Khalsa Camp BC 2015 - Photos...

Khalsa Camp BC (Canada) took place from 26th to 31st August 2015. This was the fifth successful year of Khalsa Camp BC. It was very impressive to see how the camp has grown and developed over the years. The camp was well organised and the atmosphere was inspirational! It was great to have darshan of so many Gurmukhs this year.

This years camp had a range of speakers which included Bhai Santbir Singh jee (Toronto), Bhai Jagjit Singh (UK), Bhai Shaminder Singh (BC), Giani Kulwinder Singh (BC), Bhenji Gurminder Kaur (BC), and Bhai Paramjit Singh Khalsa (Anandpur Sahib wale). Bhai Davinder Singh (California) also attended and held workshops.

I found the whole camp amazing! Great atmosphere, great Gursikh speakers, and great Sangat. The most memorable thing about the camp was the mosquitos and being bitten over and over again and being swamped by mosquitos! Vaheguru!

The camp left a very positive impression on my mind and I found it very uplifting and beneficial. May Guru Sahib continue to bless the Sangat and may their flourish in Gursikhi.

Some of the photos from the camp (taken from Khalsa Camp BC Facebook):

Orientation

Divaan

Keertan

Ice-breaker

Langar Seva

Bhai Santbir Singh workshop

Bhenji Gurminder Kaur did an amazing talk!

Evening Questions and Answers session

 Gatka by Veer Harman Singh

Gatka

Gatka

Talk by Bhai Shaminder Singh

 In the workshop we were lucky enough to have Bhai Prabhsimran Singh, a white-Canadian Gursikh share his experiences of how he becoming an Amritdhari Singh.

 Calligraphy workshop

Calligraphy workshop

 Workshop with Bhai Jagjit Singh

Workshop with Bhai Davinder Singh

Bhai Harveen Singh was previously from UK and is currently living in BC

Bhai Paramjit Singh Khalsa 

 Giani Kulwinder Singh's talk on Gurbani

Keertan

 Campers doing Satguru Ji's seva

Deg Seva

 End of camp closing comments

 A lovely Gursikh that I share the week with at Khalsa Camp BC - Baba Harbans Singh Ji. Baba Ji had so much knowledge and wisdom and deep reflections on Gurbani, yet so much humility and also lots of humour. Vaheguru!

 Bus journey back home from camp

Group photo on arrival back from camp

Khalsa Camp UK 2015 - Photo Highlights

Learning Panjabi: a quicker and easier way...

"Panjabi is the language of the native people of Panjab, a land of five (panj) rivers in north-western India. The script was improved and popularised by the Sikh Gurus. It was adopted by them to write Gurbani hymns, hence it became known as Gurmukhi. As the Gurmukhi script is used to write Panjabi only, the word Panjabi has also come to mean Gurmukhi. When we actually speak of learning Gurmukhi, more often we say Panjabi. Thus, Gurmukhi and Panjabi became synonymous."

This summer I was introduced to a new scientifically-designed method of learning Panjabi for fast learners whose primary language is English. "It is based on the conversion method of learning Panjani. According to this method, one learns to convert the Panjabi alphabet and vowels into corresponding English forms, the use of which the student already knows. It therefore enables a person to read Panjabi in about two weeks time. Learning by this technique becomes interesting because one starts reading and writing words the very first day. This is another reason that the trainees can learn reading Panjabi very quickly by this method."

"To make the learning interesting and easy for the youth, only four to six consonants and one set of vowels are introduced at a time. Further, short words with just two letters were chosen for a quick and better understanding of consonant and vowel sounds. The repetition of the same letter in multiple combinations is planned to help the student to correlate the shape and sound of the letters with ease."

I remember when I went to Panjabi school and still learning the beginning lines of the alphabet after so many months. Children easily get demotivated and disheartened as they don't see themselves progressing, which then leads to boredom. This summer when offered with the opportunity to teach young adults Gurmukhi using this method, it was an eye opener. Firstly, all the people attending the class enjoyed it and secondly, they could all learn to make words and read a sentence in Gurmukhi in the first lesson. This encouraged those learning to want to learn more and progress.

If you wish to learn Gurmukhi to help you read Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and have access to reading the wealth of Sikhi knowledge that is written in Punjabi, or you wish to help your children or someone else to learn Gurmukhi, then please follow the the directions and easy to follow lesson plans of the 'Scientifically-Designed Panjabi Primer' by Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh.

PDF copy of 'Scientifically-Designed Panjabi Primer' manual booklet:
http://www.barusahib.org/Assets/Publications/PunjabiPrimer.pdf

Video lessons using this teaching method aired on Sangat Television:

Lesson 1:


Lesson 2:

Lesson 3:

Lesson 4:

Lesson 5:

Sweden Sikh Family Camp 2015...

The annual Sweden Sikh Family Camp was held at Gurdwara Sangat Sahib in Tullinge, Stockholm, from Monday 24th July to Sunday 30th July. The camp was attended by children and adults. Gursikhs from Belgium, Holland and Denmark also attended the camp. Bhai Surjit Singh Ji, especially came from India to speak at the camp. The camp was a week of amazing sangat, amrit-vela, classes for adults and children, inspiration, and pyaar.

Over the week camp there were classes on Sikh history, teachings from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Keertan, learning Panjabi and fundamental concepts of Sikhi such as Seva, Simran, Sangat, and sacrifice. As always it was a pleasure to work with the children and adults as they showed so much enthusiasm to learn. The atmosphere of the camp was great. Despite the rainy weather, the camp was a success. On Sunday nearly all the children that attended the camp came ready wearing dastaars and gurmukhi dress. Each group and child had to present something to the Sangat that they had learnt from the camp.

Some photos:

 Morning Paatth led by campers

Morning Hukamnama vichaar by Bhai Surjit Singh Ji

Campers

 Morning workshop - group work

 Morning workshop - group work

 Morning workshop - Group work

 Adults and parents Gurmat Vichaar class

 A young camper presenting what he has learnt during the Sunday divaan

Sangat during Sunday divaan

 Elder campers presenting what they have learnt to the Sangat

A young camper reciting Mool Mantar

 This young Singh sang an amazing poem about Sikhi Saroop. He had memorised the whole poem as well.

 Kathaa by Bhai Surjit Singh Ji

 Prize giving

Prize giving

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Karhah Prashaad Maryada...

Maryada of Karhah Prashaad from Sikh Rehit Maryada:

a.    Only the Karhah Parshaad (sacred blessed pudding) that has been prepared or got prepared according to the prescribed method shall be acceptable in the Sangat.(1)

b.    The method of preparing Karhah Prashaad is this: In a clean vessel(2), the three contents (wheat flour, pure sugar and clarified butter, in equal quantities) should be put and it should be made reciting Gurbani(3). Then covered with a clean piece of cloth, it should be placed on a clean stool in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the first five and the last Pauris (stanzas) of Anand Sahib should be recited aloud (so that the Sangat can hear)(4). Ardaas should be done and for acceptance the Karhah Prashaad should be tucked with a Kirpaan. 

c.    After this, before the distributing Karhah Prashaad to the Sangat, the share of the Panj Piaare (five beloved ones) should be set apart and given away to any five Amritdhari (baptised) Sikhs that adhere to Rehat, the prescribed discipline of the Guru. When about to distribute(5) amongst the Sangat, first of all Karhah Parshaad should be put in a small bowl or vessel and given for the person in attendance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji(6) and then then distribution should take place amongst the rest of the Sangat. The person who gives out the Karhah Prashaad among the Sangat should do so without any discrimination on the basis of personal regard or spite. Karhah Prashaad should be given equally to the Sikhs, the non-Sikhs or a person of so-called high or low caste. While giving out Karhah Prashaad, no discrimination should be made on considerations of caste or ancestry or being regarded, by some, as untouchable, of persons within the Sangat.(7)

d.    The offering of Karhah Prashaad should be accompanied by a small sum cash offering.  

Additional notes:

1. Karhah Prashaad must be prepared and distributed only by an Amritdhari Sikh that fully adheres to Rehat. This was clarified by Sri Akal Takht Sahib on 14th May 1985:
    
   Guru Gobind Singh Ji instructs in a Rehatnama: 
   ਭਾਦਣੀ, ਹੁਕਈ, ਕੁਰਹਿਤੀਏ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਕੜਾਹ (ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ) ਕਰਾਏ, ਸੋ ਤਨਖਾਹੀਆ |
   “One who gets a shaven-head person, a smoker, or someone who has committed a Kurehat (cardinal prohibition) to give Prashaad, becomes liable for Thankhaah (religious disciplinary action).”
   (Thankhahnama: Bhai Chaupa Singh Ji, p. 102)
   
   
2. The vessel should be Sarbloh, pure iron.
   ਪਾਤ੍ਰ ਸਰਬ ਸੁ ਲੋਹ ਕੇ, ਭੁਗਤੇ ਅਸਨ ਸੁਆਦਿ… ਲੋਹ ਪਾਤ੍ਰ ਮੈਂ ਛਕੈ…
   “Using utensils of sarbloh, one eats tasty food…one should eat in sarbloh utensils.” (Rehitnama Bhai Dya Singh Ji – Piara Singh Padam, pg. 75)


3. ਕੜਾਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ ਕੀ ਵਿਧਿ ਸੁਨ ਲੀਜੈ | ਤੀਨ ਭਾਂਤ ਕੋ ਸਮਸਰ ਕੀਜੈ |
   ਲੇਪਨ ਆਗੇ ਬਹੁਕਰ ਦੀਜੈ | ਮਾਂਜਨ ਕਰ ਭਾਂਜਨ ਧੋਵੀਜੈ |੭|
   ਕਰ ਇਸਨਾਨ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੁਇ ਬਹਹਿ | ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਬਿਨ ਅਵਰ ਨ ਕਹੋਹ |
   ਨਵਤਨ ਕੰਭ ਪੂਰਿ ਜਲ ਲੇਹੁ | ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਫਲ ਤਿਹ ਦੇਹ |
   ਕਰਿ ਤਿਆਰ ਚਉਂਕੀ ਪਰ ਧਰੈ | ਚਾਰ ਓਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਬਹਿ ਕਰੈ |੮|  
   “Listen to the method of making Karhah Prashaad. Take three equal quantities (of sugar, butter and flour). Clean the utensils and bowl. Take a cleansing bath and be ready. Do not say anything other than repeat 'Vahiguru'. In the iron bowl add water. This way (Guru) Gobind Singh will make it successful. Prepare the area for placing it. Then sat and sing the Praises of the Almighy.”
   (Thankhahnama: Bhai Nand Lal Ji – p. 57)


4.  "If another vessel of the Karhah Prashaad is brought in after the recitation of Anand Sahib, it is not necessary to repeat the recitation of the Anand Sahib. Blessing the Karhah Prashaad with a Kirpaan is enough." (Sikh Rehit Maryada footnote)


5. ਰਹਿਤ ਬਿਨਾ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ ਵਰਤਾਵਹਿ |…ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਮ ਕਰੈ ਖੁਆਰ |੧੦| 
   “A person who doesn’t maintain Rehat distributes Prashaad… Guru Gobind Singh Ji says that that person will be disgraced when death comes.”
   (Thankhahnama: Bhai Nand Lal Ji, p. 58)


6. "Giving double share of Prashaad to the person sitting on the Tabiya in attendance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji constitutes improper discrimination." (Sikh Rehit Maryada footnote)


7. ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ ਕੋ ਬਾਂਟ ਹੈ, ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਧਾਰਹਿ ਲੋਭ | ਕਿਸੈ ਥੋੜਾ ਕਿਸੇ ਅਗਲਾ, ਸਦਾ ਰਹਹਿ ਤਿਸ ਸੋਗ |
   “One who distributes Prashaad and in their mind they have greed. They give some little and others more, they will remain sorrowful.”
   (Thankhahnama: Bhai Nand Lal Ji, p. 57)

Sources:

• Dharam Prachar Committee. Sikh Rehit Maryada. S.G.P.C., Amritsar.
• Professor Piara Singh Padam (Editor). ਰਹਿਤਨਾਮੇ (8th Edition). Amritsar: Singh Brothers. 2006.

South Shields Gurmat Camp 2015

From Thursday 6th August to Monday 10th August, a Gurmat Camp was held at Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas Gurdwara in South Shields. This was the first time I attended a camp at South Shields Gurdwara. The local Sangat is very blessed and has lots of pyaar for one another and for the visiting Sangat.

The Gurdwara Sahib is unique in that it runs on the sewa of sangat alone. The Gurdwara Sahib has no golak, no paid granthis, raagis, committee, or any employee. Since 1984 the Gurdwara Sahib has a place for continuous Jaap of Simran where Sangat participates. Another wonderful thing about the Gurdwara was that they have especially made rooms for Sangat to stay and purpose made shower and wash facilities. The accommodation, showers, toilets and generally the whole Gurdwara were so clean and well maintained that it showed how much pride the Sangat takes in the Gurdwara and values seva.

Sangat

 Ardaas by young camper

 Young campers' group

 Gurmat vichaar with Bhai Surjit Singh jee

 Langar

 Activities


Activities

Activities

Activities

Questions and answers session

 Eldest group

Keertan to commemorate Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib jee's Gurpurb.

 Younger campers presenting a Gurmat based drama on the theme of learning Gurbani and the benefits of listening and reciting Gurbani.

Younger campers presenting drama

 Children's presenting poems to the Sangat.

Dhan Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!