Friday, April 15, 2011
Nine gurdwaras razed in 1984 not reconstructed, say Sikh organisations
The All India Sikh Students' Federation (AISSF) and the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) have claimed to have identified at least nine sites in Delhi where gurdwaras were not reconstructed after they were razed by mobs during the November 1984 anti-Sikh carnage.
“65 burnt alive”
Talking to reporters on Tuesday, SFJ's chief legal counsel Navikiran Singh and AISSF president Karnail Singh Peermohammad said that 26 years after the massacre, they also discovered that at least 65 Sikhs were burnt alive at the Gurdwara Udaseen Taran Ashram in Block 22 of Nagloi colony of Delhi.
They released a list of 49 persons who were killed there. After playing a documentary film, they provided details about the nine sites where gurdwaras were razed.
They also pointed out that attempts were made to construct temples at some places, while idols and pictures of Hindu gods put up at others. At one such site, signs of Swastika were also painted. Most sites were now marked by dilapidated boundary walls, debris of burnt bricks and remains of some structures.
At many places, non-Sikh residents favoured reconstruction of the gurdwaras and restoration of normality.
Mr. Peermohammad chided the mainline Sikh leadership in the various factions of the Akali Dal, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and the religious sects that organised Kar Sewa at large shrines for “ignoring” these small gurdwaras, which served the poor sections of the community.
He said that recently the DSGMC announced its decision to spend Rs. 57 crore on the renovation of the historic shrine Rakab Ganj, which according to him already was full of grandeur.
He said that the Kar Sewa sects were busy putting marble and gold-plated domes on the shrines where the managements were already flush with resources.
Shrines ignored
Mr. Navkiran pointed out that these shrines were also ignored when the Prime Minister's special package was announced in 2006 after the Nanavati Commission came out with the report for rehabilitating the November 1984 victims.
The Centre, SGPC, DSGMC and the Sikh sangat must be involved in restoring the shrines.
with thanks : THE HINDU : link above for detailed news,
Baisakhi festival celebrated
Karachi
To mark the birth of the Khalsa order as part of the Baisakhi festival, men and women from the Sikh community gathered at the Sikh Sangat Gurdwara on Thursday night.
Baisakhi is one of the most important religious festivals in Sikhism and is celebrated to mark the genesis of the Khalsa brotherhood. According to traditions, five men sacrificed their lives for the 10th Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind, and were said to be the five Pyaray. Baptized Sikhs follow a strict life by wearing the five emblems of their religion: Kesh (unshorn hair), Kanga (wooden comb), Kara (bracelet), Kacheera (underpants) and Kirpan (dagger).
While the main festivities take place at the Panja Sahib Complex in Hasan Abdal, Punjab, the festival is also celebrated in Karachi with great enthusiasm and devotion.
At the Gurdwara in Ranchore Lines, devotees were seen listening attentively to the Head Granthi who recited verses from the Holy Scripture Guru Granth Sahib. Later, the Granthi made special prayers, Ardaas, and sang hymns Kirtan in honour of the 10th Guru and his followers.
“On this day, we all wear new clothes and come together to the Gurdwara to celebrate. Also, everyone makes an offering to the Guru by presenting one tenth of his earnings,” said middle-aged Bishan Singh
A believer, Rani, wished that she could attend the main festival in Punjab. “Thousands of people, including Yatrees from India, turn up there. I wish I get a chance to visit the place some day.”
Twelve-year-old Annie, who was playing with her friends in the courtyard of the place of worship, said that she had helped the elders to prepare food for Langar which was distributed after the prayers. Dressed in shimmery brown clothes with Mehendi on her palms, she said: “We get Sawab for doing the chores, and hence I peeled onions and tomatoes for the food.”
Biryani and Kheer was served as Langer. A devotee said due to gas shortage in the area, they were able to prepare only two items.
To mark the birth of the Khalsa order as part of the Baisakhi festival, men and women from the Sikh community gathered at the Sikh Sangat Gurdwara on Thursday night.
Baisakhi is one of the most important religious festivals in Sikhism and is celebrated to mark the genesis of the Khalsa brotherhood. According to traditions, five men sacrificed their lives for the 10th Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind, and were said to be the five Pyaray. Baptized Sikhs follow a strict life by wearing the five emblems of their religion: Kesh (unshorn hair), Kanga (wooden comb), Kara (bracelet), Kacheera (underpants) and Kirpan (dagger).
While the main festivities take place at the Panja Sahib Complex in Hasan Abdal, Punjab, the festival is also celebrated in Karachi with great enthusiasm and devotion.
At the Gurdwara in Ranchore Lines, devotees were seen listening attentively to the Head Granthi who recited verses from the Holy Scripture Guru Granth Sahib. Later, the Granthi made special prayers, Ardaas, and sang hymns Kirtan in honour of the 10th Guru and his followers.
“On this day, we all wear new clothes and come together to the Gurdwara to celebrate. Also, everyone makes an offering to the Guru by presenting one tenth of his earnings,” said middle-aged Bishan Singh
A believer, Rani, wished that she could attend the main festival in Punjab. “Thousands of people, including Yatrees from India, turn up there. I wish I get a chance to visit the place some day.”
Twelve-year-old Annie, who was playing with her friends in the courtyard of the place of worship, said that she had helped the elders to prepare food for Langar which was distributed after the prayers. Dressed in shimmery brown clothes with Mehendi on her palms, she said: “We get Sawab for doing the chores, and hence I peeled onions and tomatoes for the food.”
Biryani and Kheer was served as Langer. A devotee said due to gas shortage in the area, they were able to prepare only two items.
with thanks : thenews.com.pk : link above for detailed news.
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
Thursday, April 14, 2011
INSPIRATIONAL TALK BY HARVINDER KAUR ( ALEXANDER AITKEN ) - Thursday 14th April at 7.15pm in the Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick
Dear All,
The Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick have special guest speaker as part of “Learn and Go” event to celebrate Vaisakhi. The daughter of former cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken, Harvinder Kaur Khalsa previously known as Alexandra Aitken will be talking about her personal journey into Sikhism.
Harvinder now lives her life as fully Baptised Sikh. Harvinder will talk about how her life has been transformed from circle of celebrities and wealthy people to living life based on Sikh principles and values.
Harvinder has a radiating presence and has way of communicating in a simple and practical manner which is truly inspiring.
All are welcome attend the talk on Thursday 14th April at 7.15pm in the Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick, Tachbrook Park Drive in the Main Prayer Hall.
Sorry for the short notice, we had some technical issue with the mail server. Please attend if you are free, either individually or part of organisation
Location: Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick – Main Diwan Hall
Address: Tachbrook Park Drive, Warwick,
Date: Thursday 14th April 2011
Time: 7.15pm to 8.15pm
Time: 7.15pm to 8.15pm
Regards
Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick
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SikhsIndia
Sculpture artist's Baisakhi gift
LUDHIANA: A gold medalist throughout his three years of the sculpture course in Punjabi University, Harminder Singh Boparai is fired with unflagging enthusiasm, and ambition ' to do his bit to immortalise the contributions of Sikh gurus. Come Baisakhi, and he will gift seven cannons he sculpted to the Katana Sahib Gurdwara.
A resident of Ghudani Kalan, on the outskirts of Ludhiana, Harminder, 31, is a sculpture artist and an art teacher in Sat Paul Mittal School. He has sculpted all the seven cannons which will be gifted to the gurdwara on Wednesday. TOI spoke to him on Tuesday, asking him about difficulties he faced during the five months of his cannon-making.
A resident of Ghudani Kalan, on the outskirts of Ludhiana, Harminder, 31, is a sculpture artist and an art teacher in Sat Paul Mittal School. He has sculpted all the seven cannons which will be gifted to the gurdwara on Wednesday. TOI spoke to him on Tuesday, asking him about difficulties he faced during the five months of his cannon-making.
'I have been working on them for the past five months and faced many difficulties during this period. But, I did not stop. There have been days when I've worked day and night, just to bring perfection into my works,' he admitted.
All these months, Harminder has worked diligently at his farmhouse, using three basic ingredients of steel, wood and fibre glass. 'I have prepared all these cannons in my farmhouse because I could not have done it at my home. To work on them, I needed a lot of space,' he said.
While he prepared fibre glass himself and purchased steel from the market, the gurdwara trust provided him wood for the sculptures. 'I was a kind of 'one man army', doing all the work and succeeding in my endeavour because of the blessings of my God,' he said.
with thanks : times of India : link above for detailed news.
All these months, Harminder has worked diligently at his farmhouse, using three basic ingredients of steel, wood and fibre glass. 'I have prepared all these cannons in my farmhouse because I could not have done it at my home. To work on them, I needed a lot of space,' he said.
While he prepared fibre glass himself and purchased steel from the market, the gurdwara trust provided him wood for the sculptures. 'I was a kind of 'one man army', doing all the work and succeeding in my endeavour because of the blessings of my God,' he said.
with thanks : times of India : link above for detailed news.
SikhsIndia
American Sikh Day celebrated at California Capitol
Sacramento, April 14 (IANS) The Sikh American community celebrated the first ever American Sikh Day in California on the steps of the California State Capitol with dozens of California elected officials.
The event Wednesday highlighted the history and contributions of Sikh Americans in California and the challenges the community faces, according to the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), a community civil rights group.
At the event, organized by Sacramento Sikh Temple and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg Steinberg, officials and interfaith and advocacy groups expressed their solidarity with the Sikh American community following recent attacks against them in California.
Last November, a Sikh cab driver Harbhajan Singh was brutally attacked by two passengers in West Sacramento and in March two elderly Sikhs, Surinder Singh (67) and Gurmej Atwal (78) were shot in Elk Grove. While Singh died on the spot Atwal, is still in critical condition.
The event Wednesday highlighted the history and contributions of Sikh Americans in California and the challenges the community faces, according to the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), a community civil rights group.
At the event, organized by Sacramento Sikh Temple and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg Steinberg, officials and interfaith and advocacy groups expressed their solidarity with the Sikh American community following recent attacks against them in California.
Last November, a Sikh cab driver Harbhajan Singh was brutally attacked by two passengers in West Sacramento and in March two elderly Sikhs, Surinder Singh (67) and Gurmej Atwal (78) were shot in Elk Grove. While Singh died on the spot Atwal, is still in critical condition.
with thanks : inewsone : link above.
SikhsIndia
Baisakhi wishes pour in from Bollywood : Celebs from Bollywood wish happy Baisakhi to all
The festival of Baisakhi marks the start of the New Year for Punjabis. In the North-East, people are celebrating Bihu, which marks the first day of the Hindu solar calendar. Befittingly, celebs from Bollywood are wishing everyone a happy Baisakhi and Bihu.
Amitabh Bachchan, who takes pride in admitting that he’s half Sikh (his mother Teji Bachchan was a Sikh) took to Twitter to extend his good wishes.
“Happy morning to all .. a very happy Baisakhi and Bihu ... may prosperity and happiness always be by your side, ready to embrace you... Baisakhi di vadhayiyan saareya nu ... rabh thonu khush rakhe !! And greetings for Bihu for all .. love, prosperity and happiness !!” he wrote.
Abhishek Bachchan tweeted: “Aap sabko Baisaki aur bihu ki badhaiyaan”
Vivek Oberoi wrote: “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wishing all my Sikh, Malayali, Assamese, Bengali, Odiya and Tamil friends a very happy New Year.”
Ritesh Deshmukh posted: "Happy happy happy Baisakhi, Vishu, Bohag Bihu, Pohela Boishakh, Vishuva Sankranti and Puthandu - happiness to all -Much love"
Genelia D'Souza wrote: “Wishing all a happy Baisakhi, Vishu, Bohag Bihu, Pohela Boishakh, Vishuva Sankranti and Puthandu, hav a gr8 day n gr8 new year”
with thanks : apunkachoice : link above.
SikhsIndia
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Blood donation & Free Medical check up camp at Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
Plz double click over the pic below, to read it properly :-
i have stopped trimming
if u remember abt two months ago we were on topic of trimming, pls check my photo, finally i have stopped trimming,, thax to u all veerji for this motivation.
Bhupinder Singh
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