Leamington's Monday Simran Programme...

Snapshots of Monday Simran from March 2008

Six years ago the youth with the support and blessings of local respected Gursikh Mata jees, began a weekly youth simran programme at Leamington and Warwick Gurdwara every Monday evening. The programme was aimed at encouraging children and youngsters help one another to learn and do Simran on vaaja, Ardaas, Sukhaasan seva and with Guru Sahib's kirpaa Hukamnama seva. At the end of the diwaans a short explanation of the Hukamnama would take place along with a new point about Rehat and a key word would be shared with the children to increase their knowledge of Gurmat. In the beginning years after the programme the dedicated mothers of the children and elderly Mata jees would warm some milk up and someone would make some small snacks from home and share with the Sangat. Over the years there have also been Gurbani kantth (memorising Gurbani) competitions and the giving of prizes for children who memorise Gurbani or achieved enough confidence to start doing simran on the vaja, doing Ardaas or Hukamnama seva.

Snapshots of Monday Simran from July 2008

I remember a short while after the first Gurbani kantth (memorising) competition was mentioned to the children in the sangat six years ago, a 7 year old veer jee came up and said to me that now his morning Nitnem is Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Svaiye and Chaupai Sahib. He also told me that his 10 year old cousin's morning Nitnem is now Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Svaiye, Chaupai Sahib and Anand Sahib. These were children that never did Nitnem, and now with Guru jee's kirpaa and the support of the family do Sehaj Paatths regularly. It is amazing how with a small prize and gift a child can be encouraged to get attached to Gurbani. The nicest point was once when giving a child a gift the child said to me that he now no longer needed a gift for memorising Bani because Guru jee had blessed him with all he could want. Vaheguru!

Group photo taken last month of children who had memorised Gurbani Paatth and were given prizes.

Over the six years, the children have grown up and moved on getting busy with their studies and exams. Now, there is a new group of young upcoming children that have so much energy. Last Monday when I went to the Monday Simran programme I was so happy to see so many new faces and see young children who cannot even reach over the Vaja to pull the fan doing Simran with the help of either their parents or other elder children.

Some photos of the children this Monday evening's Simran programme:

 

 

10 year old Jeevan Singh doing Ardaas in a sweet voice and devotion

11 year old Nisha Kaur taking Hukamnama

11 year old Nisha Kaur taking Hukamnama

10 year old Jeevan Singh doing Sukhaasan Seva

10 year old Jeevan Singh doing Sukhaasan Seva

The future of Sikhi is bright if we allow children an opportunity to get involved in the Gurdwara, motivate them to keep Rehat, and create enjoyment in reading and memorising Gurbani. I hope this type of simple format children's programme can be duplicated across other Gurdwaras.

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!