Positive Experiences of Young Children following Gursikhi

On Friday, after the kirtan darbar at London Met university, me and Ravjeet Singh went to South Gate Gurdwara Sahib to drop off the vaaja, tabla and chhenai.

On the way back Ravjeet Singh's mum kindly drove to me from the Gurdwara to the tube station. His younger brother who is about 10 years old, and his sister who is about 15yrs old were sitting in the car. As we drove off from the Gurdwara, Ravjeet Singh's young brother said:

ਦੁਕਾਲੰ ਪ੍ਰਣਾਸੀ ਦਿਆਲੰ ਸਰੂਪੇ ॥
dukaalan(g) praaNaasee, diaalan(g) saroope.
You liberate from the pain of birth and death, and are the Kind Being.

ਸਦਾ ਅੰਗ ਸੰਗੇ ਅਭੰਗੰ ਬਿਭੂਤੇ ॥ ੧੯੯॥
sadaa ang sange, abhangan(g) bibhoote. 199.
Waheguru is always with everyone, and is of the Immortal Glory.

Then he did a Jaikaaraa (bole so nihaal - sat sri akaal!) and then said "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!"

I was amazed and pleased that this child without anyone telling him, read lines Gurbani to seek Guru Ji's blessings on commencing the journey in the car. To what I understood, everytime the family goes on a journey in the car, the young singh does Ardaas for Guru Ji to be "Sadaa Ang Sange" - always with them and protect them.

It was a very nice and uplifting experience. Credit to his mum and dad. It would so wonderful if all parents could inspire their children with small things like this, which build great foundations for children becoming strong Gursikhs.


Second experience I would like to share is of today. I went to Southall Gurdwara. Firstly, Park Avenue Gurdwara. The Kirtani were singing a shabad really nice. The shabad was:

ਮੇਰੇ ਗੋਬਿਦ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਜਨ ਕਉ ਦੇਹਿ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥
mayray gobind, apunay jan kau deh vaddi-aa-ee.
O my Lord of the Universe, please bless Your humble servant with glory.

ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਰਗਾਸਹੁ ਸਦਾ ਰਹਹੁ ਸਰਣਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
gurmat raam naam pargaasahu, sadaa rahhu sarnaa-ee. rahaa-o.
Under Guru's Instructions, enlighten me with the Lord's Name, that I may dwell forever in Your Sanctuary. ||Pause||

I was sitting at the front of Diwaan near the Kirtani. I could hear a very small child's voice coming from behind me. I turned back and saw a 3 year old toddler trying to sing along with the shabad. It put a smile on my face to see the pyaar and kamaal of this child. I thought children at that age don't say much etc. But I was feeling so happy that this child was so enthusiastically singing along to the shabad, especially the rahaao lines of the shabad, while sitting in his father's lapse.


Third experience is of young children doing Kirtan at Havelock Road Gurdwara. As part of my Southall trip I did my yatra from Park Avenue Gurdwara to Havelock Road Gurdwara. Young children came on to the stage to do Kirtan. It was so nice to see young girls and boys wearing dastaars and in Sikhi Saroop.

The young children sang shabads, and some in traditional raags. Very nice! They were so small that you couldn't see their heads when they were doing Kirtan, yet I was sitting at the front of the Diwaan. It was because there was a flower pot infront of the Kirtan stage, which covered the face of the poor children doing Kirtan on the vaaja.

Seeing the children have so much pyaar, energy and enthusiasm to sing Gurbaani was very inspiring!