Photos from West Brom Vaisakhi Camp

From 3rd to 4th April 2008, there was a Vaisakhi camp held at Edward Street Gurdwara, West Brom. The camp was organised by young Gursikhs, open to all ages. The camp was held with the main theme of Vaisakhi and also the martyrdom of the 13 Gursikhs in 1978. Daas attend the first day.

Below are photos from the camp (taken from Bhaji Bhupinder's Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/13571083@N06/):


Children's class.


Bhaji Bhupinder Singh ji doing a talk on how he got into Sikhi (Waheguru! The camera is really in his face!).


Slide showing photographs of Bhaji Bhupinder Singh ji before he came into Sikhi and took Amrit.


Talk on Vaisakhi.


Langar time! Baba ji with colourful Bana looking interested in Bhaji Kurbaan Singh's chips!


Bibi Daljeet Kaur ji giving a talk on Sikh Women.


Bhenji and the cartoon Bhenji look like sisters!


Painting class (this looks really fun!).


Gatka Akhaaraa.


Painting of Shaheed Bhai Fauja Singh by the children.


Sewadaars.


Sangat on last day.


Bhaji presenting certificates. Potential for Gurdwara Stage Secretary post.

Photos of Oxford Nagar Keertan

On Sunday 20th April 2008, Oxford held its Vaisakhi Nagar Keertan.

Photos below:

Veer Amritpal Singh from Leamington Spa





Panj Singhs entering Diwaan Hall.


Ardaas.


Sangat standing for Ardaas.


Panj Singhs going outside.


Guru Granth Sahib Ji on float.


Panj Singhs.


Nagar Keertan.


Bhaji Pavitar Singh talking about Sikhi with a local Christian Vicar.


Bhaji Pavitar talking to the public.


Young Chardi Kalaa Singh from Oxford (happy Singh).


Singin along to Shabads.


Policeman walking with Nagar Keertan.


Nagar Keertan.

Attitude and Mindset

I came across this short inspirational post on a forum. A simple example but carries a lot of wisdom:

Author: Aman Singh
Posted: 26-07-2007

As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not.

I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away."Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."

I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were.Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? So make an attempt to grow further....

"Our attempt may fail, but never fail to make an attempt."

--------------------------------------

Sometimes people say "I won't be able to stop cutting my hair", "I won't be able to take Amrit and follow Rehat" or "I can't give up eating meat". If you ask, "What's keeping you back from following Guru Sahib's Hukam?" People start to think and say "work", "friends", "family" or "I don't know."

In the House of Guru Nanak anything is possible. Satguru makes the impossible possible. If you do Ardaas and truly believe in something with full faith and devotion, the True Guru will fulfil the wish. Picture yourself free from the bonds holding you back and you can fulfil this dream. The things which we think are holding us back are like the rope holding the elephant. It can be broken any time if we wake up and realise that nothing is equal to the power of Ardaas and the Kirpaa (blessings) of Guru Sahib.

New Sikh Movies...

Recently I had opportunity to watch a new Sikh movie called "Naanak Naam Chardi Kalaa." It is a really good film which shows a Gurmukh family and the journey of their son who is corrupted by others and as a result becomes a Manmukh. Becoming a "Bemukh" (one who turns their face away from the Guru) he realizes the paap (sin) he has committed and repents. Really good film. Below is a preview of the film which I found:

Another Sikh movie which is to be released next month is "Sundri". The film is made by Vismaad production company, the same company which made the successful animation films "Sahibzadey" and "Rise of Khalsa". "Sundri" is a novel based on a non-fictional historical time period which shows the struggle and challenges of Sikhs living the 18th century as they lived as fugitives from the authorities. Sundri is the main character of the novel. I would really recommend watching the film but also reading the book. You can download the book from this link. Preview of the film is below:

East London Vaisakhi Camp

This Vaisakhi has been very Chardi Kalaa with all the youth camps that have taken place across the UK. Last week East London held it's Vaisakhi Camp 2008 from Friday 11th April to Saturday 12th April, organised by Bhenji Kuljeet Kaur (aged 18 years old). It is inspirational to see youngsters take initiative and with Guru Sahib's blessings make the effort to organise camps and other types of sewa for youngsters. May Guru Sahib bless the sewadaars with more sewa.

The drive to East London was around two and a half hours. I arrived at Singh Sabha Gurdwara Sahib, Seven Kings, at 9.30am. The camp began with Naam Simran followed by Ardaas and Hukamnama. Afterwards the campers were divided into three groups. The first session was getting campers to make a Guru period timeline (from 1469 to 1708) which was followed by a talk on the importance of learning Sikh history. The second session was on "The Purpose of Life" by Bhaji Vijay Singh (Hayes). The talk looked at the lives and aims of a Manmukh and Gurmukh and how one can achieve happiness according to Gurbani. After lunch the film "Anokhe Amar Shaheed: Baba Deep Singh" which was followed by Keertan and Samaaptee.

Photos from Day 1 (Friday 11th April):


Bhaji Vijay Singh reading Hukamnama and explaining it in English.



Group 1 making Timeline



Group 2 making Timeline.



Group 3 making Timeline.


On Saturday the camp began with Simran followed by Ardaas and Hukamnama. Bhaji Rupinder Singh led a class on the meaning of Vaisakhi with the younger children. The elder youngsters helped with Nishaan Sahib seva. The second session was on the importance of Sikhi Saroop and a practical lesson on learning how to tie a Dastaar. After lunch there was a session on the importance of taking Amrit and 1978 massacre.

Photos from Day 2 (Saturday 13th April):


Satguru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee


Bhaji doing Simran.



Nishaan Sahib seva.


Dastaar tying session. Bhenji Kuljeet Kaur tying Dastaar on another Bhenji.



Talk on Sikhi Saroop.


Two bhenjis who had Dastaars tied on them.


Group discussion on how we can build upon our Jeevans (spiritual lives).


Group presenting Vichaar on the possible challenges people may face when thinking about taking Amrit and the importance of Khande-Baatay Da Amrit.


Dhan Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee

Happy Vaisakhi to everyone!

Vaisaakhi di Lakh Lakh Vadhaayee Hove.


A clip from a film by Jaroslav Poncar and Wolfgang Kohl 'Die Sikhs' made in around 1980. It shows Vaisakhi at Sru Anandpur Sahib in 1980.



Literature available to print and distribute for Vaisaakhi:

"Why Sikhs Celebrate Vaisakhi" (Colour)
http://sikhroots.net/resources/VaisakhiColour.pdf

"Why Sikhs Celebrate Vaisaakhi" (Black & White)
http://sikhroots.net/resources/VaisakhiB&W.pdf

Marking 30 Years

Nakli Nirankari Procession

On the day of Vaisakhi 13th April 1978 about 125 Singhs from Jatha Bhindran and Akhand Kirtani Jatha went to peacefully protest against the Nirankari procession deliberately held through the city of Amritsar and against Nakali Nirankari Gurbachan Singh's hurtful insults and direct attack against the Gurus.

Nakli Nirankari Guru - Gurbachan

Bhai Fauja Singh was barefooted and all the Singhs were reciting Gurbani. The Nakali Nirankari army fired at the unarmed Singhs, and Bhai Fauja Singh and 12 other Singhs became Shaheeds and 70-75 Singhs were wounded. After his Shaheedi, the Leaders and Jathedars of the Panth stated that Bhai Fauja Singh and the other Singhs had given "Shaheedi" for the great task from which we had been hiding. They had not only woken the Panth, but also made us stronger, so that we can pay more attention to this in the future.

13 Gursikh martyrs


Injured Bhai Amolak Singh jee (now in Australia) being held by Baba Jarnail Singh jee Bhindranwale.

“These are Sikhs who are prepared to live and die for righteousness, who exemplify the courage of Guru Gobind Singh in their daily life, who love Naam Simran as their life breath and who recognize the same spirit, the same love and the same infinite vibration of Naam which flows through the Nation of the Khalsa… There was none there to defend these courageous Sikhs, except God and Guru. Each one who fell uttered “Waheguru” and surely was received into the arms of the Guru as he died this martyr’s death.”

13 Gursikhs

The funeral took place on Saturday 15th April 1978 outside Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib, in front of a congregation of about 25-30,000. All the Shaheed Gursikhs were cremated together.

Funeral of Gursikhs


Panthic leaders, including Baba Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale, Bhai Joginder Singh Talwara, Singhs from Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Jatha Bhindran and rest of the Sangat together at the site where the Antim-Saskar of the 13th Shaheeds was performed. Bhai Fauja Singh Ji's shield can be seen amongst the ashes.

Wake up call by Sant ji and Panth after 1978 Massacre.

Fore more info about Bhai Fauja Singh & 1978: http://mrsikhnet.com/BhaiFaujaSingh/index.html
http://allaboutsikhs.com/events/akj.htm

Upcoming Event:

30 Years Of Saheedi Smagam, 11-12th April, Bedford, Suported by Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Damdami Taksal, BOSS, Sikh Federaton etc.



Program Details

The programme will start with a 24 hour Akhand Jaap of Sri Sukhmani Sahib in the beloved memory of the Shaheeds of the last 30 years:

* Aramb Friday 11th April at 6pm
* Bhog will be on Saturday 12th April 6pm

After the bhog there will be a Mahaan Smagam, including international kirtanees

Bhai Satvinder Singh/Harvinder Singh Delhi Vale

Kirtanees From Damdami Taksal

Akhand Kirtanee Jatha

Veechar

Live speech by Former Jathedar of Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib, Singh Sahib Bhai Ranjit Singh

Talk in English

Speakers from panthic jathebandis

SikhiToTheMax II

Since seeing the preview version of SikhiToTheMax II version, everyone has been looking forward to the finished product being released by the SikhiToTheMax.com sevadaars. With Waheguru's Kirpaa on 29th March 2007 SikhiToTheMax II was officially released to the Sikh Sangat. I thought I was lucky to get a copy of the program at the Coventry Rainsbai when it was released but then when I went on the Internet I realised you can download it from various websites! So you don't need a CD! The seva is all nishkam (selfless) and the software is available for free, however I am sure the sevadaars would appreciate donations from Sangat to fund their future projects.

As I have a Vista on my laptop the old SikhiToTheMax program didn't properly function (well it did but some of the buttons didn't appear). The new program is awesome. The general appearance and all the new features and added Banis is great.

Some features which I particularly find very useful are the improved Akhand Paatth Sahib mode which can also be used for Dasam Paatshaah di Baani and an improved Powerpoint viewer where you have Panjabi translation and also nice colourful backgrounds to choose from. Today I was pleasantly surprised that all the Bhai Gurdaas Vaars have English translations with them.

The sevadaars are continuously improving the software and a future updated program will include translations of Rehatnamas (ethical codes of conduct) and Bhai Nand Lal jee's writings and other sacred writings of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib jee.

Users of the SikhiToTheMax Beta (Version 1) are encouraged to uninstall the previous version and install the latest release to enjoy better reliability and enhanced features. The download is available for free. To download please go to SevaToTheMax.com.


May Waheguru bless the sevadaars with more seva of the Panth and humanity by spreading the word of the Great Gurus across the world through modern technology.