Last weekend Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh and Daas were invited to Italy for the opening of a new Gurdwara in Sabaudia, which is one hour away from Rome. We went on Friday morning and came back Monday morning. A Sri Akhand Paatth Sahib was held from Friday to Sunday with a Keertan and Kaveeshree (poetry) Darbaar after the bhog (completion) of the Sr Akhand Paatth Sahib. Guru Sahib caused us to meet a few Gurmukh Pyaare that are the hidden jewels of the Panth. These Singhs shared so much spirit and reminded me of Puraatan (old) Singhs.
Here are some photos from the trip:
Gurdwara Sahib.
Gurdwara Sahib entrance.
Langar Hall.
Nishaan Sahib.
This is the road on which the Gurdwara Sahib is built on. It reminded me of India.
Gurdwara's Darbaar Sahib.
On Friday we went shopping with the local Singhs. We were in the supermarket and came across a HUGE block of cheese for sale!
Just to put into perspective how big the cheese was!
On Saturday morning we went sight seeing in Rome.
I cannot remember the names of most of the buildings because on the tour bus they didn't have a tour guide! Instead they gave us ear phones which we had to plug in and listen to a recording. Firstly, the recording was slightly delayed in relation to the bus moving. So after going past a Church the recording would say "On your right you can see this magnificent Church..." But when you looked left there was no church because we had driven past it! Also the audio tour guide was confusing because it would say "On the left hand side you can see..." So we would look left and there was nothing there! We would look right and the building that the audio was mentioning was there. So they had left and right mixed up because no one knew whether he was talking about the left and right of the people sitting on the bus or left and right of someone who suppose was standing in front of us and explaining the tour. Waheguru!
St. Peter's church. It was disappointing that we could not enter the church because of our Kirpaans. They had metal detectors at the entrance.
Standing on top of a palace building with Colosseum in the background.
Outside the Colosseum. Again, we couldn't go inside because of our Kirpaans.
Sangat at the Sunday diwaan.
Kaveeshree Jatha from Italy. They sang really well! Beautiful voices and great poems.
Sewadaars eating Langar.
Bhai Jagtar Singh jee, student of Damdami Taksaal, who is serving as an unpaid voluntary Granthi Singh of the Gurdwara. Bhai Sahib is inspirational and shared many stories from his experience of coming abroad and his other associates which shows Sikhi Sidq and resting full faith in Kalgee Dhar Paatshaah, Guru Gobind Singh jee.
A Chardi Kalaa young child I met. He must be about 7 years old. On Saturday he came up to me and said Fateh. He was wearing a Patkaa and with a beaming smile he said, "Bhaji, I always come to the Gurdwara wearing a Pagh. Today I am not wearing a Pagh because I was in a rush and my dad did not have enough time to tie it on me. But see me tomorrow. Tomorrow I will wear a pagh." So much Sikhi Sidq at such a young age!
Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee.
3 comments:
Oh my gosh! I had no idea there was so much sangat in Italy!
Dhan Hai Guru :)
There are so many Panjabis there. Lots of young men from Panjab there who have come seeking work and work in low paid farm job. They work long hours, get paid little and the living conditions are not good for these people.
On Sunday 2 or 3 coaches came from other parts of Italy. One coach of Sangat from North Italy which took 6 hours to get to the Gurdwara Sahib. Another coach came from a 2 hour journey etc. So about 100 to 150 people were Sangat from other places in Italy.
We as a family are going to rome in august and suspected we wouldnt be able to see some of the attractions like the vatican and colosseum. Is there any other placed that wont allow entry as we dont want to trek to these places only to find it wasnt worth it. espically with 2 kids
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