Thursday, November 17, 2011

He found his calling in turban tying

LUDHIANA: Jagtar Singh Jaggi is no ordinary professional. He earns his livelihood by tying turbans, which not many professionals in city would have thought of.

He runs a shop " Jaggi Turban Training Centre" in Brown Road area where he ties turbansfor his Sikh clients and also trains people in the art.



On asking what made him thought of this profession, says Jaggi, "I used to run a hosiery shop in Dhuri Line area. In 2004, a customer,Jaswinder Singh, who used to get his turban tied by me, told me that I am very good at the art. That was the first time I thought of exploring this as an option to earn livelihood."

During normal days, he gets about 20-50 customers, which include industrialists, businessmen, doctors, engineers, transporters, students and others. During wedding season, the number goes up to 50-80.

Jaggi says, "It takes me about 5-8 minutes to tie a turban. I do it in various styles, including Niku style (8.5 meters long), Grewaal style (8 meters), Daljit style (6.5 meters), Patiala Shahi(7.5 meters), NRI style (5.5 meters), American style and African."


with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Rare Sikh memorabilia to go under hammer in UK today

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE                                           Shyam Bhatia in London

A controversial 1854 memorandum to Maharaja Dalip Singh that tells of his duties as a Christian, including the need to nominate a Christian heir, is being offered for auction tomorrow (Thursday) in the UK. The author of the hand written memorandum is Sir John Spencer Login, who was appointed by the East India Company as guardian to the young and inexperienced heir of Ranjit Singh, shortly after he was deposed by the British in 1849.

Some memorabilia related to Maharaja Ranjit Singh (in pic) also to be auctioned; and (right) German prayer book given to Dalip Singh.
Some memorabilia related to Maharaja Ranjit Singh (in pic) also to be auctioned; and (right) German prayer book given to Dalip Singh. 

Born in 1838, Dalip Singh was Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s youngest son. Following the infighting after Ranjit Singh’s death in 1839, Dalip Singh was crowned in 1843, deposed in 1849, converted to Christianity in 1853 and exiled to the UK in 1854.
The fabulous Kohinoor diamond, part of his inheritance from Ranjit Singh, was taken from him and given to Queen Victoria. Nothwithstanding the efforts of the British authorities at the time, Dalip Singh responded to the call of his Sikh roots some 33 years later. Helped by his cousin, Sardar Thakar Singh Sandhawalia, he returned to the Sikh fold in 1886 in the port of Aden during an unsuccessful attempt to return to India and the Punjab.
Login’s memorandum is a timely reminder of the enormous efforts to brainwash Dalip Singh as part of a larger plan to prevent him from reclaiming his once powerful and extremely wealthy kingdom.

It was a measure of the Punjab’s importance (both strategically and financially) that when Login retired a few years later he was granted an annual pension of £300, which today would be worth £800,000 pounds (nearly Rs 6.5 crores) per year. The memorandum is part of a larger collection of Sikh, Punjabi and other Indian memorabilia that is being sold by Mullock’s auctioneers in the English county of Shropshire.

Among them is a German prayer book foisted on the young Maharaja, as part of the relentless efforts by the colonial powers to persuade him to give up his religion, roots and homeland.
Other items put up for sale include 19th century maps of the Punjab, assorted prints of the Golden Temple, a seated statue of Ranjit Singh, a drawing of Guru Har Krishan, a pen and ink sketch of Guru Gobind Singh and a print of Shaheed Bhagat Singh who was hanged for his revolutionary activities in 1931. Some other objects of interest include a gold mohur - known as a Nanakshahi - minted in the last 10 years of Ranjit Singh’s reign.

with thanks : Tribune : link above for more detailed news.

Sikh Pilgrims: Hundreds of yatris arrive in Shakargarh

SIALKOT: 
Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims from the USA, India, England, Malaysia, Canada, Australia and Germany visited the Darbar Sahib Guru Nanak in Kartarpur, Shakargarh amid tight security on Wednesday evening.
According to security officials, Darbar Seva-Das in-charge Sardar Gobind Singh told reporters that the visiting Sikh pilgrims participated in celebrations held in connection with the 542nd birth anniversary of Baba Jee Guru Nanak Dev Jee.
“There were hundreds of pilgrims and the event went off without a hitch.
The yatrees performed religious rites and also attended a special prayer ceremony following the event,” he said.
Sardar Gobind Singh told reporters that the yatrees also took “Ashnan” there and distributed sweets among the local people. Some Sikh pilgrims also spoke about their pre-partition memories by visiting their native houses in Zafarwal, Shakargarh and other surrounding areas in the district.
The yatrees also exchanged gifts with the local people and dozens of local residents came to the gurdawara to greet them and wish them well for the remainder of their stay in Pakistan.


with thanks : Tribune PK

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Sikh clergy hail Anand Marriage Act

AMRITSAR: The Sikh community has hailed Union law minister Salman Khurshid's statement regarding implementation of the Anand Marriage Act (Sikh's separate marriage Act) in the near future.
Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh said, "I appreciate Khurshid's gesture as it is acknowledgment of Sikh's separate identity". He said the law minister should now ensure that the Anand Marriage Act is implemented without delay.

with thanks : times of India : link above.

Gilani proposes plan for establishing university named after Guru Nanak

LAHORE: 
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani discussed the establishment of a university named after Guru Nanak in a bid to empower minority communities in the country.

The idea was discussed in a meeting between the prime minister and pilgrims of the Sikh community in Lahore.
Prominent at the gathering was the topic of the establishment of a university in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak.
Dr Pritpal Singh, Convener of the American Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, expressed his pleasure at the enthusiasm shown by Gilani to set things in motion for the university.
The American Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee is an organisation that looks after Sikh places of worship.
The work on the university is slated to be arranged by the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the organisation that looks after the affairs of minority properties and places of worship in Pakistan.

with thanks : Tribune pak : link above.

Temple Trip






































with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

One Year After Lalita Park Tragedy : Shardhanjali





At 5 pm today we had a prayer meeting just opposite the spot where 71 persons were killed in Lalita Park in the building collapse, an year ago on the same day. Members from our, " East Delhi RWAs Joint Front" as well members of local RWA were present. Ardas was done by the Granthi sahib of Gurdwara Lalita park for the departed souls and than Parshad was distributed.

B S Vohra
President
East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
(A Federation of RWAs of Delhi East)
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Top 5 Sikh Blogs

Top 5 Sikh Blogs

There are dozens of blogs related to Sikhism and Sikh issues on the internet, but most are not updated. To assist you in your search in finding knowledgeable, insightful and educational Sikhism blogs, we have put this top 5 list together. These blogs have have a variety of focuses, from daily experiences as a practicing Sikh to Gatka, the martial arts of Sikhism. The top 5 Sikhism blogs (in no specific order) are:

1. The Langar Hall
The Langar Hall is a space dedicated to the experiences, reflections, and interests of a diverse group of young individuals tied together by our common and varied identities as Sikhs in the diaspora.

2. Mr Sikh Net
Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa is a Sikh of non-Asian origin and Mr Sikh Net is an online journal that shares his and his families experiences, thoughts, local sangat and how they live as Sikhs.

3. Sikhi Wiki
A web based encyclopedia of the Sikh Way of Life written collaboratively by many of its readers.  Many people are constantly improving SikhiWIKI, by constantly making changes. Although this is more of a wiki than a blog, we thought this should be included in any list regarding Sikhism.

4. SikhsIndia
The SikhsIndia blog is a great resource for news and updates on the worldwide Sikh communities. It also has a great number of photo galleries from various Sikh community events, adding some bright and joyous color.

5.  Spirit of the Sikh
Every Sikh has their story to tell and Spirit of Sikh shares this blogger’s experience in a very poetic and spiritual way. It is a collection of thoughts and reflections as the blogger journey’s on this path with the Guru. In these essays, poems, and random thoughts – the Spirit of Sikh blogger hopes to learn more about them-self, learn more about their Guru, and strengthen the bond between the two.

Other blogs we found insightful and interesting are:
American Turban
Martial Art Gatka


with thanks : Chakra News : link above.


SikhsIndia
www.SikhsIndia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Guru Nanak Dev ji's Parkash Purab : SikhsIndia




SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

1,500 Sikhs parade through Whalley Range and Old Trafford for opening of new temple
























with thanks to memmedia UK : link above for detailed news .

Sikhs celebrate new Sri Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara temple

Thousands of Sikhs have gathered to celebrate the opening of the community's first new temple in Manchester for 35 years.
An official opening ceremony was held at the £2m Sri Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara in Whalley Range.
Celebrations are expected to last three days with a huge firework display planned.
Prakash Singh, general secretary of the gurdwara, said it was a great day for the Sikh community.
"It's 35 years since a new temple has opened in Manchester and we are very excited," he said.
Festive treats
With thanks : BBC News : link above for detailed news story.