Anand Kaaraj & Hola Mahalla Smaagam

On Saturday 22nd March, we went to Erith to attend the Anand Kaaraj of Bhaji Gupreet Singh and Bibi Navrup Kaur. Bhai Tasem Singh jee, Bhai Tarunjeet Singh jee and Bhaji Preetam Singh jee from Coventry also came and they did Keertan. It is always nice to attend the Anand Kaaraj of Gursikhs.

Bhaji Gurpreet Singh and Bhenji Navrup Kaur

Standing up for Ardaas.

Laavaa'n.

Bhai Tarsem Singh jee doing Keertan.

In the evening we went back to Khalsa Primary School for Rainsbai and then the next day there was a special programme in the morning with Bhai Amolak Singh jee given an eye witness account of 1978 Vaisakhi massacre and martial arts demonstrations. It is the first time I have attended a Smaagam for more than one day. It was really enjoyable and inspiring to have darshan of Gursikhs and get Anand from Amrit Rass Keertan.

Bhai Amolak Singh jee's moving eye witness account of the 1978 Vaisakhi massacre in which he was hit with bullets and survived death. Waheguru. Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Ke Pyaare.

Jathedaar Bhai Raghbir Singh jee presenting a gift to the Khalsa Primary School Trustees.

Bhai Amolak Singh jee and Bhai Pritvipal Singh jee (Southall) playing Gatka.

Gatka by Baba Fateh Singh Gatka Akhaaraa.

Bhai Jagdev Singh (Paris) doing Keertan.

Sangat.

Veer Ramanjot Singh, Jivanpal Singh, Harvinder Singh and Daas.

Bhai Harpreet Singh jee (Canada) doing Keertan. Bhai Sahib has been blessed with such an amazing voice and does Keertan with so much love.

Photos taken from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rskhalsa

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