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I was at the Slough Singh Sabha gurdwara last week. I think he was a teen, a tall young Singh got a deep gash wound on his arm from gatka, somewhere near his wrist. He was already on the floor when I entered through the langar hall, but I am sure he did it to himself not through a gatka "battle". I am unsure which shastar he used. I checked and the shastars seemed lightweight for the children. I picked up the khanda and it was light, not like a real khanda. I really want to emphasise that we should not be promoting twirly sword dancing as a "sikh martial art". This young Singh was hurting and gasping - why are we teaching twirling swords around in a way that may hurt oneself?? Promote shastarvidiya savai raksha and other martial arts which are about causing damage to the enemy. Why are we teaching this style of twirly gatka that's detrimental/harmful to ourselves and our allies? A twirly sword might hurt an ally in a battle, and doesn't allow allied warriors good movement around the sword twirler. This also reminds me during the summer, they were teaching some move to kids where you do some spins with the feet and then do a backwards bhangra type jump. I wasn't sure if this was a martial art or bhangra being taught?! Also at another gurdwara in another city/town in the midlands, the year before at a kids sikh club a guest gatka teacher was teaching basics to little kids by making then practice making infinity symbols with the gatka sticks!!! If we are showing off something ineffective and also harmful to the practitioner and allied warriors, then it's nothing to be proud off! If we are going to show our puraatan shastars off, we need to do it in a respectable manner not in this archaic colonial gatka era! The teaching is just as embarrassing as the last 2 decades and I don't understand why we want to promote it as a sikh martial art, to the sangat and to outsiders? the injuries are just not worth it for learning this modern gatka! "Preserve Shastar Vidiya any way you can."(Rattan Singh Bhangu, Siri Guru Panth Parkash, ed. Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon, 36)

A new permanent gallery of Sikh art has opened (4 Nov) in the United Kingdom. ‘Without Shape Without Form’ is based at Slough’s Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara and is a collaboration between volunteers at the institution and Canada-based Art of Punjab, home of artist Kanwar Singh. Addy - 221 Bath Road, Slough, UK SL1 4BA.

Sikh Shaadi Meet UK Sunday, 31st January, 14:00 Hours Please arrive 15 minutes early for you fill out your registration form. Look forward in seeing you Location: Singh Sabha Sports Centre Address: Stoke Poges Lane, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 3LW Feel free to invite friends who are looking for a partner Follow: @SikhShaadiUK Like: facebook.com/sikhshaadiuk Source - http://heyevent.uk/event/37cxyo7cey3jca/sikh-shaadi-meet-uk

Refresh_SC Do you need that chance in life? Then come and see us on our open day on the 14.12.15 from 10am-5pm ‪#‎slough‬

Slough Simran Jaap 2015: Sunday 13th December to Saturday 19th December 2015 every evening from 7 to 8PM at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Slough), Sheehy Way, Slough, SL2 5SS

Hi there, I am a freelance journalist looking into the issue of CSE in Slough. I am seeking anyone who has experienced this or knows of someone who has experienced this, and who wants to get their story out to help other victims at risk or in the same situation. It can of course be anonymous. Also, if you live in Slough or know more about the issue, please do get in touch. Thanks, T