Leicester Sikhi Camp

From Monday 24th March to Saturday 29th March, there was a Sikhi Camp in Leicester. The camp was part of the "in the footsteps of Guru jee" series organised by the Leicester youth Sangat. The theme of the camp was Seva-Simran-Sangat as well as Hola Mahalla. The camp was held at Gurdwara Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji, Oadby, Leicester. Every local camp is held at a different Gurdwara Sahib in Leicester. This is a really good idea because then you can attract the local Sangat from each Gurdwara Sahib and at the same time help to link young Sikhs from different parts of the city together. The Gurmat Parchaar for the youth in Leicester is very good. Guru Sahib has blessed Bhaji Kuljeet Singh and other young sevadaars with great seva.

Daas went to Leicester on Thursday evening. Bhaji Jasdeep Singh jee invited Daas to a House Keertan programme where sevadaars and campers from the camp were getting together. The programme was going to take place in the evening after the camp. First I was going to go straight to Bhaji's house, but then I found out the Keertan was at someone else's house. Bhaji said it's okay to go direct there. I put the address in the Sat Nav and got there. As I was parking up, some children came out of the house and came towards the car and then ran back near the house and shouted "He's here... Randeep Bhaajee's dad's here." I didn't think much of it, I thought perhaps Bhaji Randeep Singh jee's dad had parked up behind me or somewhere else on the road. Then as I got inside the house the children said Fateh and asked, "Are you Bhaji Randeep's dad?" I was more shocked that a Singh that I knew from Boss Sikhi Camp (about 17 years old I think) said the same thing. I was wondering whether this was an April Fools joke but it wasn't APRIL!

Just to put things in perspective, here is a photo of Bhaji Randeep Singh jee (hope he doesn't mind. hehe):


Unfortunately they were serious. I had to break the news, "Ermm, no. I am not Bhaji Randeep Singh's dad." They looked at me confused and asked what my name was. I said, "My name's Manvir Singh." The Singh said, "O I thought you were Randeep's dad." Rab Bhallaa Kare! I think Bhaji is one or two years older than me. I don't even have a BIG DAAREE (beard)! He said, "Your pagh style is the same as his dad". Waheguru. Could you imagine a police line up situation and accidentally identifying the wrong person because the pagh style was the same! lol. It was kind of funny.

Afterwards we sat down and I asked the same Singh, "Bhaji who's house is this?" (as I didn't know. I was only told that Keertan is going to be at so and so address). The Singh looked at me with a confused face and said, "If you don't know who's house it is then how come you are here?" It was really funny. I think Bhaji thought I randomly came to Leicester and decided to knock on a random Singh's house and come in. Waheguru. The Keertan was really good and Bhenji who's house it was (I found eventually) made Chardi Kalaa Langar and cakes.


Each day of the camp was dedicated to a different age group. Monday was for 5 to 7 years old. Tuesday was for 8 to 9 years old. Wednesday for 10 to 11 years old. Thursday was for 12 to 14 years old, and Friday was for 15 to 18 years old. Daas attended the camp on Friday with the elder group. There were talks on Hola Mahalla history by Bhaji Vinod Singh jee and Bhai Kuljeet Singh jee. There was also football, self defence session and a talk on the 1978 massacre.

In the hola mahalla talk, Bhaji Kuljeet Singh jee shared some amazing stories. I will try and share them in a few weeks time.

May Guru Sahib keep all the sevadaars in Chardi Kalaa and may great parchaar continue to take place in Leicester with Satguru's kirpaa.

Some photos from earlier on in the week (taken from: http://flickr.com/photos/leicestersikhs/)


Ardaas


Bhaji Kuljeet Singh jee


Session on Bibi Ravinder Kaur jee.


Keertan session.


1978 talk.


History session.

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teri Sikhee.