London gurdwara gutted in suspected racist attack

Press Trust Of India
London, March 18, 2009

One of London's most important gurdwara, housing priceless religious books, has been gutted in a suspected racist attack in Britain, a news report said on Tuesday.
Eye-witnesses on Tuesday said a man, who entered the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat in East London, managed to escape just before flames were first seen.
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A group of women, who had spotted the intruder, tried to put out the raging flames in one of the holiest parts of the gurdwara, which was built at Bow in 1979.
Most of the gurdwara's roof collapsed and worshipers fear all but one of its eight holy books have been destroyed, The Evening Standard newspaper said on Tuesday.
Eye-witnesses described the suspected arsonist as being black or mixed-race. A worshiper said he had noticed racist graffiti on one of the gurdwara's outer walls in the past few weeks.
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A criminal investigation has been launched and police and fire investigators are treating the blaze as suspicious.
The building, which dates back to 1854 was formerly a synagogue and before that a chapel. The London Fire Brigade confirmed that 75 per cent of the building and the roof had been damaged by the fire.
"Police are treating this incident as suspicious," a Metropolitan police spokesman was quoted as saying by the British daily.

with thanks Hindustan times & PTI, London

Thousands of Sikhs throng Ram Rai Gurudwara in Dehradun

Thousands of Sikhs throng Ram Rai Gurudwara in Dehradun
Dehradun, Mar 16 (ANI): Thousands of Sikh devotees are thronging the Ram Rai Gurudwara in Dehradun for the annual ‘Jhanda Mela’ or the flag fair.
The two-day festival takes place after ‘Holi’.
The fair begins with the flag hoisting ceremony on the occasion of the birthday of Guru Ram Rai. People from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh throng the fair.
"The Sikhs come here from across the country. It is believed that whoever comes here to offer prayers, their wishes are fulfilled. This is the reason why the number of people thronging this shrine is increasing every year," said R.K Juyal, a coordinator at the fair.
The devotees said the shrine holds a special place in their heart for it fulfils all their wishes.
"I had come here way back in 1991. I am lucky that I have got a chance to visit it once again in this life time. I have come here to pray for peace in my family," said Kartar Singh, a devotee.
The shrine named after Ram Rai, the seventh Sikh Guru was established in the 17th century in Dehradun.
With thanks : Ashish Goel (ANI)

Happy new year

Wishing you Happy New Year

as per Nanakshahi callender.

SikhsIndia

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Khalsa mero roop hai khaas - a slide show presentation.

Khalsa mero roop hai khaas - a slide show presentation can now be viewed
on www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com as well the sikh portal www.sohnijodi.com.
Best regards
SikhsIndia

World record broken : over 25000 donate blood at Anandpur sahib.

Sikhs have shattered the earlier record of blood donation, any where in the world. Sikhs crossed 20000 & touched 25000 Units, way ahead of the last record of 13000 units in a single day. Thanks to the Akal Takht and SGPC which organised such a massive blood donation camp.
This blood will save the life of thousands of persons. More details will be uploaded soon.

Khalso mero roop hai khas - a beautiful slide show presentation

SikhsIndia has launched a beautiful slide show presentation : KHALSO MERO ROOP HAI KHAS. It has been uploaded on our blog. Just click on the widget and when it opens, just read n click to view next slide of the complete presentation. We will anxiously wait for your valued comments.

Its also being mailed to the sikh database with SikhsIndia with a request to download, view and forward to friends and relatives. If you wanna view the presentation, please mail us a request and we will be more than pleased to forward you a copy.

Best regards
Team
http://www.sohnijodi.com/
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www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sikhsindia

Akal Takht accuses Sidhu of hurting Sikh sentiments

Akal Takht accuses Sidhu of hurting Sikh sentiments

5 Mar 2009, 2202 hrs IST, PTI

AMRITSAR: After spinner Harbhajan Singh, it was the turn of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu to earn the ire of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, which today accused him of taking part in "yagna" and wearing a thread across his body and allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs. The Akal Takht asked BJP MP Sidhu to come out with an apology to it "to pacify the anger of Sikh community before the situation could turn more serious". Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh said numerous complaints were received at Akal Takht against Sidhu alleging he had committed acts which were against the practice of Sikh community and hurting Sikh sentiments. Jathedar said a complaint received by the Akal Takht said Sidhu, along with his party activist district-level BJP leader Rajinder Mohan Singh Chinna, took part in a "havan yagna" held at the residence of Punjab cabinet Minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla. Jathedar alleged 'Divya Joyti Jagran Sansthan' was behind the 'yagna' at Chawla's residence and Akal Takht considered "this organization as anti-Sikh since it had indulged in blasphemous acts for a long time against Sikhs".
with thanks : timesofindia.indiatimes.com