Showing posts sorted by date for query Denmark. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query Denmark. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Monday, May 02, 2016

Part 1 - Denmark Sikh Family Camp - Inspirational Stories

Story from the Sikh Family Camp held from 22-24 April, 2016, in Denmark:



Story of Brother Rakesh

ਜੀਅ ਕੀ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਗੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਕਰਿ ||
ਛੋਡਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਸਗਲ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਅਰਪਿ ਧਰਿ ||
"When your soul is feeling sad, offer your prayers to the Guru. Renounce all your cleverness, and dedicate your mind and body to Him." 
(Gujri M:5, 519)

At the end of the Sunday divaan, Bhai Gursewak Singh came to me and said that someone would like to talk to me. I thought it must be someone who is upset with the lecture I had given about Gurmat and felt offended that I spoke about alcohol or Amrit etc. Bhai Gursewak Singh brought to me a Veer jee with cut hair, wearing an orange rumaal and an 'Om' Hindu symbol around his neck. The Veer jee said to me, "Sat Siree Akaal jee." He spoke Hindi. He asked, "Can I take a few of your moments, I wished to talk to you." 

We took a seat at the back of the Darbar Sahib and began talking. The Veer jee introduced himself and said, "My name is Rakesh. I am a Hindu. I am originally from Gujarat. I come here, to the Gurdwara regularly. The one thing I love about Sikhs and the Sikh religion is - simplicity. Everything is so simple and everyone is so welcoming. Although I am a Hindu, I don't get the same inner-peace and joy that I get from the Hindu temple as I get from the Gurdwara Sahib..."

He continued, "I wish to share with you a story about this Gurdwara and how this is a special place for me." He explained that he was married to a Danish lady, who had a daughter from a previous marriage but was accepted by Rakesh as his own. When he arrived in the country he used to go school to learn how to speak Danish. Whilst learning Danish he met a Punjabi aunty who was also learning Danish. One day the Punjabi aunty invited Rakesh to the Gurdwara Sahib because they had an Akhand Paatth Sahib.

Rakesh explained, "From when my daughter was born, her feet were not flat. They were curved upwards. Because she could not place her foot flat, she could not walk. The doctors said that there was no cure and wrote that she would never ever be able to walk." He explained that on the Saturday of the Akhand Paatth Sahib, they visited the Gurdwara Sahib in Copenhagen for the first time. He didn't know much about Sikhs and it was the first time he was visiting a Gurdwara in his life. Rakesh, his Danish wife and daughter which they carried to the Darbaar Sahib, stood before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. 

Rakesh said, "Sardar Ji! My wife and I decided we would pray to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to make our daughter better so that she can walk. My wife and I stood before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji with our hands together and prayed. My wife said to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that if he makes our daughter better, she would raise her as a Sikh. We later had langar and went home." He explained, that evening they arrived home, they noticed their daughter's curled feet had gone one inch down. The following morning they woke up, they noticed their daughter's feet had gone down by another inch. By seven days, both feet of their daughter were straight and touching the ground. Rakesh smiled and said, "The doctors said she could not walk. Within a week Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji blessed our daughter and she is able to walk now. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not just wisdom - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a Power. I know - I have experienced this. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a real, a Living Power. Since then, I come all the time to the Gurdwara, listen to Gurbani and Keertan, and do Seva. I love coming here. It gives me so much peace, joy and satisfaction."  

ਸਚੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਸਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਚੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸੁਖੁ ਕੀਜਾ ਹੇ ||੫||
"True is Your Power, and True is GurBani. O my Lord and Master! True is the peace which You give. ||5||"
(Maaroo M:5, 1074)

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Denmark Sikh Family Camp, April 2016...

From 22nd April to 24th April, a three-day Sikh Family camp was held at Gurdwara Singh Sabha Copenhagen in Denmark. The camp was attended by children and adults. Bhai Rajpal Singh and Bibi Prabhujit Kaur from Holland came to do seva of leading classes for children. Approximately fifty people attended the camp over the three-days. Going to camps for me is not about teaching the Sangat about Sikhi, but more importantly taking something from the Sangat. I can say that this camp was so inspiring. So many campers and members of the Sangat had so much to give and learn from.

The main topics that the parents and adults class covered over the camp were (i) exploring female foeticide, dowry, why some cultures dislike the birth of girls and the Gurmat perspective; and (ii) exploring the role of family in Gurmat, learning from family relations of the Ten Gurus, and issues affecting children in today's modern world. The younger children learnt Saakhis, basics of Gurmat, why and how we should come to the Gurdwara Sahib, and Panj Vikaar.

Some photos from the camp:
 
 Bhenji Prabhujit Kaur (Holland) with the younger children's class

 Younger children's class

 Family and Gurmat workshop


 Adults workshop - group discussions

  Adults workshop - group discussions

  Adults workshop - group discussions

 Dastaar tying - Bhenji Isha Kaur, from Turkish background from Holland having a Dastaar tied.

 Veer Jasbir Singh playing the Dilruba.

 Question and answers session

 Degh being prepared by Gursikhs

Evening divaan - Bhai Gursewak Singh doing Kirtan of Aarti Aarta

On Sunday morning we visited 9 year-old Deenpal Singh in hospital who wanted to be at the camp but due to ill health was in hospital.


Bhai Subegh Singh Ji, thanking the Sangat at the end of the camp


At the end of Sunday divaan, the younger children presented what they had learnt and received prizes.



Dhan Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Sunday, August 30, 2015

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!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Khalsa Camp UK 2014...


Khalsa Camp UK took place from 24th to 28th August. This year's camp was mind blowing and one of the best Khalsa Camp that I have been to and many other campers shared the same view. The camp atmosphere was awesome and full of pyaar and Naam. Every single part of the camp was great - Amritvela, Nitnem, workshops, talks, groups, discussions, Keertan and Sangat. This year Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa Anandpur Sahib wale was invited as one of the guest speakers. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa this year's camp was well attended with over 200 people at the camp. The majority of campers were new campers. There were campers from Ireland, Holland, Denmark and from across the UK.

On Sunday Bhenji Sukhwinder Kaur did a lecture on Hukam and her personal relationship with Guru jee. Bhenji set the tone of the camp and inspired everyone with her personal testimonies of Guru jee's love and greatness. On Monday Bhai Tarsem Singh jee did a talk on Anand Sahib. It was a very deep lecture which looked at the journey of the soul after death and Dharam Raaj questioning the individual based on Anand Sahib. On Tuesday Bhai Jaspreet Singh from the V&A Museum did a talk on Khalsa Raaj and Baba Banda Singh jee Bahadar. On Wednesday there was a talk on Gursikhs who fought in World War 1 and their amazing jeevans. On Thursday Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa Anandpur Sahib wale did an amazing talk on the Panj Khands and the Jeevan of a Gursikh.




Below are some photos (taken from Khalsa Camp Facebook):


Guru Sahib coming to the Darbaar

 Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee Maharaaj

Sarbat Khalsa workshop led Bhai Mehtaab Singh. Everyone loved this workshop.


Workshop with Bhai Surjeet Singh. Such an inspiration!
Langar
 Canoeing
 Football

 
 I think this is called abseiling (?)

Evening Kathaa by Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa. Amazing jeevan and amazing Tat-Gurmat kathaa which is all backed up and based on Gurbani.
 
 Sukhaasan time

 Amrit Vela. Vaheguru!

Questions and answers time after Bhai Tarsem Singh jee's talk. 
 
 Keertan by Bhai Tarsem Singh jee

 Evening Divaan

 Bhai Surjeet Singh jee taking Hukamnama

 Bhai Jaspreet Singh from V&A Museum

 Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa Anandpur Sahib wale. Vaheguru.

 Two of my favourite parchaariks together, on the same stage, with one microphone! Vaheguru!

 Both bhenjis were first time campers and sharing their experiences on camera

Looking forward to Khalsa Camp 2015!


Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!