Reading Gurdwara Sikhi Camp

Last weekend a Gurmat Camp was held at Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Reading, Berkshire. It was a weekend camp that started 9.45am on Saturday 15th December. Bhaji Sukhjeet Singh from Reading Gurdwara Sahib organised the camp and put a lot of effort into getting everything arranged. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect! It was the first ever camp in Reading and we didn't know how much Sangat was going to come. The sevadaars that led the classes included Bhai Ravjeet Singh, his younger brother Jagdeep Singh, Bhaji Harbir Singh, Bhaji Gurpreet Singh, Bhenji Pardeep Kaur and Bhaji Vijay Singh. Bhaji Arwinder Singh and Bhaji Sukhjit Singh did a lot of running around and getting things organised. It was great how Guru Sahib got all the sevadaars and the Sangat together! Waheguru.

If you've been to Reading Gurdwara, you will know that the PARKING is a nightmare! Waheguru! The Gurdwara road has cars on both side and you just about squeeze through, so you can imagine finding a car park space can be stressful (especially with my parking skills! Waheguru!). But with Guru Sahib's Kirpaa, when there are any special programmes at the Gurdwara Sahib, then Gurdwara Sahib hires out the nearby church car park or Thames Valley University car park. During camp the Sangat could park their cars at the university.

The camp was great. On Sunday afternoon, the journey back home was a long drive. For langar there were Sholay and Bhatooray! (Plus Kheer, Jaleebees and Gulaab Jamon!). You can imagine you're feeling slightly sleepy, add on the fact that you've eaten heavy Langar and plus Chaa (which rather than make me feel awake, it makes me sleepy - especially Indian Chaa). I was feeling so DROWSY on the journey back home. I was doing loud Simran and put the Keertan up loud to keep me awake! With Guru Sahib's kirpaa got home safe, sound and awake .

The weekend was really inspiring. When you have darshan of children, gupt sevadaars and Sangat you realise that there is so much potential for Sikhi and that there are so many blessed souls. I would recommend that everyone takes opportunities of doing Saadh Sangat whenever and where ever possible.

ਸਤਸੰਗਤੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਨੁ ਖਟੀਐ ਹੋਰ ਥੈ ਹੋਰਤੁ ਉਪਾਇ ਹਰਿ ਧਨੁ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥

Saṯsangṯī sang har ḏẖan kẖatī­ai hor thai horaṯ upā­ė har ḏẖan kiṯai na pā­ī.
In the company of the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, you shall earn the wealth of the Lord; this wealth of the Lord is not obtained anywhere else, by any other means, at all.
(Ang 734)

Some events coming up this month where where you can take benefit of Saadh Sangat:

LEAMINGTON ONE-DAY SIKH CAMP Saturday 22nd December 2007 9am till 6pm For all ages. Gurdwara Sahib Leamington & Warwick, Tachbrook Park Drive, Leamington Spa, CV31 3LZ.

RAINSBAAEE KEERTAN & AMRIT SANCHAAR Saturday 22nd December 2007 7pm till 5am For more info on smaagam and transport click here. Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, Leeds Road, Bradford, BD3 9JN

BARSI OF BABA THAKUR SINGH JEE Saturday 22nd to Monday 24th December 2007 6pm Arambh of Sri Akhand Paathh Sahib. Overnight arrangements. Programme includes Kathaa, Keertan & talks. For more info click here. Note: Amrit Sanchaar on 24th December at 1pm Gurdwara Baba Zorawar Singh Ji Baba Fateh Singh Ji, Phoenix Drive, Off Grafton Street (V6), Milton Keynes, MK6 5LU.

CHRISTMAS ONE DAY GURMAT CAMP Tuesday 25th December 2007 9am till 8pm In memory of the Sahibzaade's Shaheedi. All ages welcome. For more info click here. Gurdwara Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan, Oldbury, Birmingham, B69 4EH

COVENTRY WINTER GURMAT CAMP Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th December 2007 8.30am till 4.30pm For 4yrs to adults. Mystery trip on 30th December! For more info click here. Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Cross Road, Coventry, CV6 5GR.

END OF MONTH YOUTH KEERTAN DARBAAR Saturday 29th December 2007 8pm – 12pm (Main Diwaan) Singh Sabha Gurdwara Park Avenue Southall UB2 3AG

ਧੰਨੁ ਸੁ ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਗਾਈਐ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ਹੀਓ ॥੪॥੮॥੪੭॥

Ḏẖan so kalijug sāḏẖsang kīrṯan gā­ī­ai Nānak nām aḏẖār hī­o. ||4||8||47||
Blessed, in this Dark Age of Kalyug, is the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, where the Lord's Praises are sung.O Nanak! The Naam is my only Support. ||4||8||47||
(Ang 382)