Khalsa Camp 2009

For me Khalsa Camp 2009 has been the best in all years. The camp took place from 23rd August to 28th August at Preston. Guru Sahib showered so much kirpaa during the camp. The Sangat were blessed to have the company of three elder spiritual Gursikhs - Bhai Surjit Singh jee (from India), Bhai Jarnail Singh jee (UK), and Jathedaar Bhai Raghbir Singh jee (UK). In addition to that Giani Kulwinder Singh jee (Derby) blessed the Sangat with enlightening vichaar and sevaa during the week. The whole camp was "Naam" filled. From Amrit-velaa to evening the whole camp's focus and atmosphere was Naam - the talks, the keertan, the kathaa, the discussions, the conversations between campers etc.

The highlight of the camp as every year was the Amrit-Velaa diwaans. It is amazing how everyone wakes up early in the morning and joins in together to sing the praises of Waheguru and do Nitnem together and then be blessed to hear Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee talk to us. The talks by all the Gursikhs were great. Unfortunately I missed the first talk which was by Bhai Satnam Singh jee (Hayes). Bhai Tarsem Singh jee presented a beautiful poem he wrote himself on the need of Amrit & Rehat, followed by a talk on controlling the mind. Professor Virk (Derby) gave a great talk on Gurbani and Science, which showed that Gurbani is beyond Science and that we are blessed to have the Perfect True Guru. Bhai Surjit Singh jee (India) gave a mind blowing talk on Amrit, Naam and need of the Guru and also a talk on the importance of living a Guru-orientated life. The Q&A sessions were great. Daas learnt lots from the elder Gursikhs and the whole Sangat. It was great to have Darshan of the whole Saadh Sangat and spend a week in heaven.

Some photos (taken from Techno Singh's Flickr):


Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee Maharaaj at Amrit-Velaa.


Bhai Tarsem Singh jee doing a talk on Amrit, Rehat and the Mind.


Sangat in Lecture hall.


Professor Virk talk on Gurbani & Science.


Langar.

A young Amritdhari Bhenji from Finland during Parkaash Sevaa of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. Campers were encouraged to do Sevaa and learn how to do things which perhaps they have never had an opportunity to do before.

Bhai Raghbir Singh jee and Bhai Jarnail Singh jee workshop.


Bhai Surjit Singh jee's workshop.


Youth & Social issues workshop with Veer Bhupinder Singh (Bass)


Bhenji Simrat Kaur jee leading workshop.


Night time discussion.


Bhai Surjeet Singh jee.


Elders and younger playing volleyball together :)


Archery.


Climbing frame. I found the net on the side hard to climb! I ended up falling backwards but others went straight up like Spiderman!


Darbaar Sahib. Waheguru.


4 year-old Manmohan Singh doing Keertan. Waheguroo. "Tin Dhan Janedee Maao".


Keertan. "Mil Saadhsangat Bhaj Keval Naam".


Final Q&A session.


Final talk by Bhai Joginder Singh jee (Leicester) who went through a Pauree (stanza) written by Bhai Gurdaas jee on the life of a Gursikh and how Bhai Gurdaas Jee praises such a Gursikh who follows the Guru's Path and wins the internal battle of overcoming duality (being in two minds), doubt, fear and panj chor etc.


Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee Maharaaj leaving the camp site.


Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Maharaaj.


Note: All the Keertan from Khalsa Camp 2009 has been kindly uploaded by Sevadaars on www.SikhSoul.com


Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Boss Sikhi Camp 2009

From 13th to 19th August Sikhi Camp, which is organized by B.O.S.S., was held in North Wales. Guru Sahib did so much kirpaa and blessed everyone inspiration, devotion, and love for Sikhi. There were quite a few new campers who all enjoyed themselves and felt an inner awakening and thirst for Sikhi. As most years there were Gursikhs from India and abroad who shared their inspiration with campers as well. It was moving to see campers build up a relationship with Guru Sahib throughout the week and progress in their spiritual journey.

Unfortunately I went ill during the camp like many other people. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa Daas did NOT have Swine Flu (despite the whole world thinking I had Swine Flu. lol). It was unfortunate that I had to stay in bed for three days during the camp and missed out on the talks, Sangat, diwaans, and Darshan of Guru Sahib. However, the day I was allowed back in the camp was amazing. It was so great to have Guru Sahib's Darshan and have Darshan of the Sangat. In two or so days that I participated in the camp, the highlight of the camp for me was seeing Baba Ranjeet Singh Dhadrian wale and taking part in the morning Naam Abhiyaas they led in the Darbaar Sahib. The atmosphere during the Naam Abhiyaas was electrifying! Baba Jee is a great soul. I have never seen him before, and having heard and seen him you can feel and experience that he is a great soul who has been blessed with Guru Sahib to inspire others.

As always the last day of camp was emotional for everyone. Seeing Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee Maharaaj leave the camp site was moving. All the campers walked behind Guru Sahib as Guru Jee left the camp site. During the camp I had the opportunity to have Darshan of such blessed Gursikhs. The Sevadaars cooking Langar and certain other Sevadaars were just purely amazing. It was humbling how they did Sevaa very discreetly behind the scenes. "Gursikhaa Kee Har Dhoor De Ham Paapee Bhee Gat Paae."


Here's some photos (taken by others):


Campers having Darshan of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee Maharaaj.


Bhai Sardara Singh jee teaching martial arts to campers.


Campers hiking as part of the afternoon activities.


Sevadaars in Langar kitchen.


Langar being served.


Young children with Bhai Rupinder Singh jee came all the way from East London (a 6 hour drive) to do Parchaar and speak about 'satkaar' (respect) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. Amazing sevaa.


Note: There's not many photos of Sikhi Camp 2009 up yet. I assume the official photos will be put up in a few weeks time or so.


Dhan Guru, Hai Teree Sikhee.

Lakh Lakh Vadhaayee to everyone on the Pehilaa Parkaash Diwaas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee Maharaaj!

Kenya Gurmat Camp Photos (Part 2)

Continued...


Group discussions outside.


Late night Gatka display led by Bhaji Uptej Singh (UK)


The second to last day of the camp was a sports day.


Sevadaars.


Sack and run (I think that's the name) game.


Kabbadi game during sports day.


Tug of war.


Final day Q&A session.


Campers and their parents.


The camp ended with a barbecue for parents and campers.

15 year-old Veer Amritpal Singh, a native Kenyan. He is such a lovely Gursikh. Veer jee share with me that when he was 7 years old a miracle happened to him at Kericho Gurdwara Sahib. As a young child he never had any teeth. One morning at Amrit-vela he did an Ardaas in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee asking for teeth as the other children used to laugh and mock him. With Guru Sahib's Kirpaa his body froze like a roch as he lay on the floor in front of Guru jee. Knowing something mystical was happening the Giani Jee asked the few people sitting in the Darbaar Sahib to leave and closed the doors. Only Veer jee and Guru Jee were left in the Darbaar Sahib. After an hour or so he got up from the ground. When the Sangat and Giani Jee entered the Darbaar Sahib again they discovered that Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee had performed a miracle by blessing Veer Amritpal Singh with a full set of beautiful teeth! Waheguru.

A "Waheguru" truck we saw on the road journey. There were quite a few trucks we came across that had Khandas and "Waheguru" written on them.


Makindu Gurdwara Sahib. The Gurdwara Sahib marks the place where a black Kenyan native man had Darshan (blessed vision) of Guru Gobind Singh jee Maharaaj.


A native Kenyan man (wearing a black dastaar) doing seva at Makindu Gurdwara Sahib.


Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee.

Kenya Gurmat Camp Photos (Part 1)

During the first week of August a Gurmat Week (camp) was held in Kenya by a group of young Kenyan Sikhs under the name of "iSikh". The six-day camp was held in the countryside area of Lukenya. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa, approximately 150 youngsters from the age of 7 to 30 attended. Bhai Satnam Singh (Hayes, UK) was contacted by the local sevadaars in Kenya and requested to come to Kenya with other Gursikhs from the UK to do sevaa in the camp. Guru Sahib rained kirpaa during the camp and trip. It was amazing how much we learnt from the young children. Although some children didn't seem to know much about Sikh history and Gurbani, they had the thirst and desire to learn more and more. The thirst and hunger of some of the campers was very moving. There were definitely great souls and saints amongst the children. May Guru Sahib bless all the sevadaars and the children with Gursikhi Jeevan, blessings of Naam & Amrit, and forever love for Sikhi.

Some photos from the camp:


Campers in lecture hall.


Archery outside. Bhai Amritpal Singh jee (one of the local Kenyan sevadaars) who is an Archery champion led the session.


A view of outside from the first floor of the resort.


Lunch being served.


Discussion group sessions outside.


Keertan by local Bhenjis.


Keertan by 6-year old Bibi Vismaad Kaur from the UK.


Dr. D (UK) giving a talk on the Mind & Panj Chor.


Singhs playing football.

15-year old Veer Amritpal Singh jee - a native Kenyan Amritdhari Singh who is not from a Panjabi background but speaks perfect Panjabi and reads Paatth in Gurmukhi - he puts some Panjabis to shame!! He is a lovely Singh and radiates so much peace!

To be continued...

'Sikh Awareness Day' held in School

Last Wednesday there was a "Sikh Awareness Day" held at Long Eaton School near Nottingham. Bhaji Pardip Singh had been working at the school and before he left the staff requested for a Sikh Awareness Day to be arranged so that the school could be educated on who Sikhs are and what they believe as there no Sikhs living around that area. Bhenji Gurpreet Kaur, Bhenji Kirat Kaur and Daas helped Bhaji Pardip Singh with the Sikh Awareness Day.

Five sessions were held throughout the day. For each session the students were given handouts with questions which they had to fill in during the session. The presentation started off with some basic questions about Sikhs followed by where Sikhs come from and some photographs of Panjab. Afterwards Sikh beliefs, Sikh uniform & appearance, Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee, Sikhs in World Wars, and Sikhs in Britain was covered. During the session selected students were given the opportunity to tie Dastaars on one another and then afterwards one of us re-tied the Dastaars on them. The whole day was very successful. All the children were well-behaved and showed interest in what was being said. May Guru Jee do kirpaa that these type of awareness days or sessions are held at all schools!

Some photographs from the day:


First session - year 7 group.


Starter questions.


Slide showing Parkaash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee.


Significance Sikh identity.


Panj Kakkaars and Sikh appearance.


Bhaji showing the Kachhera. If anything, all the pupils and teachers will not forgot the Kachhera! lol.


Bhenji tying a Dastaar on a pupil.


Slide showing Sikhs in different professions.


Photographs of Sikhs in World Wars.

The presentation ended with a quote from a British General who talks about Sikhs dying for the freedom and liberty of Britain and Europe and praises the Sikh faith and Sikh turban.

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee.