VAISAKHI CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON

ਝਖੜੁ ਝਾਗੀ ਮੀਹੁ ਵਰਸੈ ਭੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਦੇਖਣ ਜਾਈ ॥੧੩॥
Even in violent storms and torrential rain, I go out to catch a glimpse of my Guru. ||13||

ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਬਹੁ ਖਾਰਾ ਗੁਰਸਿਖੁ ਲੰਘਿ ਗੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਜਾਈ ॥੧੪॥
Even though the oceans and the salty seas are very vast, the GurSikh will cross over it to get to his Guru. ||14||

The above words seem to come true when Sadh Sangat at the Gurudwara Sahib in Renton, WA braved the snow and rain to organize the annual Nagar Kirtan for the Vaisakhi Celebrations.  It is probably a record that the Northwest is facing snow at this time of the year.  Yet the Sikhs celebrated the birthday of the Khalsa with the same enthusiasm.  

Sincerely,
Sarab Singh
Aasra Punjabi English Magazine
PO Box 5716, Kent, WA 98064
Phone: (206) 550-3154

Bhai Harbans Singh ji visits Seattle

Bhai Harbans Singh ji’s family had great respect for Baba Nand Singh ji of Kalera. At one time Baba Nand Singh ji asked Bhai Harbans Singh ji’s father if he had any son ? His father said  that he had seven daughters but no son.  Baba ji said he should pray to Waheguru during Amrit Vela. Bhai Harbans Singh ji was born in 1940 at village Jagadhri. When he was 40 days old his family took him to seek the blessings of Baba Nand Singh ji. Baba ji took him in his lap and took out some ilaichi and mishri from his pocket and after biting them he put them in Bhai Harbans Singh ji’s mouth. Baba ji asked his parents to teach him Kirtan and protect him from bad company.

Bhai Harbans Singh ji  belonged to a poor family.  One day he was sitting on a small rug and making inserts of the trays when a Bhatra (Indian mendicant) came and sat with him and started watching his feet. He said you will become one of the famous Ragis and your tapes will be admired by everyone. You will have all the riches just like Kings. In 1968 you will leave Jagadhri and in 1971 you will visit abroad. He was right. Bhai Harbans Singh ji became the famous Ragi admired by the world over.

Yogi Harbhajan Singh Khalsa:  Bhai Harbans Singh had great respect for Yogi Harbhajan Singh Khalsa ji. He said if you check his pockets, he will only find Bhai Harbans Singh ji’s tapes. He said when he use to visit Yogi ji, Yogi ji cooked food with his own hands for him in respect of Kirtan. He use to put lot of ghee and dry fruit and then put that in flour to cook chapattis (Indian bread). Then Yogi ji treated him Yogi tea. At the time his health was fairly good and everything he ate could digest easily. In respect to Bhai Harbans Singh ji Yogi ji gave him a pearl necklace. In respect to Yogi ji’s work Bhai Harbans Singh ji gave him a Chawar made from the feathers of peacock. It is the same that Bhai Dhanna ji also had.  He said he taught quite a few American Sikhs shabad: “Aad Gur E Nameh, Jugad Gur E Nameh,” etc.

When his Kirtan was being planned at the Renton Gurudwara someone called to say that Bhai ji had attended the Bhog of Indira Gandhi. Bhai ji said that at the orders of Tohra ji, Bhai ji had done Kirtan at the Bhog of Sanjay Gandhi. He said there is a cassette also with the picture of Sanjay Gandhi on it. He recited “Kaun Mua Re Kaun Mua ? Brahm Giani Mil Karo Bichara” and “Baba Bolte te Kahan Gaye, Dehi Ke Sang Rehte”. He said that Indira Gandhi also broke as a mother on the death of her son Sanjay Gandhi. Later Indira Gandhi appreciated his Kirtan and said it has given her solace. He said that she use to visit Buta Singh house a few times to listen to his Kirtan. Jagjeet Singh from Dubai who is presently settled in Seattle also said that when he participated in the Bhog of Sanjay Gandhi lot of newspapers had carried negative criticism against him. They said he  earned lot of money. Bhai ji had said because of security people weren’t being able to come close to him. But he said it is ok for the newspapers to criticize him. It cleanses his clothes.

Bhai Harbans Singh ji was blessed with two sons and two daughters. He said one of his son had joined him in Kirtan when he was 7 years old. He accompanied him for 35 years. During a boat accident at Har Ki Pauri during the Jal Parwah (leaving the body in river of great saints) he passed away. Bhai Harbans Singh ji misses him a lot and prays that he dedicates the rest of his life to Kirtan. He said we need to dedicate our life to Kirtan and Path, and live a good and respectful life.

Jassi Atwal,  son of Salwinder Singh Atwal was murdered in May 2008. After 18 years Waheguru Ji blessed him with a son who he has named Jassa Singh Atwal. In thanking Waheguru he had invited Bhai Harbans Singh ji to visit Seattle. 

Sincerely,
Sarab Singh
Aasra Punjabi English Magazine
PO Box 5716, Kent, WA 98064
Phone: (206) 550-3154

LITTLE INDIA IN WA

There was a time when I participated in the office potlucks and while my coworkers use to enjoy the favorite Indian dish they would always ask me for recipe.  Most of the stores were in Canada then from where we were getting our grocery; not to mention the hassle we would face at the customs.

Times have changed since.  We have a lot of Indian grocery stores, and new ones are opening every few months.  It often reminds me of India. Whenever a special guest would visit us; we had to run to the store and pick up some sweets or Indian samosas from the sweet shop. Things are similar nowadays.  Some evenings I walk to the Indian market. While we stroll along the shops we often sit at  the Pabla Indian Cuisine to enjoy a snack. My son loves Samosa burger more than the regular burger. 

So much has changed, really. The recent report in the Seattle Times: "Kent School District joins trend of minority students outnumbering whites"  reflects this trend. The Kent School District this year became the seventh Seattle-area district in which minority students outnumber white students. It's part of a demographic shift that's happening in districts across Washington and the nation".

And while the Indian community evolves into a major community so are the Indian businesses growing in great numbers.  A fairly decent shop is within the walls of Sikh Gurudwara Sahib in Renton. It is run by Kundan Singh. He sells all the needs of the Sikh community including the Kanga (the wooden comb that is suppose to massage the head as it combs hair), Kara (the Sikh iron bangle), Kirpan (the Sikh sword), Kachera (the military undergarment). These are part of the 5 K's mandated by Guru Gobind Singh for every Sikh. He also sells, various books, music tapes and disks, turbans, etc. Kundan Singh said that although it is within the Gurudwara Sahib  it is not supported by the Gurudwara Management. "We can't adapt the American food; although we have accepted the fast American way of life," said one gentleman. "And above all Indian food is healthy and nutritious. It is a quick American way to eat breakfast which may include bread or cereal, Indians prefer a good Indian food for dinner which has to be  soothing and healthy.  We want our kitchen to smell spicy in the evening."  Turmeric Powder has been known to be a miracle golden powder. It has been used in Indian food for centuries. Yet recently, science has accepted its benefits. Although it sells expensive in health stores it is one of the major spices in Indian stores. Even the price is fairly cheap. 

Sincerely,
Sarab Singh
Editor, Aasra Punjabi English Magazine
PO Box 5716, Kent, WA 98064
Phone: (206) 550-3154

SIKH WEDDING - Anand Karaj – A union of two souls

Like the beautiful earth, adorned with jewels of grass-

Such is the mind, within which the Love of the Lord abides. 

All one's affairs are easily resolved, O Nanak,

When the Guru, the True Guru, is pleased II 1 II

"They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies." (Guru Amar Das, Pauri, pg 788)

A family enjoys a wedding party during the wedding of Tripat Singh Chawla and Jasmine Marwaha.

Anand Karaj is the prescribed form of Sikh marriage.  The words literally translate as 'Blissful Union". The image of Sikh is reflected by “Saint-Soldier”. To embodiment this divine image, the Sikh Gurus mandated everyone to marry. This “union of bliss” leads to “union with God”.  In Sikh religion marriage is an important part of life. Everyone has to get married. Even the priests or religious persons are married. We all are required to work, and care for our families. No one can boast of or be proud to stay an unmarried life. 

The Sikh marriage is a very special ceremony in which two individuals are joined in an equal partnership. It is joyous and festive event which is very family orientated and informal in its atmosphere. Sikh marriages are usually arranged with families acting as little more than introduction services. The ultimate choice is always left to the girl and boy. In some cases the boy and girl choose each other first and then seek their parents consent and blessing. 

The Reht Maryada which is The Official Sikh Code of Conduct specifies that no thought should be given to the perspective spouse’s caste, race or lineage. As long as both the boy and girl profess the Sikh faith and no other faith they may be joined in wedlock by the Anand Karaj ceremony. The Reht Maryada strictly forbids any sort of dowry arrangement as marriage is not to be viewed as a business transaction. Sikhs are also discouraged from consulting horoscopes or following any other superstitions pertaining to determining a wedding date or time. The Anand Karaj ceremony can be performed in any Gurdwara or home where Sri Guru Granth Sahib has been respectfully installed. The religious ceremony cannot be performed in a hotel or banquet hall. There are no restrictions as to what time the ceremony should start or what time it should end although they are usually performed in the morning with the religious ceremony taking no more than a few hours. 

An engagement ceremony called the kurmai is not required but is sometimes performed typically one week before the wedding. It is usually conducted in the Gurdwara or at the home of the boy. It involves Ardas (the common Sikh prayer), Kirtan (hymns from Sri Guru Granth Sahib) and langer (common meal) if performed in the Gurdwara. If performed at home, the bride’s family visits the house of the groom for a short time. In both cases the groom is usually presented him with a kara, kirpan or Indian sweets. They brides family in turn are presented with an Indian suit and sweets for the girl. 

In the east marriages are typically a three day affair which begins with the Braat (grooms family and friends) setting off for the girl’s house in the evening. They are received, entertained and hosted by the girl’s family and spend the night at her house. The following day the ceremony takes place at the local Gurdwara or at the girl’s home. Following the religious ceremony festivities, song and dance continues the remainder of the day with the groom and his family departing with the bride the following day. In the west because of the constraints in time and difficulty in coordinating so many people, wedding are usually a one or two day affair. Either the wedding occurs in the morning followed by a dinner and dance banquet in a hall or hotel at night, or the religious ceremony and banquet take place on consecutive days. In rarer cases only the religious ceremony takes place without any banquet.

India is a land where caste system has infiltrated every walk of life for ages. The Sikh Gurus felt a need to educate and bring equality. Sadly, dowry, caste and other omens have swept into Sikh religion also. Husband looks one way; wife has altogether a different personality. Jealousy, hatred and greed ultimately lead to divorce. Wife does not listen to husband, while husband does not care for wife.  I personally have witnessed quite a few divorces. We speak of Panth, Sikh religion, but unless life changes, it leads to divorce.  Life drags along. Husband finds a new wife. Wife finds a new husband. Children life is hurt. Fighting or socializing does not lead to Anand Karaj. Very few marriages become Anand Marriages. 

Sincerely,
Sarab Singh
Editor, Aasra Punjabi English Magazine
PO Box 5716, Kent, WA 98064
Phone: (206) 550-3154