Sunday, December 25, 2016

Three held for cutting elderly Sikh man’s hair in Nahan

Highlight Story
Tension gripped Nahan after miscreants cut the hair of a deaf and dumb elderly Sikh man on Friday evening. When the victim reached his locality, Mohalla Govindgarh, people belonging to his community started agitating.
On their complaint, police arrested three persons — Kamlesh, Vikas and Vishal — for allegedly committing the crime. They were booked under Section 295-A (outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
more details : LINK : Hindustan Times

Nitish Kumar launches 125 hi-tech luxury buses for Sikh pilgrims visiting Patna


PATNA: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Saturday launched altogether 227 high-tech luxury buses in the state capital here ahead of the five-day celebration of 350th birth anniversary of Sikh's tenth guru Gobind Singh Maharaj, beginning from January 1.


Of total 227 buses, 125 have been dedicated for free-of-the-cost ferrying of Sikh pilgrims who have already began arriving here to participate in the 350th Prakashvotsava which is being celebrated at grand level.


The high-tech buses are fitted with facilities like global positioning system (GPS), door censor, CCTV camera, reverse camera, information panel and emergency alarm.

more details : LINK : TOI

Keeping Families Warm This Winter

WEST MIDLANDS, UK: Meet the super hero squad from UNITED SIKHS. Unlike your typical community defenders, armed with weapons or magic powers, members of this community group show up with the items their neighbors most need - pillows, duvets, hats, gloves, scarves and coats.
 
According to a new report from Shelter, an increasing number of families in England are sleeping rough. The study found more than 255,000 families are without a permanent home. Out of the 50 English cities highlighted, Birmingham and West Midlands areas ranked as the 28th worst; 1 in every 119 people are homeless. Fully aware of the problem, members of UNITED SIKHS made it their mission to keep their neighbors warm this winter. Their strategy? The Rescue a Family Winter Warmer project.
 
As part of the project, local chapter members swept in with basic essentials to get families through the cold temperatures of the winter months. There are currently an estimated 9,560 homeless people in the West Midlands area alone.
 
 
"We knew there was a problem and we knew we had the capacity to help solve it. Rather than waiting for the calls for help, we approached the shelters. We requested lists of needs from each family." Sun Kaur, of UNITED SIKHS said. "We believe we are blessed. As Sikhs, as neighbors, it is our privilege and duty to serve our brothers and sisters who need us right now."
 
The shelters, Rocket Pool Youth centre in the West Midlands and the and Eastfield Strengthening Families Hub, were overwhelmed by the proactive outpouring of support .
 
"On behalf of the team here at Eastfield Strengthening Families Hub we want to express our gratitude for all the help and support provided to us in our aim to support families in our local community. The kind donation of gifts and food parcels have been distributed to families experiencing real difficulties and as a result are currently receiving support from the team to help them secure improved outcomes" said Sharon Leonard of Eastfield Hub.
 
 
In addition to financial poverty, many of the individuals served by UNITED SIKHS have also endured additional traumatic life experiences, ranging from domestic abuse and mental health issues to substance abuse.
 
"Thank you for what you have done for me and my children. I am a single mother and due to unforeseen circumstances me and my children do not have many items of clothing. I am really grateful to United Sikhs for the coats they have given to my children," one mother said of the organization.
 
"The Rocket Pool Strengthening Families Hub would like to say a big thank you to UNITED SIKHS for the wonderful donations of winter coats, bedding, and Christmas gifts. When distributing the donations our families have expressed that this assistance has eased the increasing pressures on them especially at this time of year." said Hayley Quintyne of Rocket Pool Hub.
 
To assist families in need this winter, contribute to the Rescue A Family project by donating online to unitedsikhs.org/donate.
 
***Special thanks to HS Impex ltd , Birmingham, Mann Brothers, Birmingham and members of the community who donated winter goods.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

A view of Anandpur Sahib !







































A view of Anandpur Sahib. The gurdwara Keshgarha Sahib can be seen top right. This is where Guru Gobind Singh Ji administered the Amrit to the five Sikhs and created the brotherhood of the Khalsa.

Pic mailed by : Preet Singh

Sikhs in Singapore to mark 350th birthday of Guru Gobind Singh

Sikhs in Singapore to mark 350th birthday of Guru Gobind Singh

Singapore, December 23
A four-day festival is being organised by Sikh community in Singapore to mark the 350th birthday of Guru Gobind Singh.
More than 20,000 Sikhs from Singapore and Asia are expected to attend the “Naam Ras Kirtan Darbar”, a biennial festival being held since 2002.
Guru Gobind Singh is the 10th Guru known as a literary genius.
Renowned Sikh Ragis (hymn signers) from India and Asia will lead the Kirtan at the sprawling hall, turned into a darbar, at the Singapore Expo, The Straits Times reported.
The festival will also have an exhibition of artifacts, including a miniature replica of the Sikh Sanctum Sanctorum, Sri Harmandir Sahib, the iconic Golden Temple of Amritsar.
Also on display will be a sacred relic, a 300-year old pitcher used by Guru Gobind Singh.
A live feed will be streamed on Facebook for people who are unable to attend the four-and-a-half-hour festival, which begins today and is there till Monday, the report said.

More details : Link : TribuneIndia

Guru Gobind anniversary: Special transport to Patna for Punjab devotees

IANS
Guru Gobind anniversary: Special transport to Patna for Punjab devotees

Chandigarh, Dec 23 (IANS) At least 10 special trains and 300 buses will ferry, free of cost, over 25,000 devotees from Punjab to Bihar's Patna to participate in the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, early next month, a minister said here on Friday.
Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema said that the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji would be celebrated on a large scale on January 5 in Patna, the birthplace of the Sikh guru.
He said that 10 special trains would take 10,000 devotees and 300 buses would ferry 15,000 devotees in the first week of January to Patna Sahib.
more details : LINK : IANS

Calgary Sikh gurdwara vandalized with swastikas and profanity


sikhtemple

Members of Calgary's Sikh community are speaking out after a Sikh temple was spray-painted with hateful graffiti.

Early Thursday morning, the World Sikh Organization of Canada said swastikas and profanity were painted on the property of the Sikh Society of Calgary on 81st Street S.W.

On Friday, graffiti was visible around six locations in and around the building. Police confirmed a graffiti co-ordinator and a hate crime co-ordinator have been called in to investigate the vandalism.

More details at : LINK : torontosun.com