Back to England - Friday

On Friday it was snowing really heavily in Norway! I was bit worried that my flight might be cancelled.

Bhaji Sumeet Singh clearing snow from the car window.


Gurdwara Sahib in the morning.

Bhaji Sumeet Singh checked on the Internet to see if the flight was delayed or cancelled but with Waheguru's kirpaa it was okay. Someone from the Sangat kindly drove Daas to the airport. There was so much snow that the car had to travel really slowly. Thankfully I wasn't late and got at the airport on time.


Airport runway covered with snow. Big trucks had to clear the runways and hose the aeroplanes with some sort of hot liquid to melt the snow that had frozen on the aeroplane.

I was so tired that when I got on the aeroplane (which was nearly empty) I put on my seat belt and straight away fell asleep. I slightly felt the aeroplane move towards the runway. After one hour I woke up and thought we must be travelling over the sea by now. When I looked outside I could see the runway! I thought, "Hai? I thought the aeroplane had left the airport an hour ago!" Then a big truck with a hose pipe came and hosed the whole aeroplane down with some hot liquid and 20 minutes later the plane departed. Strangely I didn't hear any announcements or anything. I would assume if the plane is delayed or something that they should have done an announcement unless I was that sleepy that I didn't hear anything. Chalo, Guru Raakhaa.

Arriving back to London, Bhaji Vijay Singh picked me up from the airport and we drove down to Woolwich to Bhaji Gurpreet Singh's house who was getting married the following day (on Saturday). On the Friday he had Sukhmani Sahib da Paatth programme followed by Keertan.

Photos from the House programme (taken from http://www.flickr.com/photos/rskhalsa):


Bhaji Gurpreet Singh


Sangat.


Local children doing Keertan.


Bhaji Vijay Singh doing Keertan.

After the House Keertan programme we went to Slough to attend the Hola Mahalla Smaagam organised by the Akhand Kirtani Jatha UK. The main Smaagam was held at Khalsa Primary School in Slough. The school is absolutely beautiful and has such a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. The children who attend the school are very blessed!


Khalsa Primary School Slough.


The Smaagam was held to mark 30 years of the 1978 Saakaa and the martyrdom of the 13 Gursikhs who laid down their lives defending Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Khalsa Panth which led to the awakening of the Sikh nation.


Sangat at Khalsa Primary School.


Bhai Davinder Singh jee (India).


Bhai Jagdev Singh jee (France).


Bhai Amolak Singh jee (Australia).

The Keertan Darbaar on Friday was absolutely amazing. Sangat from across London, Midlands and even abroad had come to attend the Smaagam. Daas stayed at Khalsa Primary School for the weekend. To listen to keertan from the Smaagam, click here.

Norway Trip (Part 2)

...Continued.

These are photos from Day 2, Thursday 20th March:


Early morning Aasa Di Vaar Keertan


Bhaji Sumeet Singh explaining theme Shabad in Norwegian.


Bhaji Sumeet Singh practising theme Shabad with the children.


Japji Sahib


Satguru Guru Granth Sahib jee Maharaaj

Video of theme shabad being sang in the morning:





Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh teaching the elder group Keertan and Raag.



Making timelines with the younger group.


Bhaji Jujhar Singh doing relaxation and attention exercises.

Elder groups making timelines:



Groups presenting how they have formed their timelines and each group member stating a few facts they have learnt in terms of the Guru Sahib's history and world history:






Daas doing talk on Sikh history.


Bhenji Siri Dharma Kaur doing Gatka outside in the Gurdwara car park.


Evening Q&A session with the whole Sangat in the downstairs Langar Hall.


Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh answering a question left in the Question Box on whether taking Amrit is necessary.


Rehraas Sahib


Theme Shabad being sung in the evening.

Note: More photos of the camp on Norway Gurdwara website

May Guru Sahib keep all the Norway Sangat in Chardi Kalaa and may they remain firm in their Sikhi Sidq. As with all camps it was said to the leave all the Sangat. It felt as if I had been there for months and known everyone for a very long time. It's amazing how Guru Nanak Sahib jee's words of "Ujjar Jaa'o" ("Scatter every where") are so true. Sikhs live everywhere across the world and the Kesri Nishaan Sahib (flag) of the Khalsa flies everywhere in all four corners of the world.

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teri Sikhee

Norway Trip (Part 1)

For the past week Daas has been away. Last Tuesday, Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh jee (Sukhi Baba) and Daas went to Oslo in Norway to do seva in a Gurmat Camp organised by Bhaji Sumeet Singh and the local Sangat for youngsters as well as parents. Bhaji Jujhar Singh jee also went from Birmingham to do seva in the camp.

Daas and Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh travelled from London because we had to arrive back in London. The flight to Norway was from London City Airport. Although the flight was at 5.05pm, Bhaji set off from home at 10am and I set off from home at 11am to catch the train to London. It reminded me of the long journey people have to take from Panjab to Delhi! Unfortunately I forgot to pack my Parothay with me to eat on the way to the airport! Waheguru. We arrived at Oslo Gurdwara Sahib at about 9.30pm or so.

Due to a large number of children, the camp was divided into two. From Wednesday 19th March to Thursday 20th March, there was a two day camp for 12+ years. For under 12 years and also parents, a two day camp was held from Friday 21st March to Saturday 22nd March. Daas only attended the elder children's camp because I had to return back to England on Friday to attend Sukhmani Sahib da Paatth programme and on the following day the Anand Kaaraj of Bhaji Gurpreet Singh from Woolwich. Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh and Bhaji Jujhar Singh stayed till Sunday.

The camp had a great turn out. Approximately 100 people participated in the two days camp for 12+ years. Bhaji Sumeet Singh and Bhaji Sandeep Singh along with the rest of the Sangat worked hard to get the camp organised.

The camp started Simran and Keertan of Aasa Di Vaar by Bhaji Sukhwinder, followed by Breakfast (Porathay and Chaa Paani). At 10am there was Japji Sahib, the theme Shabad, Ardaas and Hukamnama that was explained. Afterwards everyone was divided into four groups based on age. There was one class before lunch, one class after lunch, and afterwards there was a Q&A session which included the whole Sangat. In the evening the theme Shabad was explained and sung followed by Rehraas Sahib and Sukhaasan.

The theme Shabad was:

ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਮੀਤ ਚਲਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਚਾਲੀ ॥
Gursikẖ mīṯ cẖalhu gur cẖālī.
O Sikhs of the Guru, O friends, walk on the Guru's Path.

ਜੋ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਹੈ ਸੋਈ ਭਲ ਮਾਨਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਥਾ ਨਿਰਾਲੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Jo gur kahai so­ī bẖal mānhu har har kathā nirālī. ||1|| rahā­o.
Whatever the Guru says, accept that as good; the sermon of the Lord is unique and wonderful. ||1||Pause||
(Ang 677 - Read Full Shabad)

Discussing why they are proud to be Sikhs.


Discussing the problems Sikhs face in Norway and the possible solutions.


Discussing how young Sikhs in Norway can do Sikhi Parchaar in terms of short term and long term projects and ideas.


Parents discussing what the role of mothers is in the home, in the local community and Panth in doing Gurmat Parchaar.


Children presenting to everyone else.


Parents presenting their vichaar to everyone.


Chardi Kalaa Singhs - Bhaji Sumeet Singh jee and Bhaji Sandeep Singh jee.


Lunch.



Bhaji Jujhar Singh brought his Taus (instrument made by Guru Gobind Singh jee) and did classes on Gurmat Sangeet and also relaxation exercises.



Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh jee teaching Keertan.



Bhenji Siri Dharma Kaur jee from Oslo (who has graduated from Miri-Piri Academy in Amritsar) teaching Gatka.



Daas doing a talk with the elder youngsters.


Q&A session before Rehraas Sahib.



Evening Rehraas Sahib da Paatth.


Always a blessing to see Mata jee when going to Norway. She radiates so much peace!


Evening Langar.


To be continued...