Contribution Required For The Huge Sevaa Of Outdoor Screen Project At Sree Darbaar Saaheb

[sikh_toronto]

Vaaheguroo jee kaa Khaalsaa. Vaaheguroo jee kee Fateh..

With Guroo Saaheb Jee’s blessings, Sangat in Toronto has taken the project of installing outdoor LED Screens at Sree Darbaar Saaheb (concept photos attached) for spreading the message of Gurbaanee to the visitors visiting Sree Darbaar Saaheb. The outdoor screens will let Sangat in circumambulation/parkarmaa (irrespective of weather) read the translation of Gurbaanee and get the message of Guroo Saaheb Jee. Some of you must have seen these types of outdoor LED screens in downtown Toronto. We have received the approval from SGPC for the installation and now we need to raise funds to accomplish this project. This project requires a lot of monetary resources and we count on you for the contribution in this huge Sevaa. Here is how you can contribute:

1. Mail or Drop-off the cheque to one of the following addresses:

Gursewa Charitable Society, 23 Pennyroyal Cres., Brampton, ON, L6S 6J7, Canada

or

Gursewa Charitable Society, 30 Hefferon Crt., Brampton, ON, L6Y 5J3, Canada

2. Pay on-line using Paypal/VISA/MC/AMEX/DEBIT, etc.

http://www.gursewa.org/contribute.php

The goal is to install four screens at the each corner of circumambulation/parkarmaa but we’re starting with one screen for now for various reasons. One Outdoor LED screen is going to cost us around $50,000 USD. Receipts for Income Tax purposes will be issued to all and expenses details will be available to anyone at anytime.

If you require any additional info, please e-mail us at Sewa@Gursewa.Org or call Parminder Singh at 416-358-4817.

PS:- Please spread the message to your friends, relatives and other Sangat so that they can also contribute to this huge Sevaa.

Vaaheguroo jee kaa Khaalsaa. Vaaheguroo jee kee Fateh..

[S1ngh]

Chardikala Concept !!! Can you give us the example of working sign that is up in Toronto?

Also.. have TO sangat informed heritage/environment protection ppl to see if this system is okay for the complex.. There is one bibi in punjab who is really good at these stuff and see if it is okay for old structures etc..

I would also encourage u guys that that whiledoing this project, please take a look at the "Description Signs" inside the darbar sahib complex museum.. Huge errors on those signs and they are very cheap quality hand written.. I tried to convince them that i will correct the mistakes and upgrade them and i will do the sewa but they said i have to get it approved from the manager and so on.. To do that i have to fix the appointment and that was hard for me as i was on short stay.. So, if you guys can upgrade those signs, it will be really good as mostly visitors of other countries/region visit that place..

[fortunate]

Have you approached the gta gurdwara(s) for assistance?

[AK-47]

Whoa, before doing this please try and consult other sikhs around the globe.

Personally I think they look terrible. Place them outside somewhere if you want, but I dont think they need to be put around the parikarma like that! Modernisation is not always a good thing.

A few of the reasons that I would put forward to NOT installing these screens are as follows;

Harimandir Sahib is a place of heritage, beauty, simplicity etc, great big screens would take away from the beauty of the complex.

Which translations would you use? There are many many debates about what certain shabads in Guru Granth Sahib Ji mean, which is also partly why I understand Katha is not done from within Sri Harimandir Sahib itself. Giani Avtar Singh Ji Badnikala said that the sangat made a decision that since different vidvaans and kathakas have different understandings of shabads, that only nirolh kirtan and gurbani would come from harimandir sahib. Katha is therfore done at manji sahib and not at darbar sahib. I would think that the same should apply for these type of translations, keep them at manji sahib, or outside etc, but not around the parkarma of darbar sahib.

It also encourages us to be even lazier in understanding gurbani. People will argue that translations have helped them and encouraged them etc that is fine, but there is a time and place. And when standing on the parkarma the heart should aspire to understand the shabad through abhiyaas, khoj, gurmat veechar and guru sahibs , not to just turn and face a screen.

Im sure there are reasons why you may think that these screens should go up, but please share these reasons and have an open discussion with the wider sangat. As I said my own personal view without hearing your reasons why they should be put up, is to say no please dont do it and that hopefully the heritage people will prevent this.

[Gurdaspuria E12]

that looks ugly

why cant people leace darbar sahib alone

[S1ngh]

I agree with ak 47 that this sign will serve the best purpose if posted outside.. Near jorha ghar probably a nice place?

I still strongly suggest to contact Heritage/Environmentalist specialist before installation.I think her name is Gurmeet Rai who got experience up in her sleeves or contact sicques@gmail.com (UKPHA) and they will put you guys in contact with the right person.. If no consultation takes place with any credibly conversationalist then you guys will definitely hit a roadblock after this project becomes public in Punjab.

[SikhWorldTv]

I totally agree with AK-47 this sort of seva is not for Amritsar it should be done in the partsof Punjab where the Dera/Christians are strong or really around the world outside India where non-sikhs can see it.

Who has time to read these LED screens if placed at Shri Darbar Sahib Ji as the devout are doing their prayers / seva, the tourists are queing to run in and out on a whistle-stop-tour of the historic buildings and the Pardesi Sikhs are quickly doing a "matha thek" before they catch their plane back home!

When I went to the Vatican City I would have walked past any big tv screens and striaight to the original treasures and works of art like most visitors to India do they can watch Gurbani with subtitles online or Sky Tv whenever.

This massive development idea should have at least been discussed with other world Sikh representatives as this is the first I have heard of this it has not been mentioned on Tv/Radio?

If the Sangat of Canada want to do seva maybe they should start -up a Sikh media Tv channel where they can do parchar and also try and sort out the major drug gangster culture killing our lost Punjabi's rather than make Amritsar resemble the likes of Hong Kong.

Ahem each screen approx £30,919.57 ?????

[khalistan_zindabaad]

Fateh,

If anything, i think it may be better to put the screens up outside the actual complex of darbaar sahib, possibly just showing a live broadcast from darbaar sahib around amritsar city - leading into darbar sahib. Around the main entrances.... to the complex .... And also, why cant the SGPC pay for it, not in a bad way, i know its great to donate to these kind of projects, but how about all the charava that sangat also give at darbaar sahib, isnt it good if that gets used up aswell/first.

[dalsingh101]

I hope they don't alter the atmosphere of Darbar Sahib with this unnecessary modernity.

It looks terrible and crass.

[gmustuk]

I thank the Toronto Sangat for their efforts in this idea. While I think the motives are great, I think some more thoughts and input form the sangat should be there before doing anything. This is not a small change to the Harimandir Sahib.

After looking at the concept images at: http://www.akj.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7151&sid=4fd858ef53f7681f6d6be7d718ca2780 it seems that these large screens could be actually distracting. The same goal would still be achieved to help visitors understand the Gurbani that is being Sung by having smaller more discrete screens in less prominent locations so that those that wish to read it can do so. With screens as large as shown in the picture it might feel more like electronic temple with lit up text constantly changing. I know sometimes when I am at a Gurdwara rather then closing eyes and meditating on the Gurbani and going inside the giant projection of Gurbani can also be very distracting. During ardas the same thing...instead of praying we are watching the words flash by.

I think there is a balance that we can meet to achieve the goals of giving understanding of Gurbani yet maintaining the atmosphere of the Gurdwara.

What languages would be shown on the screen? I would think that you would have to show at least Punjabi Translation, English Translation and Original Gurmukhi. That would have to be constantly changing since I'm guessing only one line could show at a time with this much text.

I'm curious what other people think.