Sikh religious festival starts tomorrow

Sikh religious festival starts tomorrow
Monday, 08 Jun, 2009 | 10:28 AM PST |


TAXILA: A three-day Sikh religious festival Joti jot will start at Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal from Tuesday.

Around 500 Sikh pilgrims from India are likely to participate in the festival, besides from different parts of the country. Joti which literally means the ‘light joining another light’ is also used for ‘joining of the light of the human person (soul) to the Supreme Light (God)’.

According to the Sikh religion, Gurus and Sikh scriptures teach that if someone is immortal (or attained immortality during the course of their life), he does not die even after he leaves this world as he rejoins God.

During the festival, the pilgrims will offer their religious rituals, including yatra of the Punja on a stone from where fresh water flows, Ashnan (bath in the holy water of the Gurdwara). They will also visit symbolic shrine of Baba Wali Qandhari at the hill top.

Evacuee Trust Property Board Deputy Administrator (Shrines) Syed Faraz Abbas told mediapersons that all necessary arrangements for the boarding and lodging of the pilgrims had been made. He said due to prevailing security situation in the country, enhanced security measures would be adopted for the safety of Indian Sikh yatrees.

Mr Abbas said district police with the assistance of other law-enforcement agencies had already made elaborate and foolproof security arrangements for the pilgrims during their stay at Hassanabdal.

He said strict security measures would be adopted in and around the Gurdwara with the help of close circuit cameras. He said all religious places and main routes in the city were under the vigilance of police and other law-enforcing agencies.

with thanks : source : http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/entertainment/16-sikh-festival-starts-tomorrow-hs-09

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Exhibition of rare Guru Granth Sahib Birs

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 6, 2009
The newly set up Guru Granth Sahib Resource Centre in Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan in the Capital is holding a unique exhibition of some rare Guru Granth Sahib Birs in the world. On display will be the world’s smallest printed Guru Granth Sahib Bir as also the world’s largest handwritten holy book of the Sikhs.

Director of the Guru Granth Sahib Resource Centre Mohinder Singh says the smallest printed Bir is 2.5 cm in length, 2 cm in breadth and 3 cm in height and the biggest Bir, popularly known as Chandani Bir, has been brought from Afghanistan by Sikh refugees.

“The Sadan has set up world’s first digital library on Sikh religion and will now make available online more than 200 digitised rare Guru Granth Sahib Birs, including some rare Birs with Nishans of the Gurus. Also on display will be reproductions of folios from the Kartarpuri Bir, which was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev and installed in the Golden Temple in 1604. This Bir is preserved in original with the Sodhi family of Kartarpur near Jalandhar and has Nishans of Guru Arjan Dev as mark of authentication. Among other rare objects will be the copy of first camera photo of the Golden Temple by William Baker, taken around 1864-66,” says Singh.

The exhibition is the result of a collective initiative taken by the National Institute of Panjab Studies, a sister institution of the Sadan, which took up the Herculean task of locating, cataloguing and digitising the Birs in connection with the quadri-centenary of installation of Guru Granth Sahib in 2004.

During the fieldwork, a team from the institute was able to digitise rare Birs with different Takhts in India, universities in Punjab and private collectors. Images of Birs from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the UK and the US were taken by the team.

People can view these rare Birs at the Sadan from June 10 onwards. The exhibition, the first of its kind, will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur and other dignitaries, says Singh.

With thanks : source : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090607/main6.htm

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Sikh-Muslim conflict in J&K misunderstanding: Shahi Imam

6 Jun 2009, 2206 hrs IST, TNN

LUDHIANA: Terming the conflict between Sikh and Muslim community in Srinagar as misunderstanding, Shahi Imam, Jama Masjid Habibur Rehman Sani who is
also president of Majlis Ahrar, said all misunderstandings had been sorted out, following the intervention of religious heads of both the communities.

In a press conference held in Jama Masjid on Saturday, the Imam said that it was true that some children of Sikh and Muslim community clashed with each other while playing cricket on Wednesday. “But, some miscreants misreported the matter in a nearby village saying that Sikh boys had attacked Muslim kids. However, things got settled as soon as religious leaders of both the communities intervened and cleared the misunderstanding,” said Imam.

He said Kamal Nain Singh, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Srinagar, and Maualana Shaukat, president, Ulema Council, J&K, had held a meeting with the community members to address the issue and clear the misconceptions.

Imam also claimed that he had a phone conversation with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Umar Abdullah, who ascertained that the situation was under control. “We, however, condemn whatever has happened in Srinagar. Both the communities have been very close to each other in the past and such incidents only spoil the atmosphere. We all pray that the situation comes under control and people maintain an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood in not only the state, but also across India,” added Imam.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ludhiana/Sikh-Muslim-conflict-in-JK-misunderstanding-Shahi-Imam/articleshow/4625568.cms

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US reviews policy to allow Sikhs to join army

6 Jun 2009, 0905 hrs IST, PTI

WASHINGTON: Following an outcry from the Sikh community, the US defence department has decided to review its policy which prevents Sikhs from joining the country's armed forces.

On behalf of defence secretary Robert Gates, the Pentagon has informed an advocacy group Sikh coalition that it was reviewing current regulations preventing a US Sikh national from serving the army on the ground that they wear turban.

"Although our current regulation establishes the standards of wear and appearance of the uniform, we understand the importance of reviewing the rationale behind our current policies when circumstances warrant," wrote Major General John R Hawkins, director, Human Resources, Policy Directorate, Pentagon.

The senior leadership is aware of the concerns of the Sikh community, said the letter dated April 29, which was released to the media yesterday.

The coalition, which had taken up the issue after two Sikh Americans challenged the regulation, has welcomed the army's step.

"We believe that once the army fully reviews the policy, it will agree that Sikh practices have in no way acted as an impediment to successful service in any military in the world," Amardeep Singh, executive director of Sikh coalition, said in a statement.

On January 26 this year, the coalition wrote to Gates regarding two Sikhs who were told to give up their religious practices in order to continue their services in the army.

Captain Kamaljit Singh Kalsi and Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan were recruited as part of an army program that pays for medical education in return for military service. At the time of their enrolment, military recruiters assured both of them that their turbans and unshorn hair "would not be a problem."

Four years later, the army is now telling the two Sikhs that the recruiters' assurances were false and that they will have to forsake their religious practices.

with thanks : source :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/US-reviews-policy-to-allow-Sikhs-to-join-army/articleshow/4624046.cms

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Fund the Fourth Annual SikhNet Youth Film Festival

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Williams zoners say Sikhs can turn cheese factory into place of worship

By Christopher Baxter | OF THE MORNING CALL
June 4, 2009

A small group of practicing Sikhs, followers of the world's fifth largest religion, plan to bring the teachings of devotion, equality and social justice to Williams Township by converting a former cheese factory near Interstate 78 into a temple.

The local Zoning Hearing Board gave Sikh Sadh Sangat Inc. approval Wednesday to change the defunct Crivellaro Cheese & Bakery building at 45 Hilton St. into a Sikh place of worship known as a gurdwara.

''This institution will be a credit to the community and the diversity of the community,'' Daniel Cohen, lawyer for Sangat Inc., told the zoners. ''These are high-quality people who only want to be able to practice their faith in peace and harmony.''

Founded in the 15th century in Punjab, a region straddling present-day India and
Pakistan, Sikhism formed around the teachings of 10 gurus, or enlightened leaders, who preach tenets such as devotion to one God, truthfulness, equality and social justice. Sikhs, meaning disciples, also denounce superstitions or blind rituals such as fasting.

The majority of the world's 23 million Sikhs live in the founding region. In the United States, large followings exist in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City, said Devinder Chana, building manager for Sangat Inc.

The group of about 65 to 70 people currently worships in Tatamy's Olde Mill Yoga & Wellness Center, and had planned to build a gurdwara in Plainfield Township. But when the cheese factory became available after the owner died and the bank put the building up for auction, Sangat Inc. felt it was a more convenient location.

''There is good access to the highway for people traveling between the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey,'' said Chana, a 27-year resident of the region. ''It's very much the private and quiet location we're looking for.''

The Sikhs worship primarily on Sunday, and Sangat Inc. plans to build the required 34 parking spaces to accommodate any vehicles. Zoners barred the group from allowing anyone to park on Hilton Street because of heavy truck traffic.

Chana said the existing building will remain relatively unchanged other than some interior redecorating. He hopes worship, held in the native Punjabi language, can begin by the beginning of July, as long as problems with the sewer line connection at the site are resolved.

Another group of Sikhs in the Lehigh Valley, numbering more than 200 families, worshipped in the basement of an A to Z Auto Repair in Easton until the 2007 opening of a gurdwara in Lower Nazareth Township.

Preet Bajwa, a spokesman for that congregation, said at the time that more and more Sikhs have moved to the region from New York City since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, partly because their practice of wearing turbans made life in the city difficult.

with thanks : source : http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a13_3zoning.6920012jun04,0,6269595.story

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Sikh temple to host interfaith march for world peace in Berkeley

By Tom Lochner
West County Times
Posted: 06/04/2009 11:39:48 AM PDT
Updated: 06/04/2009 11:39:49 AM PDT


The Sikh Center of San Francisco Bay Area, based in El Sobrante, invites people of any faith to join a spiritual march for world peace in Berkeley on Sunday.

The spiritual march, known as Nagar Kirtan or the singing of spiritual hymns, will commemorate the 403rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

Guru Arjan, who was tortured and who died in 1606, was the fifth among the 10 Gurus of Sikhism and is credited with compiling Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. He wrote more than 2,000 hymns.

Sunday's event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will start in Civic Center Park in downtown Berkeley. The march route will extend to University Avenue at California Street and back to Civic Center Park.

There will be free vegetarian food.

For more information, e-mail Ravinder S. Bath at ravbatth@comcast.net or call 925-323-8626, or call Surinderjeet S. Bajwa at 415-298-9719.Reach Tom Lochner at 510-262-2760 or tlochner@bayareanewsgroup.com.

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Fresh clashes rock Valley, mob targets Sikh locality

June 05, 2009
Srinagar:

A predominantly Sikh neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city was targeted by a mob as fresh protests and a strike triggered by the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian continued to cripple life in large parts of the Valley for the fourth consecutive day.

A group of people ransacked 20 houses at Rangreth, breaking window panes and damaging other property on Wednesday evening. Paramjit Kaur, whose house was among those targeted, said: “It happened around 7.45 pm on Wednesday when a group of people first started hurling stones. They broke our gate and destroyed everything that came their way. I along with my children hid in the attic to save ourselves from the frenzied mob.”

“This had never happened in the past 20 years,” said Jaspal Singh, an engineer whose house, too, was ransacked. A few cars were also damaged by the mob.

Locals said trouble began when a group of protesters enforcing the strike stopped a car being driven by a Sikh. They damaged the car following which there was a scuffle, in which one of the protesters was injured. This was followed by the violence at Rangreth.

with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Fresh-clashes-rock-Valley--mob-targets-Sikh-locality/471524

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A Sikh Web Portal with Photo gallery of gurdwaras ....

SikhsIndia
4th June, 2009

Please log on to the Sikh Portal www.sohnijodi.com and view the Photo gallery of :
Golden Temple - Amritsar Sahib; Gurdwara Data Bandi Chor Sahib - Gwalior;
Gurdwara Mandi Sahib - Himachal which contains pics of Guru Gobind Singh ji's Bed, Gun, Kuppi,Rabab sahib as well Signatures of Guru Gobind Singh ji; Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib - Himachal; Gurdwara Anandpur Sahib - Himachal.

You can also view the Photo Gallery of :
Sant Bhupinder Singh ji Rade wale - Jarag as well Sant Saroop Singh ji, Chandigarh with pics of 51 Akhand paths held first time in Delhi. You can also view many Videos and pics related to Sikhs & Sikhism in the Sikh web portal www.sohnijodi.com

The sikh web portal also contains a Sikh news Section, Sikh view section & a Matrimonial section where you can add the matrimonial profiles with or without pics absolutely free.

The portal www.sohnijodi.com has a World Gurdwara Section which contains contact details of Gurdwaras. You can add your Gurdwara in the Directory.The portal also has a Sikh Business Directory.

Please promote the Sikh web portal www.sohnijodi.com in your area by adding the links in your local & regional websites & sikh blogs.

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Thousands pour in for Dera leader's cremation in Punjab

Thousands pour in for Dera leader's cremation in Punjab
4 Jun 2009, 1455 hrs IST, IANS

JALANDHAR: Thousands of followers of slain Dera Sachh Khand sect leader, Sant Rama Nand Dass, trooped into Ballan village, 15 km from here, as his body was brought from Vienna amid extremely tight security.

The body was accompanied by the sect head, Sant Niranjan Dass, who was also injured in the attack on them in a gurdwara in Vienna May 24.

Thousands of Ravidassias, who are followers of 14th century preacher Sant Ravi Dass, started arriving at the sect headquarters at Ballan village since Wednesday, to pay their last respects to the sect leader.

Contingents of the paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police were stationed in large numbers in and around the sect headquarters. The sect had appealed to its followers to maintain peace.

Areas of central Punjab, especially Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Phagwara, Ludhiana and a few other places had witnessed large-scale violence last week following the Vienna attack on the sect leaders.

Three people died and dozens were injured in the violence that also saw coaches of three trains being set on fire and many cars, trucks and buses being burnt by the protesters.

Public and private property suffered extensive damage during the violence as the civil authorities called in the army and paramilitary forces to control the situation. Train and road traffic was severely affected as the protesters blocked highways, roads and rail tracks.

Draped in saffron, the body of Sant Rama Nand Dass, 57, was kept in a glass coffin in an open area of the sect campus for followers to pay their respects.

The Punjab government had sent a chartered aircraft to Vienna from New Delhi Tuesday to bring back the sect head Niranjan Dass and the body of Sant Rama Nand Dass. Punjab chief minister's principal secretary D.S. Guru went by the special flight to Vienna to bring them back.

The sect head and the body were flown by a special helicopter from New Delhi to the sect headquarters here Thursday morning.

The cremation is likely to be attended by leaders from all political parties. Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati and other central leaders are likely to attend the cremation later Thursday.

Most followers of the Dera Sachh Khand sect are Dalit Sikhs. There has been an undercurrent of resentment by the sect followers against the dominant Jat Sikh community in the past few decades, mainly owing to social disparity between the two.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Dera-leaders-cremation-today/articleshow/4615567.cms

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Tight security in India's Punjab for slain preacher's funeral

June 3, 2009 -- Updated 1424 GMT (2224 HKT)
By Harmeet Shah Singh
CNN

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Police tightened security Wednesday in India's Punjab for the funeral of a preacher whose killing in Vienna, Austria sparked violent protests in the Sikh majority state last week.The body of Rama Sand lies in state in Vienna before being transported to India. Top-ranking officers are camping in Jalandhar district, where Rama Nand will be cremated Thursday, said Parag Jain, Punjab's inspector-general of police."Security arrangements are elaborate," he told CNN.

Nand's body is due to arrive from Vienna early Thursday in Sachkhand Ballan, a monastery dedicated to Guru Ravidass, a 14th-century low-caste Hindu spiritual figure.

Guru Ravidass' writings are predominantly found in the primary Sikh scriptures called the Guru Granth Sahib, placed in the sect temples as in the Sikh houses of worship.

Sect head Niranjan Dass, who was injured in the Vienna assault, will also be arriving Thursday, Sachkhand Ballan secretary S.R. Heer said.

The sikh guru's death led to widespread violence across the Punjab region, which resulted in the army and federal security forces being called in to restore order.
Thousands took part in demonstrations across the Doaba region, where protesters attacked public transportation, knocking out train service in some areas. They also blocked a national highway to Jammu, CNN sister network CNN-IBN reported.

A number of businesses were ransacked as well. Police reported one death.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, himself a Sikh, appealed for calm, in a statement."There is no place for violence in a secular society like India's and certainly no excuse whatsoever for the violation of the sacred premises of a (Sikh temple) for narrow sectarian or other purposes," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

with thanks : source : http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/06/03/india.punjab.funeral/

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