Germany Trip (Part 1)

Daas has been away for the past week attending a Gurmat Camp that was held for Sikh youngsters in Duisburg, Germany. The camp was held from Sunday 1st April to Sunday 8th April at Singh Sabha Gurdwara Sahib, Duisburg. Bhaji Ranjit Singh from Germany (who has done immense sewa in inspiring and attracting the Sikh youth towards Sikhi through Gurmat Sangeet) and organising camps) organised the camp with the help of Duisburg Gurdwara Sahib and the Sangat from the surrounding areas.

Over 60 youngsters from the local area as well as other parts of Germany attended the camp. The week long camp involved a series of workshops and classes on Keertan, Sikh History, Gurbaani Santhiyaa (training in how to pronounce and understand Gurbaani), Gatka (Sikh martial arts), training in how to tie Dastaars and Keskian (large and small turbans), Q & A, discussions, hands on workshop and a day out in the park.

The children were amazing and had so much enthusiasm, pyaar and dedication. Everyone enjoyed learning, playing and listening to Keertan. The local Granthi Singh, Giani Baba Makhan Singh jee is doing great seva at the Gurdwara Sahib and inspiring the youngsters with Gurmat knowledge and gives youngsters and families support and advise in problems they face outside the Gurdwara Sahib.

The camp atmosphere was great. There were times of uncontrollable laughter (so much so that on the first day I laughed so much that I got asthma! And the worst thing was that I didn't bring my inhaler! Waheguru!). Hearing the personal stories of the sevadaars and some of the children brought tears to everyone's eyes and a feeling of bairaag. It was incredible to see the colours of Waheguru unfold.

The youngsters of Germany are a credit to the Panth (nation) and are showing great progress in Sikhi. May Waheguru keep them in Chardi Kalaa and bless them with more enthusiasm, spirit and strength in becoming strong Sikhs and inspiring other youngsters. The words to sum up the feeling at the end of the camp were: "Dhan Guru, Dhan Hai Teri Sikhi" (Blessed is the Guru, Blessed is Your Sikhi).

Here are some photos:

Veer Ramandeep Singh with his brother Robin Singh from Hamburg who stayed over on the weekend. Chardi Kalaa Singhs who recently came into Sikhi. I met Veer Ramandeep Singh in October at the Denmark.


Children doing Keertan on Sunday 1st April.


Group photo with the Singhs from Hamburg and with Bhaji Ranjeet Singh jee's mother and brother (Bhai Iqbal Singh). On the left-hand side is Bhai Jarnail Singh jee from Hamburg who has immense gyaan (knowlege) of Gurbaani and Gurmat.


Boys being taught how to do Pentraa for Gatka.


Bhaji Ranjeet Singh jee and Giani Makhan Singh jee showing the children how to do Fateh-naamaa in the Gatka class.


Two cute Chardi Kalaa kids from the younger children's class. Rajinder Singh (7) and Eikpreet Singh (4).

We had a class of Gurmukhi Hang-man game. The kids had to pick a word which the others had to guess by suggesting letters.



Below are photos from the Dastaar tying class. At the end of the week there was a dastaar tying competition for all the boys and girls. It was breath taking to see all the boys and girls donned with Dastaars on the last day of the camp in the roop (image) of Pitaa Guru Gobind Singh Jee and Mata Sahib Kaur jee:





To be continued...