Vision TV - Honours Vaisakhi

Akaali · April 9, 2004

Faith takes wing - 360 Vision follows sacred Sikh scripture on an epic flight

On Sunday, a transport plane arrived in Toronto bearing a group of very special passengers.

The flight from India carried 149 copies of the Sikh holy scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib. It was the first such airlift ever made to North America.

On Wednesday, April 14 at 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET, VisionTV's signature series 360 Vision reveals the significance of this historic happening. The special documentary segment airs in honour of Vaisakhi (April 14), the holiest day of the Sikh calendar, commemorating the birth of the Sikh nation.

Sikhs regard the Guru Granth Sahib as much more than a sacred text. It is a living guru, and must therefore be treated with utmost reverence at all times. For the flight to Toronto, the Russian-built TU-154 aircraft was customized with special linen-draped seats for each of the copies. Five Sikh holy men accompanied this most unusual cargo.

360 Vision follows the scriptures on the journey from the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, India to Toronto, where Executive Producer Sadia Zaman will meet Rajinder Walia, one of the Canadians hoping to receive a copy. In strict accordance with Sikh tradition, her old, tattered copy was cremated in a special ceremony. Its departure, she says, was like experiencing the absence of the living God from her home. She has been eagerly awaiting the new scriptures, so that she may one day pass them on to her young sons.

Viewers will also meet Surjit Singh Babra, a Canadian Sikh whose air transport company, Skylink, brought the sacred scriptures to Toronto. He regards it as a great honour. "After I

got the opportunity," he recalls, "I said: OK God, I've always asked you for things. Now you've given me the opportunity to service you."

Chad Derrick is Associate Producer on the story, which includes footage from both Amritsar and Toronto.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The 1,430-page text contains the words spoken by the Ten Gurus who founded the Sikh faith.

For some time, Sikh leaders have banned the printing of the Guru Granth Sahib by private publishers. It may only be done in Delhi or Amritsar, under the authority of the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the body that oversees Sikh religious and cultural affairs worldwide. This has posed problems for worshippers in North America, where the Sikh population has been growing steadily.

The copies that arrived on April 4 are earmarked for distribution throughout North America to temples and individuals in need of new copies.

Created by VisionTV's Gemini Award-winning production team, 360 Vision provides a compass to help guide viewers on their personal journeys of faith. The weekly series, hosted by Noelle Richardson, features documentary segments, commentaries and in-depth interviews on spiritual issues with prominent social and cultural figures.

On Saturday, April 17 at 6:00 pm ET, VisionTV will also air a special episode of Watno Dur featuring the ceremony of Vaisakhi. Watno Dur is a weekly Sikh program in Punjabi hosted by Sukhi Nijjar with features and documentaries about Sikh temples from around the world.

For additional information about VisionTV upcoming programs, please visit our website at: http://www.visiontv.ca

Warmest regards,

Eloisa Stella

Communications Coordinator

VisionTV and One: the Body, Mind & Spirit Channel

80 Bond St.

Toronto, ON M5B 1X2

Tel. (416) 368-5530 ext 298

Fax (416) 368-977

4

email: estella@visiontv.ca

website: www.visiontv.ca

VisionTV proudly celebrates 15 years as Canada's multi-faith television network.

theturbanator · April 9, 2004

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

thas good

if someone can record it and ftp it cause i dont think they will show it in USA it will be greatly appriciated for all non canadaian residents

Jassika · April 9, 2004

I saw this ad for "Celebrating Vaisakhi" on channel 21 (lower mainland BC) on March 18th and I was like wow! They were showing sikhs and it just looked awesome. cant wait to see it :nihungsmile: