Newcastle Vaisakhi Camp 2015...

When I was first invited to Newcastle Upon Tyne by Bhai Jaswinder Singh and Bhenji Satinder Kaur in October 2014 for doing seva at their Gurdwara camp, I was dreading it thinking "why on earth would someone live so far away in the middle of no where!". I checked on the route planner on the Internet and it was well over a four hour car journey! I nervously accepted the seva, whilst thinking how I was going to drive so far without falling asleep. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa I cut the journey time down by staying a night at Derby Gurdwara Sahib.

When I arrived outside Newcastle Gurdwara Sahib, I was stunned by the beautiful and proud Gurdwara Sahib building. Entering the Gurdwara had an amazing uplifting feeling. There seemed to be so much positivity, welcoming feeling and love. The Sangat in Newcastle were so down to earth and had so much pyaar that it left a lasting impression. I was surprised to see so many non-Sikh children and adults attending the Sikh camp and helping out with seva, who had been welcomed and inspire by the local Sangat.

This April, I had the second opportunity to attend Newcastle Gurdwara camp. This time, I didn't dread the journey (as much)! The camp was held from 3rd to 5th August. The theme of the camp was Vaisakhi. Bhenji Jaspreet Kaur, a Beligum white Singhni, was a speaker at the camp as well as Bhai Sukha Singh, Bhai Harkirat Singh (Northampton), and Bibi Pritam Kaur, wife of Shaheed Bhai Rashpal Singh (PA of Baba Jarnail Singh jee Bhindranwale). The camp attracted many children and families that are new to Sikhi. There was great enthusiasm and spirit shown in the camp. May Satguru jee bless the sevadaars with more seva and may Sikhi in Newcastle grow stronger and stronger.

Some photos of the camp taken from Veer Joojhaar Singh's Facebook:

Morning diwaan

The theme shabad being sung by sevadaars and campers

 

 The theme shabad for the camp

Veer jee doing annoucements

Bhai Jaswinder Singh showing how to make Degh

Children being taken outside for fun activities

Rescuing a bhenji from a tree (joke!) 

Children patiently their turn ("patience is a virtue").

 

 Climbing instructor

 

 Gatka class

Bhai Sukha Singh's class with the younger children

 Children concentrating in their class

 Child learning how to do Chaur Sahib seva.

Bhenji Jaspreet Kaur's class

Adults and parents class

Bibi Preetam Kaur jee telling her life story to the Sangat.

Bhai Jaswinder Singh doing a class (looks like a drama class perhaps)

Langar time. Children look well behaved (and not hyper!)

 

 It was great to hear Vaheguru Simran being continuously played in the kitchen area. I saw that all the Sangat cooking and doing seva spoke very little or not at all and were instead chanting Vaheguru.

 Newcastle Gurdwara Sahib is one of the only Gurdwara Sahibs I have seen that has a large picture of Bhagat Puran Singh jee up (and in a prominent area!). 

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!