffle erupted over who would speak first at the service, held to remember victims of government offensive Operation Blue Star that left hundreds dead on June 6, 1984 SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message +13 Stand off: But guards from the SGPC attempted to stop him (not pictured), resulting in a fracas that grew into a violent stand off SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message +13 No police: The situation was made worse by the fact that police personnel are not permitted inside the Golden Temple SHARE PICTURE Copy link to paste in your message Run for cover: During the melee, many panic-striken devotees ran for safety, sources said Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2650482/Sword-wielding-Sikhs-clash-Indias-Golden-Temple-prayers-mark-deadly-1984-military-assault-Amritsar.html#ixzz33rNPmpcf Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Without knowing the background of the altercation what is there to say, the picture paints a sombre reflection of Sikh, makes us look like fanatics. Talking about them and actually carrying out actions for the world to see is embarrasing and a setback to ultimately us! Why the need to pull out a talwar at any opportunity. Any justified attacks should have been carried out Gupt. The media will revel in this story, I can see the headline 'peace loving Sikhs'...pppfff?

“No prayers stir the silence under golden dome of the Golden Temple. There are no priests left to intone them. They are all dead or missing. The musical instruments, which at all times drummed out the tones and rhythms of worship are quiet for the first time in centuries. There are no visitors, only soldiers. The Sikhs Holy Bible is closed, covered by a blue cloth. There is no one to read its scriptures. It is like the Vatican without a Pope. At the other end of the causeway that links theto the Akhal Takhat, the second most sacred shrine in Sikhdom, the quiet is more permanent.” Ross Benson of the Daily Express, London, June 19 1984. New York, USA- This week, from June 1st to June 6th is the 30th anniversary of Indian army attack on Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar, Punjab, the sanctum sanctorum of the Sikhs and dozens of other historical Gurudwaras across India. This army attack codenamed ‘Operation Bluestar’ resulted in the death of thousands of Sikh pilgrims including women and children. The full-scale army attack took place on June 3rd, which was the martyrdom day of fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Sahib. On this special day, thousands of Sikh pilgrims gather at Golden Temple to offer their prayers. Gunship helicopters, heavy artillery, and tanks were indiscriminately used in the attack. The highest temporal seat of Sikhism- Akal Takhat was reduced to rubble. Sikh archives with thousands of rare manuscripts, artifacts and historical books was looted and burnt. Later, dead bodies of those killed inside were carried away in municipal dump trucks and burnt in piles using kerosene oil. After this attack, the government failed to provide any list of people killed, post mortem reports and compensation to the relatives of the innocent killed people. According to Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, S.M. Sikri, “Operation Bluestar is a massive, deliberate and planned onslaught to the life, property and honor of a comparatively small, but easily identifiable minority community.” One of the survivors of this horrible ‘Operation Bluestar’, Pritpal Singh, a 24 years old sevadar, shares his bone chilling story. He was on duty at the time of the attack. He was inside the Guru Ram Das Serai, the pilgrims guest house. He narrated, how he had a hair-breadth escape, even after being lined up before the firing squad on June 6, after he had been arrested, stripped naked and his hands had been tied behind his back with his turban.[1] The June ’84 Sikh Massacre was followed by another army operation in Punjab countryside codenamed as ‘Operation Woodrose’ during which thousands of Sikh youngsters were killed in fake staged encounters. This Sikh hunt continued with the nation-wide government sponsored pogroms of November 1984. Thirty years later the wounds of ‘Operation Bluestar’ are still festering. The perpetrators of heinous crimes against the Sikhs in past 30 years had not been held liable and are roaming free. Voices for Freedom (VFF) sympathizes with the families of those thousands of innocent pilgrims killed thirty years ago. We will continue our pursuit of justice to hold guilty accountable so that such atrocities never happen again. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of June ’84, VFF other than co-sponsoring couple of events to mark the occasion will also be releasing a report soon named “ 1984 Sikh Riots Genocide”, shedding the light on the Genocidal approach of the Indian government against the Sikh community. You may read a previous press release on Voices For Freedom’s advocacy for human rights at http://voicesforfreedom.org/press-releases/legal-victory-for-voices-for-freedom-eight-sikhs-acquitted/ Issued by Jaspreet Kaur Legal Consultant Voices For Freedom Email: info@voicesforfreedom.org

I'm personally not a bibeki Singh but you can find many answers here http://www.gurmatbibek.com/category.php?id=80

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26815298 I recall a documentary shown on CH4 12 years ago where a Sadhu was challenged to perform a miracle in front of a large crowd in India. His task was to revive a dog after feeding it poison. After much chanting and swaying the animal inevitably died. In another case one guy showed how he could make gold appear in his hand in an instance. When the reporters asked if he could perform the trick when his hands were taped with plastic bags he actually agreed. No surprises, the clear bags remained empty! The crowd surprisingly and to my amusement looked dumbstruck!! Many fake babey in India employ the same tricks to attract simpletons into the fold and news of these miracles spreads like wild fire. Many amritdharis even fall for this nonsense.

Never thought of the significance of the Panj Piyare giving their heads in this order. Great post by Bh. Kulbir Singh from Gurmat bibek site following discussion why Daya comes before Dharam. Quote can you please explain more about the order of panj piarae please. that is amazing how daya and dharam came in order. "Vaheguru" jee It was probably not a coincidence that the first Pyara who got up to offer his head to Guru Sahib was Bhai Daya Singh signifying the fact that the start of Dharma (religion) is with Daya (compassion). Next Pyara after Bhai Daya Singh jee was Bhai Dharam Singh, in a way, reinforcing the fact that where there is Daya, there is Dharma too. The next Pyara who offered his head to Guru Sahib was Bhai Himmat Singh, teaching us that where Daya and Dharma are present, Himmat (courage, valour) can't be absent from there. The fourth Pyara was Bhai Mohkam Singh, signifiying that when Daya, Dharma and Himmat all mingle, they become Mohkam (a Farsi word meaning very strong, determined). The last Pyara was Bhai Sahib Singh and his name and inclusion symbolizes that fact that where there are Daya, Dharma, Himmat and Mohkam, there is Sahib (meaning Master i.e. Vaheguru). Hopefully, the above makes sense.

Def one of the most powerful & well known speeches of that time.

Jagraj Singh should be approached directly. Maybe some questions need answering, but we should not forget the amount of sewa he has performed through Guru Sahib over the last 1.5 years. Focussing on minor faults and not on the bigger picture seems to be the norm these days. These quibbles should in no way detract from his achievements. We should look in the mirror and ask ourselves daily what have we done to make a difference other than be internet warriors all these years.

http://www.ensaaf.org/pdf/reports/kristallnacht.pdf

It is not normal to praise a thug like Badal, it shows profound weakness in the once respected Harjinder Singh. Since when do Singh's bow down to rajneetaks who sold the Sikhs for power & self preservation. This sort of reminds me of the time when Sant Kartar Singh remained sitting during the 300th anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Everyone but Sant Ji remained seated when Indira had arrived and they scolded those who stood up in the presence of Guru Sahib. We do not need to pay lip service to scum bags and sell outs.

ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ Your actions seem so sweet to me. ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਾਂਗੈ ॥੨॥੪੨॥੯੩॥ Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||2||42||93||

Speak to people in Pinds and unless their relatives reside in them, well known kirtanis do not touch poor villages as it no doubt impacts their bank balance and popularity. Usually they find themselves in foreign countries (to escape the hot summer months of India), where commonly wealthy locals ferry them round from one house to another. Committees and organisers in the West are as much to blame as they send free tickets and I'm sure other incentives - how else are they going to fill the Gurdwarey and golaks.

Did not realise it was old footage. Still does not disguise the fact that sift salaah of Badal himself is out of order. Praising the bibi is fine if that was her jeevan, there was no need to falsely claim Badal was a decent Mukhmantri and sevadar of Punjab and comparing him to a Darvesh is laughable.

Veer Ji/Bheney, Who a high avastha individual chooses to associate with is their perogative. They are above love and hate, something outside our mat. I'd just to like to know from Bhai Sahib why now? I'm sure they have spoken against Punjab Sarkar in the past but dont have a recording. It was during a Sikhs in the City event in West London about 7 years ago.

Bibi sounds chardhikala but very dissapointed with comments made by Harjinder Singh. I’ve not seen them praise the Badal’s previously so wondering what had changed their minds so late in the day!

Posted on Gurmatbibek. A good article I came across from sikh24.com. Sri Guru Sahib jee started this great tradition off many hundreds of years ago known as Guru-Kaa-Langar where all come to sit together. Why you should sit on the floor while eating Author: Pavitra Sampath In many Indian households you will find that people sit on the floor and eat their meals. While most of us have embraced the table and chair as a place to eat, there are those of us who prefer to sit in front of the TV and/or sit on the bed and eat. While this might be very comfortable, it might not necessarily be the best thing for your health. Our ancestors definitely had a plan when they made sure we sit on the floor, cross legged and ate our food. Here are 10 reasons going back to your roots is the best for your health. 1) Helps improve your digestion: When you sit on the floor, you usually sit cross legged – an aasan known as sukhaasan or a half padmasna which are poses that help in digestion (since it is believed that when one sits in this pose in front of food it automatically signals your brain to prepare for digestion). Apart from that when you eat from a plate placed on the floor, you will have to naturally bend forward slightly and go back to your starting position to swallow. This constant back and forth movement causes the muscles of your abdomen to be activated and also leads to increased secretion of stomach acids – making it much easier for you to digest food. 2) Helps you lose weight: Sitting on the floor and eating has significant weight loss benefits too. When you sit in this position, your brain automatically calms down and is better equipped to focusing on the food you eat. Moreover this position helps you cognate the amount of food you have eaten and helps you feel full faster. How does that work? Well, the main reason people overeat is because they do not know when they are full. This happens because the vagus nerve (the main nerve that transmits signals from the stomach to the brain) sends signals to the brain as you eat, telling it if you are satiated or not. When you sit on the floor this nerve is able to perform better and transmit signals more efficiently. Also, since this position makes you eat slower than you would while sitting on a table, it gives your stomach and brain time to cognate the signals of feeling full{2}, thereby preventing overeating and binging. 3) Makes you more flexible: When you squat or sit in padmasana, the muscles in your lower back, pelvis, around your stomach and those of the upper and lower abdomen stretch – reducing pain and discomfort. This, in turn helps your digestive system relax and stay in a normal position. Moreover, this position does not compress your stomach in anyway helping you eat and digest better. Moreover, the regular stretching of these essential muscles also helps make you more flexible and healthy. 4) Aids in mindful eating: When you sit on the floor and eat as a family it aids in mindful eating. Not only does it help you focus on your food, but it also helps you make better choices when you eat. Since your mind is calm and your body is ready to accept nutrition, sitting on the floor is the best way to eat the right amount and kinds of food. According to leading nutritionist, Rujuta Diwekar, eating food while concentrating on every aspect of the food – its smell, taste, texture and how much you are eating is the key to losing weight – which is what sitting on the floor and eating gives you. 5) Helps you bond with your family: Usually the practice of sitting on the floor and eating is a family activity. This time is great for you to bond. One of the reasons sitting on the floor is better at helping you bond is because it leads to a calm and happy mind – helping you listen more intently and peacefully. 6) Improves your posture: Posture is very important when it comes to staying healthy. Good posture not only helps prevent injuries but it also reduces the chances of excessive strain on certain muscles and joints, which can lead to fatigue and quicker than normal wear and tear. When you sit on the floor your posture is automatically corrected, making your back straight, lengthening your spine and pushes back your shoulders – beating all the common aches and pains that come with bad posture. 7) Can make you live longer: Sounds a bit unbelievable right? Well, it’s true, sitting on the floor and eating can actually help you live longer. A study published in the Journal European Journal of Preventive Cardiology{2} found that people who sat on the floor in padmasana and were able to get up without any support were more likely to live longer. This is because being able to get up from that position takes a considerable amount of flexibility and lower body strength. The study found that those who were not able to get up without support were at the risk of being 6.5 times more likely to die in the next six years. 8) Lubricates and keeps your knees and hip joint healthy: According to PS Venkateshwara, author of the book Yoga for Healing {3}, padmasana and sukhasana is one pose that has health benefits for your entire body. Not only does it help your digestive system function better, but it also helps keep your joints supple, flexible and less prone to injuries and degenerative diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis. That is because the constant bending of the knees, ankles and hip joint helps keep them flexible and free of diseases. And with flexibility comes better lubrication between the joints making it much easier to sit on the floor. 9) Relaxes the mind and calms the nerves: Sukhaasan and padmasana or the cross legged way one sits on the floor while eating has a number of benefits, and one of its most significant ones is that it calms the mind and relaxes frazzled nerves. A very handy tool, it is believed in Ayurveda that eating with a calm mind helps better digestion and in some cases has even helped people relish food better. 10) Strengthens the heart by improving circulation: Have you ever noticed that when you eat, you tend to feel warmer and in some cases even sweat? Well, that is because when we eat our stomach needs all the energy it can use to digest food. One of digestion’s most important element is a sound blood circulation. To keep up with this process, your heart tends to work overtime to help out your digestive system. Here is where sitting on the floor and eating can help you out. When you sit on the floor your heart gets the benefits of circulation as the blood is easily pumped through the heart to all the organs needed for digestion. This is in contrast to the pattern of circulation when you sit on a dining table and chair, wherein the blood flows to the legs as they are lower than the heart. Therefore sitting on the floor and eating, affords you a healthy heart with strong muscles to help it cope with the pressures of daily life.

Jasvinder Obhan, Giving up a way of life such as Sikhi 'a rare jewel' that not everyone gets a chance to be so easily is a mistake. No doubt you suffered some hardships, but these are not comparable to what Sikhs throughout history have endured without losing faith. Sant Jarnail Singh used to sing 'Sir Jaave taan Jaave, mera Sikhi Sidhak naa jaave' and this is what Sikhs aspire to and some follow this to the letter. I'm not going to criticise other faiths as most have similar messages but in the age of Kalyug SatGuru Nanak's house is supreme and Guru Sahib mentions - Without Satguru. Naam and SadhSangat of Gurmukhs one cannot attain salvation. ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ਦੇਖਹੁ ਵਿਣੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਏ ॥੨੨॥ Says Nanak, contemplate this and see, that without the True Guru, there is no liberation. ||22|| ਸਭਿ ਸੁਖ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨਾਮ ਧੁਨਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਰ ਧਾਰੀ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਹੀ ਛੂਟਸਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਚੀ ਤਰੁ ਤੂ ਤਾਰੀ ॥੯॥੭॥ “Those enshrined the True Name within their heart, those within is the flowing current of Naam, and those whose consciousness is attached to the vibrations of the Guru’s Baani obtain all comforts and liberation from Maya (the illusionary world). O Nanak! Without the Naam, no one is saved; You too swim across to the other side this true way in which there no chance of drowning. ||9||7||”

Powerful Simran by Sant Harnam Singh Ji (Rampur Kera) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gvZic7gkaY#t=12

What wonderful reviews of the most tranquil place on Earth! Oh, how I wish I was there now...nothing like Amritvela at Darbar Sahib. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g303884-d447580-r205691065-Golden_Temple_Harmandir_Sahib-Amritsar_Punjab.html#REVIEWS