Paris Gurmat Retreat (Part 1)

From Thursday 1st November to Sunday 4th November there was a Gurmat Retreat Camp for children aged 12 years old and over which was organised by the Naujawan of Paris. Sangat came from Paris, Germany, Holland and UK to attend the camp. Around 60 children and 20 adults/parents attended the 4 day camp. From Germany Bhajee Ranjeet Singh went and from the UK - Daas, Bhajee Sukhwinder Singh, Bhenji Navleen Kaur, Ravjeet Singh and Bibi Balbir Kaur jee.

The theme shabad of the camp was:

ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥
Man ṯūʼn joṯ sarūp hai āpṇā mūl pacẖẖāṇ.
O my mind, you are the embodiment of the Divine Light - recognize your own origin.
(Ang 441)

The campers were divided into four groups - 12-14 years, 15-17 years, 18+ years and adults/parents. The camp would start with Amrit-Vela Naam Abhiyaas (meditation) & Nitnem followed by Ardaas and Hukamnama with vichaar. After breakfast till lunch there were 2 classes and then after lunch there was either sports or workshops (Gurbani Vichaar, Keertan or how to make Parshaad). This was followed by another class. In the evening Diwaan there would be Rehraas, theme Shabad, Keertan and Hukamnama vichaar.

Some photos from the camp:



Morning Diwaan singing theme shabad.


Gurmat Vichaar with 15+ years group in Diwaan


Langar Hall.



Tucking into breakfast.


15-17 years old class doing vichaar on life & death.


Evening Diwaan.


18+ class led by Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh



Ladies/Parents class.


Evening Keertan Darbaar.


Young campers being shown how to do Parkaash Sewa.


Bhenji Parminder Kaur taking Hukamnama from Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee.


Question answers class with Uncle Gurdial Singh jee from Paris and Bibi Balbir Kaur jee from UK (wife of late Bhai Sahib Rajinder Singh jee who started the Chalda Vaheer jatha and promoted Gurmat across Europe and the world through holding Gurmat camps for children and Keertan Kathaa).


Class in Diwaan doing Simran.


Bhai Jasveer Singh Khalsa and Bhai Maha Singh doing Keertan.


Keertan class.


Everyone getting ready to go on the trip to central Paris to see the Eiffel Tower.


Bibi Balbir Kaur jee with Veer Damandeep Singh and Veer Gurinder Singh. Mata jee is really Chardi Kalaa and always has a beaming smile on her face.


Daaas & Damandeep Singh. He is Chardi Kalaa Singh who is planning to take Amrit this year with Guru Sahib's Kirpaa. His Dumaalaa looks great!


Bhajee Sukhwinder Singh with Veer Tajinder Singh from Paris.


Uncle Gurdial Singh jee organising everyone. He done a lot of seva of running camps, Gurmat classes and recently bought the Shere-Panjab complex in which the new Sikh School is set up.



Walking to the bus station.


Bus journey! It was Chardi Kalaa to see a whole bus full of Singhs and Singhnian!


Underground station

To be continued...

The Power of Five

On 31st October 1984, Bhai Beant Singh jee and Bhai Satwant Singh jee delivered justice to Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, for the destruction of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, and desecration of Sri Harmandir Sahib, the holy Sarowar, and for burning rare records and buildings of the complex. This was followed by an anti-Sikh genocide from 31st October through till 7th November. Thousands of Sikhs throughout Delhi and other parts of India were pulled out of trains, buses and cars and burnt alive, homes and Gurdwaras were attacked and any Sikh with a Dastaar (turban) was a target for blood thirsty mobs. The story below is from an incident that occured in that dark month of November 1984.

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Taken from naamnet vol. 1

The Power of Five

True story:

ਸਵਾ ਲਾਖ ਸੇ ਏਕ ਲੜਾਊਂ ॥
savaa laakh se eik laRaaoo.
When one (Sikh) fights against 125,000,

ਤਬੈ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਮ ਕਹਾਊਂ ॥
tabai gobind singh naam kahaaoo.
then can I call myself Gobind Singh.
(Guru Gobind Singh jee)

Such is the power of the Khalsa

Account by Bhai S. Singh jee, a sevadaar from Gurdwara Nanaksar:

"It was during the anti-Sikh genocide. I was at that time living in Gurdwara Nanaksar in Haryana. There were 7 other sewadaars in the Gurdwara. Trouble started brewing early in the morning. We noticed about 50 young men gathering outside a few hundred metres away from the Gurdwara sahib. We didn't really pay too much attention to them.

By noon, the group had turned into a rowdy crowd of about 300. We became quite concerned at that point. Our telephone wires had been cut, so there really was not much we could do. But we were still in Chardi Kalaa.

At about 3 pm, a truck driven by a Singh was driving by the crowd when the crowd attacked it. The Singh gave up the truck and ran to the Gurdwara. Some goondas (thugs) overtook him and injured him but he, being a strong man, managed to escape. Still, he was quite bloody when he came in. That increased our number to 9. The number outside had increased to about 500 by evening. They were very loud and obnoxious by now. We tried to ignore them and began our evening diwaan at 6 pm. But as the darkness approached, the rabble become more and more bold. In fact, soon they started stoning the Gurdwara. We stopped the evening programme and placed all the Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee's Saroops in the safest place possible.

At 7.30pm it was very dark and the rabble became so bold that they put fire to the Gurdwara's gate. It hit us then how serious the situation was. We soon would be killed! Our Jathedaar (leader) gathered us and said, "Khalsa jee, the Khalsa has faced worse situations then this. The Khalsa has gone through two holocausts but the Khalsa lives and will live in freedom forever! Khalsa jee, the Khalsa has never given up and will never give up. The enemy stands outside. There are 500 hundred, we are 9 but remember Satguru Guru Gobind Singh jee has made each of us equivalent to savaa-lakh (125,000)! Khalsa jee, get prepared to fight!"

He said this with so much josh (energy) and bir ras (warrior spirit) that our body hair stood on their ends. Even though I had been seriously ill for the past 3 months, I too was ready to fight. The Jathedaar then told us that we must make two groups. The first group of five will go out first and fight the enemy. The the rest (4 Singhs) can go later. Everybody agreed. Jathedaar Sahib then chose 4 other pyaare. I was not chosen, most probably due to my illness. The five put on the uniform of the Khalsa. Then the Jathedaar sahib did Ardaas to Satguru Guru Gobind Singh jee saying, "Pita jee, dear father, we are coming to your land. Please prepare for us!"

Then five then took out their Kirpaans and with "BOLE SO NIHAAL!... SAT SIREE AKAAL! BOLE SO NIHAAL!... SAT SIREE AKAAL!!" filling the air, came out the face the enemy. You will not believe what happened then. Seeing 5 Khalsa in the uniform of Satguru Guru Gobind Singh jee, the rabble of 500 ran away It was as if 5 lions were chasing 500 hyenas away! One of the Singhs managed to cut off a running man’s ear. The Khalsa's victory was sweet."

waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru...

Just as an epilogue, some police officers had the gall to come a few days later to investigate the ear injury!!!! But this was so ridiculous and the Singhs were in such high spirits that the police had to leave without even a bribe.

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A wonderful quote by by Giani Jarnail Singh (Malaysia) that I came across on a forum :
"It is a misconception that we the Khalsa today are weak. We still have the same basic ingredients that our predecessors had - the GURBANI in the Shabad guru, Guru Granth Sahib jee, and our Khande Batte Da Amrit. What we lack are the Simran and Rehat."

Guru Kirpaa Karan.

Weekend

Last Friday Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara Sahib held a weekend camp. The camp was organised by Gurdwara Sahib and local Sevadaars. Around 70 children attended the camp. The talks were on "Seva" (selfless-service), "Simran" (meditating upon God), "Kurbani" (sacrifice) and "Panj Chor" (five spiritual thieves). The children were divided into three groups - under 10 yrs, 11-14 yrs and 15+.

The children were so well behaved! It was a pleasure to do a class with children that were so respectful, attentive and interested. The children at Leamington are one of the best groups of children I have seen! They are credit to their parents and the Sangat. May Waheguru keep them in Chardi Kalaa and bless them with GurSikhi jeevan.

I had to leave just before 4pm because I had to catch a flight to Edinburgh. Aunty jees made sure that I had plenty of Pakoray and Jaleebis to eat before setting off. Waheguru. (The Jaleebis & Pakoray were really tasty). Bhajee Vijay Singh drove me to the train station. I stood in the queue to to buy the train ticket but it wasn't moving fast so I decided to go outside and buy a ticket from the machine. An elderly man who worked at the train station offered to help me. He said, "Sir, let me help you. Where are you going?... I will get the ticket for you and save you any trouble." Waheguru. I think he thought I hadn't used the machine before or that I was from abroad and needed help. lol. But the man was trying to be helpful so I let him push the buttons on the screen. But, he was bit slow at doing it, so I pushed the buttons. It was quite funny because he thought I had never used the machine before and he was surprised I could use it. Waheguru! I thanked the man for his kindness anyway. He then looked at my Kirpaan and said, "Sir, I really like your sword. It looks beautiful." Waheguru.

The train was delayed by 30 minutes! Getting on the train and standing there was a NIGHTMARE. It was like squashing chickens into a cage (not that I know how it feels to be a chicken)! Waheguru. People were pushing, shoving and I was standing with little room to breathe or move. The worst thing was when people look at you and expect you to make room for them when there's no room to move! You are squashed as it is with the added pressure of someone saying, "Erm... can you move down slightly." Waheguru. I thanked Waheguru when the airport station arrived!

With Guru Sahib's Kirpaa I got to the airport. This time there were no weird security people stopping me and asking me weird questions like "Are you a Sat-Sangi?" or "Do you learn about 10 Gurus in your degree." I arrived at Edinburgh in the evening. Bhajee Roshan Singh came to pick me up.

We walked to the car park and Bhajee paid for the parking at a machine. We got in the car and made our way to the exit. The car was pulled up at the barrier where you had to put the ticket into the machine for the barrier to open. But guess what happens? Bhajee Roshan Singh LOSES the ticket. Sat Naam, Waheguru. We were looking left, right and centre for the ticket in the car. Bhajee even got out of the car and emptied his pockets. Behind us there were two cars waiting to get out. Looked slightly embarrassing. I felt sorry for Bhajee. After a good few minutes, Bhajee decided to check inside the car. The ticket had slipped from the dashboard into the door's pocket. So we eventually got out!

It was great to see the Edinburgh Sangat - Bhajee Gulab Singh who organised the programme to celebrate his 10 years old son's birthday, Bhajee Dharmveer Singh, Bhajee Harvinder Singh and everyone. On Saturday the Rainasbaaee Keertan went so well. It was Edinburgh's first ever Rainasbaaee Keertan. Sangat from Glasgow came down in a coach which really lifted the spirits! Waheguru! There were about 20 or so Keertani from across UK. One Chardikalaa Naujawan GurSikh from Glasgow played the tablaa throughout the night (getting little rest due to there being only two tablaa players). Despite feeling tired he played the tablaa in Chardi Kalaa! It was very inspirational to see some members of the Sangat absorbed in Keertan from start to end (6pm to 4am). May Waheguru do more kirpaa and more Rainasbaaees take place in Scotland.

Some photos from Edinburgh:



The Royal Botanic Gardens


Edinburgh Sangat doing Keertan


Display board in Langar Hall


Sangat


Local children


Keertan


Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teri Sikhi!

Photos from Saanjha Akhand Keertan Smaagam, Birmingham

ਹੋਇ ਇਕਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥

Ho­ė ikaṯar milhu mėrė bẖā­ī ḏubiḏẖā ḏūr karahu liv lā­ė.
Come and join together, my brethren; dispel your sense of duality and let yourselves be lovingly absorbed in the Lord.

ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੈ ਕੇ ਹੋਵਹੁ ਜੋੜੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੈਸਹੁ ਸਫਾ ਵਿਛਾਇ ॥੧॥

Har nāmai kė hovhu joṛī gurmukẖ baishu safā vicẖẖā­ė. ||1||
Associate yourselves with the God's Name; become Gurmukh, spread out your mat, and sit down. ||1||
(Ang 1185)

Last Saturday the annual Saanjha Akhand Keertan Rainasbaaee (keertan throughout the night) took place for Panthic Ekta commemorating the 300th Anniversary of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee's Gurgaddi Divas falling in oct 2008. This year the Smaagam took place at Nishkam Educational & Cultural Centre (NECC) in Hockley.

Waheguru. I drove down to Birmingham. From Soho Road Gurdwara Sahib I switched on the Sat Nav to take me to the Great King Street. Waheguru! I put in the post "B19 3AS" and then the Sat Nav calculated the journey. I was driving along and the Sat Nav came off its bracket so I had to place it in my lap and try to listen to the Sat Nav lady give directions.

As I was driving I realised that I was going towards the City Centre and then I went past a sign that said "Edgbaston"! I thought "Hai? I thought the Centre was near Soho Road but this is taking me to the other side." I kept my faith in the Sat Nav and then it said "You have arrived at your destination." I looked around I was in a dark gloomy side street in Edgbaston next to the "Children's Day Care Centre". Sat Naam, Waheguru. I couldn't believe it. So I decided to ring a Singh and confirm the post code. He gave me the same post code that I used but I re-typed it into the Sat Nav. Then the Sat Nav Bibi gives new directions and I am apparently 13 minutes away. Waheguru.

I had to go through the City Centre and then I got near the Jewellary Quarter, where the Indian Embassy is. I got to a road which was "Great King Street" but it was a dead end and factories. By this point I had an headache and did Ardaas that please get me out of here! I decided to randomly drive around hoping to see an Apnaa person on the road and ask directions. As I was driving around I got to "Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Gurdwara" I parked up and thought, "Ermm, this doesn't look like a Rainabai Keertan turnout." So I had ring another Bhaajee who gave me "live" direction. hehehe. Thanks to Bhaajee he kept on the phone and guided me back to near Soho Road Gurdwara from where it was less than 5 minutes drive up the road. Waheguru! A journey that should have taken 5 minutes from Soho Road took me ONE HOUR!

The NECC is a new building purchased by the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ). It is a huge complex! I was surprised to see so much parking and space! It would be great if such a building could become a Khalsa School! Maharaaj Kirpaa Karan.



The Rainasbaaee Keertan was Chardi Kalaa. The Keertan was so angelic and beautiful! Below are photos from the Smaagam that were kindly posted by Bhajee Satpal Singh on a forum:


Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee's Saroop going from Soho Road Gurdwara.


Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee's Saroop arriving to the complex.


GurSikhs doing Keertan awaiting Guru Sahib's arrival.


Accapella Jatha.


3HO Jatha


Bhai Harjinder Singh Lallie with Jatha


GurSikhs from Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (mind blowing Raag Keertan!)



Bhai Manjeet Singh jee from Glasgow (AKJ UK) and Bhai Gurcharan Singh jee (Damdami Taksal). Waheguru! Breath taking Keertan!


Guru Darbaar.


Giani Gurbachan Singh jee, Head Granthi of Sri Darbaar Sahib (Amritsar), with Bhai Mohinder Singh jee.


Bebe Nanaki Jatha


Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha


Bhai Mohinder Singh jee with Jatha


Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee going back to the Gurdwara Sahib.

Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Ke Pyaare!