Sikhs Leave an Indelible Mark in Smithsonian’s Annual Folklife Festival 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For the first time in 44 years of Smithsonian’s annual Folklife Festival history Sikh community from greater Washington Metropolitan area participated in various activities over ten day period. The Folklife festival is conducted by the Smithsonian Institution every year and this year it was from June 24th until July 5th. Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, an active Sikh Gurdwara organization based in Rockville, Maryland, led the Sikh participation in the festival. The Sikhs had a large role to play in displaying their heritage, identity, tradition, and culture as part of the presentations on Asian Pacific Americans, one of three major themes chosen for this year in addition to Mexico and Smithsonian Workforce.

The opening night concert featured high energy song and dance in the form of Bhangra and Giddha. It featured over 60 participants.

July 1 saw the Sikh team performing the entire day. It started with an introduction on Fox TV. Different team leaders were selected by GGSF coordinators to showcase the Sikh community’s presence in America.

There was Gurbani Kirtan, turban tying, henna tattoos, trying on Punjabi clothes, and having visitors get their names written in Gurmukhi calligraphy, teaching Gurmukhi language, and of course Punjabi cooking. At the family activities tent several turbaned Sikh youth men and women tirelessly wrapped turbans and helped people try Punjabi clothing.

with thanks : source : India journal : link in headline above for detailed story.

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Two kids drown in holy pond in Punjab

Two children drowned in the holy pond of Gurudwara (Sikh shrine) Kaulsar in this Punjab city, police said Monday.

Sonu, 9, and Sanju, 11, had come to take a dip in the pond with a group of friends Sunday evening.

'Sonu slipped into the sarovar (holy pond) and to save him Sanju also jumped in. Both of them drowned,' Lakhbir Singh, investigating the case, told IANS.

'After a prolonged search operation, police divers have fished out the bodies, which were handed over to the family members,' he said.

with thanks : source : SIFY : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Amritsar: 15kg of RDX, sub machine gun seized

Amritsar: Punjab police on Saturday recovered 15 kg of RDX 3 detonators, a sub-machine gun along with its cartridges following the interrogation of an arrested terrorist of Sikh separatist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

The special operation cell of Punjab police's intelligence wing also recovered one magazine of AK 47 rifle, 100 cartridges of AK 47 and 3 packets fuse wire.

Officials of the cell said the lead about the arms and ammunition was given by BKI terrorist Pal Singh, a French national, who was arrested on July 28, during his interrogation.

with thanks : source : NDTV : link in headline above for the detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Sikh history radiates through light-&-sound show

CHANDIGARH: The glory of Sikh history, which depicted the sacrifices made by warriors during Mughal rule, radiated through a light-and-sound show at Punjab Kala Bhawan on Saturday. The two-and-a-half-hour play, ‘Singh Soorme’, produced and directed by Jarnail Singh Gogi in association with Panj Pani Rang Manch, was composed by Sharanjit Singh and Satpal Singh Joshila.

Gogi said he staged the play to promote Sikh history, espeially among youths. Though the era might be different, the evils prevalent in society have only changed their faces and not characteristics. So, these have to be dealt with in a tougher way even today.

with thanks : source : Times of India : link in headline above for the detailed news.

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Gutkas published by Sikh Missionary College Ludhiana end up as paper bags

Ludhiana, Punjab: The Gutkas of Japji Sahib and Rehraas Sahib, which are revered in Sikh faith, are being disrespected by some people. They are making paper-bags for carrying groceries from paper of these Gutkas.

‘Dainik Jagran’ found hundreds of such paper-bags that had the paath of Japji Sahib printed on them. While it is evident it is printer waste, according to Sikh religion, even this waste paper is cremated with full rites at Goindwal Sahib Gurdwara.

There are many such papers like this in the market, which have Japji sahib and Rehraas Sahib paath printed on them. According to the information received, only those with permission from Sri Akal Takhat Sahib can print Gurbani related material. These paperbags in the market have got ‘Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana’ and ‘New Verma Printing Press, Jalandhar’ imprinted on them. It is evident that gross negligence has been made at some point.

Harbhajan Singh, the Chairman of Sikh missionary college, Ludhiana said he will order an investigation in this matter. Action will be taken against those who are responsible for this mistake.

Upon contact, Harbhajan Singh, the Chairman of Sikh missionary college, Ludhiana said that it is simply not possible as proper care is taken in the process. That, Bani is given full respect is given while printing. But when the paper bags were shown to him, he informed the police and gave assurance of full investigation into the matter.

The head of the Jalandhar unit of Sikh Missionary College Ludhiana Harjit Singh refused to accept that such a thing can happen because according to him great care is taken while printing of Gurbani. However when Harjit Singh was shown the paper bags made out of Gutkas then he not only contacted the police but also assured a full investigation in this matter.

Gurcharan Singh Channi, the leader of Shiromani Akali Dad Jalandhar area said if the reports are true then it is a matter of grave concern indeed. He said he will take this matter to Sri Akal Takhat.

It is worth mentioning again that only Sri Akal Takhat Sahib has the sole rights to print Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Saroops and Gutkas. Keeping in mind the purity and marayada associated with the process, nobody else has been given the permissino to print these Gutkas and Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Despite this, some companies are actively engaged in business of publishing these Granths. This controversy has also arisen in the past because of this.

with thanks : source : sikhsangat.org

SikhsIndia

Haie cut fuels Sikh protest

Jammu, July 29 -- Members of the Sikh community blocked roads and Sikh organisations protested on Thursday as a Sikh youth was beaten up and his hair chopped off on Wednesday. Serving a two-day ultimatum to the state government for taking action against the culprits, the organisations demanded special probe into the incident.

Some unidentified persons allegedly beat up and chopped off the hair of a Sikh youth, Mithunpal Singh, a resident of Tral in Pulwama district, about 160 km from here. Deputy inspector General of Police in south Kashmir, Shafaqat Watali, said, "Some youth asked him to raise pro-freedom slogans.

He obliged. But when they asked him to recite kalma (Islamic prayer), he resisted.

With thanks : Yahoo News : link in headline above for detailed story.

SikhsIndia

Nihang turns ‘demolition man’ to free Amritsar of encroachments

A superintendent with MC, Tarsem Singh Khalsa says he will make Amritsar look like Singapore, free it from all encroachments, ‘provided there is no political interference’

He does not come across as a government servant at first glance. Dressed like a Nihang Sikh, Tarsem Singh Khalsa hits the roads every day to get the city’s public properties freed of encroachment that dot its every nook and corner, paying no heed to political or any other “pressure”.

A superintendent with the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Tarsem has earned the name of “demolition man”. Accompanied by a group of four to five employees, two policemen and a huge crane, he would select one colony, public park or some other site every day and embark upon the difficult task of implementing the law to remove illegal structures, stalls, makeshift shrines and concrete hedges.

with thanks : source : indian express : Link in headline above for detailed story

SikhsIndia

9 injured in clash over removal of holy book from temple

As many as nine people sustained injuries when a clash took place between the members of Jat Sikh and Ravidasi communities at Manan village and the police intervened. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when the new granth of the Ravidasia community, Amrit Bani Guru Ravidas, was removed from the Ravidasi temple around 1 am and sent to Dera Sachkhand Ballan.

The injured were admitted in Jalandhar civil hospital. The police have registered a case of attempt to murder against a mob for attacking Constable Sarabjit Kaur, who has been hospitalised.

with thanks : source : indian express ; link in headline above for more detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Ravidasis, Jats clash over placing new religious book in temple

There was tension in the Manan village since Monday morning and a small skirmish between the Ravidasi and the Jat Sikh communities over placing the Ravidasi’s new granth Amrit Bani Guru Ravidas, a portrait of their guru Ravidas and the new religion’s symbol Nishan Sahib in the main hall of the village’s Ravidasia temple.

The temple is near the Dera Sachkhand Ballan, which had announced the new Ravidasia religion in January this year. Now , the new religion’s holy book is the Amrit Bani Guru Ravidas.

Earlier, the Sikh religious book, Guru Granth Sahib, was kept in the main hall of the temple. The attempt was to shift the Granth Sahib to the upper hall and put the new religious book in its place.

with thanks : source : Indian Express : link in headline above for the detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Sarnas miss date with Akal Takht, called again on Aug 7

Five Sikh high priests met at Akal Takht on Monday and decided to give Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna another chance to ‘explain’ his stand on the controversy that sparked off following Sarna’s alleged outburst against 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims’ counsel H S Phoolka. The hearing on the issue has been deferred to August 7.

Sarna and his brother, Harvinder Singh Sarna, meanwhile, did not appear before the Takht and sent a written clarification through their messenger Bhajjan Singh.

The jathedars met Walia and expressed resentment over Sarna ignoring the hearing, but later decided to give him another chance to clarify his stand.

“As announced earlier, Sarnas will have to appear in person and explain the serious allegations against them,” stated Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, adding they would not take up the matter in their next meet on August 7.

with thanks : source : Indian express : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Phoolka ready to face probe, disclose assets

In the wake of allegations hurled against him by the DSGMC head, senior lawyer HS Phoolka, who has been appearing on behalf of the victims in 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases, on Sunday said he was ready to face any kind of probe by the Income Tax Department. The advocate, who has accused DSGMC president "gry-line" P S Sarna of levelling reckless allegations against him, said he would welcome any kind of inquiry against him provided Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee members were also covered under such a probe.

Phoolka had recently announced his withdrawal from all the anti-Sikh riot cases following allegations levelled by Sarna.

However, he took back his decision after the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, intervened and asked him to continue appearing on behalf of the victims.

"I will welcome any kind of inquiry by the IT office. But at the same time, the IT probe should be conducted against all DSGMC members," Phoolka told PTI.

with thanks : source : Hindustan Times : Link in headline above for the detailed news.

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