Hungry Vancouver man learns values of Sikhism after turning to Reddit for help

LARISSA CAHUTE

VANCOUVER DESI

When Vancouver’s Tommy Castelli — a recovering heroin addict who’s been clean for eight months and suffers from liver disease — ran out of money waiting for his December disability cheque to arrive, he turned to social media in a desperate search for a “free bite to eat.”

And while Reddit is often known for its trolls and cruel anonymous commenters, Castelli was greeted with a surprising response — generosity and a lesson in the values of Sikhism.

“I am hungry and have no money. I’ll save you the sad story, anyone know where I can either get a free bite to eat or food to cook today, I haven’t eaten in two days,” Castelli posted to the Reddit Vancouver board earlier this week.

“I live off a very small amount of money,” Castelli, who lives in an SRO in downtown Vancouver, told Vancouver Desi on Friday, clarifying that he wasn’t asking for money, but rather a safe place to find a free meal to tide him over until his next payment came in. “For the most part, people have been incredibly generous.”

“People gave me helpful advice and I was really moved.”

Some Redditors privately messaged Castelli and dropped off groceries, homemade meals and even meal tickets to a local community centre.

“It (also) started a really great conversation about Sikhism,” Castelli said.

One Reddit user pointed out that Castelli can “always have dinner at one (of) the Sikh temples,” and shared a link to a directory.

Another user further commented, expanding on the Sikh concept of ‘langar,” which is the kitchen found at all gurdwaras where free meals are served to visitors.

“Never forget this, every single Sikh temple in the world will welcome you with open arms (and) offer you free food without any sort of judgment,” the user wrote. “You will be welcomed there for free food, free of judgment, even if you came there every day for every meal. Nothing will be asked of you in return.”

with thanks : vancouverdesi : LINK : for detailed news.

Mixing tradition with fashion to bring style to Sikhism

Young Australian blogger Karan Kaur is treading a fine line between her Punjabi morals and her love of fashion.

Meet the 20-year-old student from Glendenning who's bringing some catwalk style into wearing a turban.

For Karan Kaur wearing a turban is the heart of her identity as a Sikh, but styling it up isn’t always easy.

That’s why she created “Style with Kaura” an Instagam account that mixes her Punjabi culture and her love of fashion. 

with thanks : SBS : LINK : for detailed news.

Sikh woman elected as council member in California

Washington: A Sikh woman has been elected for the first time as a council member of California's Yuba City that has one of the largest concentration of Sikhs in the US.  

The first women of Sikh descent to be elected as Yuba City council woman, Preet Didbal was sworn in by her daughter, Arianna Khan and her mother, Gurbaksh Didbal on Wednesday.

"This is a big day. It is very emotional and I still can't believe it," Didbal was quoted as saying by KCRA 3 News.

Currently a correctional health care services manager in the California Department of Corrections, Dibal said she encountered some of that traditional thinking during her campaign and was taken aback by it.

"In general, the women have always been more subservient and have followed the lead versus being the leader. Our culture is very different and hopefully starting to open up and educate young girls not to be subservient. It's exciting to be an example," Dibal was quoted as saying by the local Appeal Democrat newspaper.

PTI 

with thanks : Zee News : LINK

Walking side-by-side : Unconventioal Sikh wedding ceremony symolising Gender Equality

Shawn Singh Tucker and Baljit “Bally” Kaur Lehal walked  together side-by-side  around the Guru Granth Sahib during their marriage ceremony  in Atlanta, GA :visual indication of Egalitarianism in Sikhism

Someone would call this act unusual. Some would call it controversial while others might call it awesome. Regardless of one’s opinion, the bride-and-groom walking side by side around the Guru Granth Sahib (as opposed to the more common groom in front of the bride) is definitely an unconventional act.The couple thought about To do their Anand Karaj in this way so it would embody the Sikh spirit of equality more visibly.

“As a kid, when I watched my cousin sister get married, it didn’t make sense to me that the bride walked behind the groom,” said Shawn. “I wondered ‘If men and women are equal in Sikhi, like my parents keep telling me, why is it this way?’ From then on, I knew I wanted to try something different.” 

“In Sikhi, marriage is one of the biggest public statements that you make. Sadly, in our society men always come before women; men are central and public. But in Sikhi, we are supposed to be equal so, it really bothered me that our most sacred religious ceremony put the man first,” said Shawn. “Plus, I’ve told all my non-Sikh friends that equality is a core Sikh value so if they were to see me walking in front, it would be really hypocritical. It would make no sense.”

“I agreed with what Shawn was saying,” said Bally. “I was really supportive of his thoughts. Many people said we couldn’t do it side-by-side because it’s against tradition, but doing something simply because ‘it’s tradition’ doesn’t make sense. You need to know the logic behind it.”

Bally added, “We never got anywhere by following the rules. Guru Nanak broke every norm and questioned everything. That’s how Sikhi came about, by challenging the status quo. So, why should we stop now? Why shouldn’t we question things that don’t make sense?”

 Link :http://www.kaurlife.org/2014/12/02/unconventional-anand-karaj/

Jagriti Yatra - 300 saal guru de naal : SikhsIndia - 27.5.2008

Gurdwara San Sahib : SikhsIndia

Anandpur Sahib : Pics by : SikhsIndia : B S Vohra

Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib !

Six Sikhs ride through 4 countries to bow at Golden Temple : Times of India

AMRITSAR: Eight-year-old common dream of six Sikhs from Malaysia came true on Thursday when they arrived in the Holy City on their motorbikes after traversing 6,100 km through rough weather and terrain. "All my fatigue disappeared when I entered the city of the Golden Temple. I can't describe the feeling in words," one of the Malaysian bikers Gurwinder Singh told TOI. 

An insurance agent by profession, Gurwinder said that they had to wait years to get required permissions, especially from the Myanmar government. The group usually covered 350-400km everyday. "It was our heartfelt desire to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and an excitement that never let us get tired," he said. 

Another member of the expedition, Ravin Singh, a lawyer, said they spent nearly Rs 5 lakh each on their 17-day trip from Malaysia to India. "There were difficult times on our way to India, especially heavy rains in Malaysia and Myanmar and bad roads, but nothing deterred us. Our mission was to seek blessings of the Almighty at the Golden Temple," he said. 

The group began their tour from Petalingjays in Malaysia with another aim of spreading the message of world peace and passed through wide swathes of Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and India before reaching their dream destination. 

"People here are very cooperative and friendly. However, roads and sanitation have much scope for improvement in India," said another biker Resham Singh, who works in an automobile company. He said they had to spend a night in a forest in Burma. "That was an unforgettable experience," he said. 

Gurwinder said that there were 115 gurdwaras in Malaysia that followed the Nanakshahi calendar adopted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. However, he said their shouldn't be any confusion over the dates for observing Sikh religious festivals. He said they would leave for home by air and would send their bikes by ship.

with thanks : Times of India : MUST READ : LINK

University Parish of Leuven's visit to Gurdwara Sint-Truiden (Belgium) under the guidance of Professor Bert Broeckaert

Louke Manpreet Kaur Bamps                                                                                                           

 With Thanks :

Professor Bert Broeckaert ,
Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies,
KU Leuven,Belgium

Photo's Courtesy: Prof. Bert Broeckaert

DSGMC demand from Govt.of India for withdrawing security cover of anti Sikh genocide perpetrators

DSGMC demand from GOI for withdrawing security cover of anti Sikh genocide perpetrators Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler

New Delhi / 18 – 11 - 2014

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President Manjit Singh GK today raised demand from the Government of India for withdrawing security cover given to the leaders of congress party Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar who were responsible for perpetrating anti-Sikh genocide of 1984 which led to death of thousands of innocent Sikhs.  

These leaders are enjoying security cover since days of previous regime led by Congress party ruling the Government of India to show the investigating agencies that these two leaders should be protected and their interest should not be harmed, said  Manjit Singh GK.

“All these years Sajjan and Tytler continue to enjoy all the facilities of the Congress party government including the security cover. They were given prominent positions but now with BJP taking over the Government of India, a time has come when these leaders be punished according to the laid procedure of law and their security be withdrawn so that a message be sent to the Sikhs community that the present government is conscious about their issues,” demanded Manjit Singh GK.

GK said that security cover to these two leaders is a hindrance in delivery of justice to Sikh families who are victims of anti Sikh genocide as both Sajjan and Tytler have been using their security men to intimidate the witnesses who are very important in deciding cases against them.

GK said a number of meetings have taken place with the ministers of the BJP led Government of India including minister of home affairs Rajnath Singh. “Sikhs have high hopes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would resolve all issues related to the Sikhs which are pending for many years,” said GK.

GK, also president of Shiromani Akali Dal in Delhi, said in number of meetings with the ministers of government of India it was demanded to file charge against Sajjan Kumar in a case registered in Nangloi police station, setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate all cases of genocide and rehabilitation of victim families. “Response from the government on all these issues is awaited,” said GK.

With thanks,

Media DSGMC