Grays-Sangat Prevents Party At Grays Gurdwara

[Pyara]

Panthic Weekly's article below.

[/url]http://www.panthic.org/articles/5299

UK SANGAT PREVENTS BEADBI AT GRAYS GURDWARA

GRAYS, ESSEX - On Saturday 16 October, at least 250 Gursikhs, which included men, women, children, young and old from across the UK, travelled to Grays Gurdwara to prevent the Beadbi of meat and alcohol being served on Gurdwara owned hall. On arrival, the Gurdwara committee was adamant that the party would go ahead. In the Khalsa spirit, the Sangat went to the proposed party hall and did Simran, Chaupai Sahib Paath and Kirtan to prevent any party from taken place. The family who had arranged the wedding party and the Gurdwara committee realised the party could not take place after seeing the sheer numbers of Sangat that were present for the peaceful protest.

The committee declined the Sangat's request to come face to face with the Sangat and openly declare that they will not commit any sacrilege or allow anti-Gurmat activities in the future. After successfully preventing the wedding party from taken place, the Sangat went to the Darbar Hall where requests were repeated for the Committee to talk the Sangat openly. The committee refused to come in the public eye and instead agreed after some time that they would be prepared for private talks with a small delegation of Gursikhs in the committee room. Eight respected Gursikhs were chosen to speak to the committee. Before the delegation engaged in talks with the Committee, an Ardaas was performed and Guru Sahib blessed his Sikhs with the following Hukamnama on Ang 677:

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਃ ੫ ||

ਸੋ ਕਤ ਡਰੈ ਜਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰੈ ||

ਡਰਿ ਡਰਿ ਪਚੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਵੇਚਾਰੇ ||੧|| ਰਹਾਉ ||

Dhanaasaree, revealed by Fifth Guru:

One who contemplates his Lord and Master - why should he be afraid? The wretched self-willed manmukhs are ruined through fear and dread. ||1||Pause and Reflect||

The Gursikh delegation told the committee members in no uncertain terms that the party hall must be stopped, and explained the Akal Takhat Sahib Sandesh that requires no dancing, anti-Gurmat activities, or serving of meat or alcohol on any Gurdwara owned property. The committee said that although they agree with the Akal Takhat Sahib, however they were in no position to take a decision as their local community had approved the usage of the party hall.

After no resolution being reached, the Sangat present in the Darbar Hall unanimously decided that the Grays Gurdwara committee and local community will be given one month to confirm whether they will implement the Akal Takhat Sahib Sandesh and not allow any more parties in the future. If any future sacrilege occurs in the future, the Sangat agreed that they will come in greater numbers and respectfully take away all Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji's Saroops and remove the Gurdwara Nishaan Sahib. The resolutions of the Sangat will be re-communicated to the Grays Gurdwara committee in an open letter, which will be made available to the wider Sangat.

The Sangat also resolved, and did Ardaas in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj, that each member of Sangat that had attended would personally take responsibility to ensure that their local Gurdwara Sahib complies with the Akal Takhat Sahib's directives and would work peacefully towards preventing any beadbi. The Sangat were passionate that no form of sacrilege and violation of Gur Maryada will be tolerated and that are currently there are 14 or so other Gurdwara Sahibs in the UK, where meat and alcohol is served on Gurdwara owned premises.

Guru Jee gave the following Hukamnama (Ang 681):

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

ਦੂਤ ਦੁਸਮਨ ਸਭਿ ਤੁਝ ਤੇ ਨਿਵਰਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪੁ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ ॥

ਜੋ ਜੋ ਤੇਰੇ ਭਗਤ ਦੁਖਾਏ ਓਹੁ ਤਤਕਾਲ ਤੁਮ ਮਾਰਾ ॥੧॥

Dhanaasaree, revealved by Fifth Guru:

All demons and enemies are eradicated by You, Lord; Your glory is manifest and radiant. Whoever harms Your devotees, You destroy in an instant. ||1||

Throughout the protest, the Sangat maintained a peaceful presence, and was focused only on ensuring that Gur Maryada is abided by and that sacrilege of meat and alcohol being served on Gurdwara owned property is prevented. The Sangat was thankful to all Gurdwara Sahibs, organisations and Panthic jathebandis that had publicly supported this peaceful protest. The whole peaceful protest was filmed by Sikh TV and Sikh Channel and will be telecasted for the wider Sangat soon.

The Grays incident has galvanised the Sangat's spirit, determination and resolve to peacefully rid the curse of meat and alcohol in all UK Gurdwaras.This successful peaceful protest sends a strong warning to all individuals and Gurdwara committees that are or plan to allow anti-Gurmat activities on any Gurdwara owned or funded property in order to earn extra revenue that they immediately stop as the beloved Sikhs of the Guru never have and never will tolerate any violation of the Guru.

[SouthamptonBhujangi]

There is confirmation that Sikh Channel (Sky channel 840) will be airing the whole day on Wednesday (20 October 2010) evening. Can anyone else get an update from Sikh TV and advise what day they plan airing this?

Benti - Please can some techie singh/singhni record this programme and upload onto Youtube

[SouthamptonBhujangi]

IN GRAYS GURDWARA "PARTY" HALL: Both Bhaisahibs explain the importance of Gurdwaras for the Sikh Community and how Grays Gurdwara committee is abusing its powers by refusing to adhere to Sri Akal Takhat Sahib Sandesh, that clearly states that meat and alcohol is not allowed on Gurdwara owned property:

[Satkaar]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Sikh Channel will air a LIVE show at xxxx on xxxxxxxxxx regarding the Grays beadbi. Members of the UK Sangat will discuss the foundations of a new reform movement to abolish the anti-Sikh practice of party halls within Gurdwara Estates.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

SIKH CHANNEL UPDATE.

LIVE SHOW RESCHEDULED TO ANOTHER DAY.

THERE WILL STILL BE A PROGRAMME AT 7PM WEDNESDAY 20 OCT SHOWING THE DAY'S EVENTS

[Pyara]

It has become apparent that some specific members of the Grays Gurdwara Committee are spreading malicious rumours within their local congregation that they [the Committee] were threatened with kirpans and that a large number of thugs were hired to intimidate the local Grays "Sikh" community. From the transparency of the media, it can clearly be seen that this is a clever ploy by certain members of the Committee to portray themselves as victims within their local congregation and hence defend the existence of the Party Hall.

If there is any doubt on the outstanding conduct of the UK Sangat who turned up to prevent the beadbi at Grays, please contact D.C. Jerry Gay of Grays Police Station on 0300 333 4444 ext 70439.

[punjab5]

It has become apparent that some specific members of the Grays Gurdwara Committee are spreading malicious rumours within their local congregation that they [the Committee] were threatened with kirpans and a that large number of thugs were hired to intimidate the local Grays "Sikh" community. From the transparency of the media, it can clearly be seen that this is a clever ploy by certain members of the Committee to portray themselves as victims within their local congregation and hence defend the existence of the Party Hall.

If there is any doubt on the outstanding conduct of the UK Sangat who turned up to prevent the beadbi at Grays, please contact D.C. Jerry Gay of Grays Police Station on 0300 333 4444 ext 70439.

Excellent work by all those that supported. Just sharing with you, what was said by an elder:

''After June 84, there were a number of Gurdwara Committees that supported the Indian Government (congressi type) and were also not managing Gurdwara's with Gurmat principles. At that time the know banned ISYF, got rid of these committee walas and installed Amritdhari Gursikhs from the local community to manage the Gurdwaras. This was done by Force. The youth today can only campaign and protest. They should have got rid of the Committee and installed a new one, they can still do so.

It is a shame that the Youth today, have not been able to captilise on the achievments of the ISYF, as they did there bit, but there was no sustainability, in that the Youth did not get involved within the Gurdwara systems and thus the vacum has been filled by anti-Gurmat people. However it is not still too late.

Again well done to all.

[SouthamptonBhujangi]

OUTSIDE THE GRAYS GURDWARA PARTY HALL: Sangat express their shock towards the actions of Grays Gurdwara Committee and their blatant disregard to Sikh Maryada

[Satkaar]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

UPDATE

Sikh Channel will now air a 1 hour programme showing the full day's events at 7pm Wednesday 20 October 2010. There will also be a LIVE discussion programme to be scheduled in the next few days.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

[SarabhaPanjab]

Excellent work by all those that supported. Just sharing with you, what was said by an elder:

''After June 84, there were a number of Gurdwara Committees that supported the Indian Government (congressi type) and were also not managing Gurdwara's with Gurmat principles. At that time the know banned ISYF, got rid of these committee walas and installed Amritdhari Gursikhs from the local community to manage the Gurdwaras. This was done by Force. The youth today can only campaign and protest. They should have got rid of the Committee and installed a new one, they can still do so.

It is a shame that the Youth today, have not been able to captilise on the achievments of the ISYF, as they did there bit, but there was no sustainability, in that the Youth did not get involved within the Gurdwara systems and thus the vacum has been filled by anti-Gurmat people. However it is not still too late.

Again well done to all.

True say.. It's not often recognised the efforts of a few of our elders that pretty much saved the British Gurdwara system from outright corruption and total infiltration of congressi's.

[Satkaar]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

UPDATE. Please find enclosed the letter sent to Sangat, Trustees and Committee of Grays Gurdwara (Sikh Temple)dated 19 October 2010 communicating the decision made by the UK Sangat on 16 October 2010 in relation to the proposed Grays Beadbi.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!