Another Golden Temple in Punjab

New Delhi, June 6: Want to visit Golden Temple? No, Amritsar is not the only destination if the designs of Baba Balwant Singh Sirhore gets successful.

It's indeed surprising that at Mast Vane in Punjab's Malwa district, construction of an exact replica of Golden Temple is going on in full swing and almost 80 pc of the work is done.

In a clear cut agenda of igniting passion and hurting religious sentiments, the construction has been going on for the last two years. Six months earlier, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has ordered to stop the construction.

In order to cash in on Golden Temple fame, SGPC's orders were ignored and the construction is very much on.

Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) Chief Avtar Singh Makkar was obviously upset with the proposed plan of constructing a replica of the Golden Temple.

Talking exclusively to zopag.com, Avtar Singh Makkar said, Copying is bad. It should not be done. Constructing anything equivalent to Darbar Saheb is nothing but bad?.

We oppose the plan of Golden Temple replica. We will investigate the matter, he added.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Delhi unit chief Manjit Singh totally disapproved of the construction.

Manjit Singh said, "Religious sentiments are associated with it. It should not be done. And by the way, if you are investing so much money, then why go for a replica. Construct something original."

Manji Singh expressed fears that the construction of a replica of Golden Temple will only start an agitation in Punjab. He cited the controversy created by Ram-Rahim sometime back when they dressed up like Guru Govind Singh Ji.

The construction will pose a serious threat to Punjab's law and order and peace and prosperity. Some unwanted elements are always up to such plans to ignite passions and to gain cheap popularity. If things like these go unchecked, then we will have many Patna Sahebs and Huzoor Sahebs. The Golden Temple is culturally the most significant place of worship of the Sikhs and one of the oldest Sikh gurdwaras. It was established by Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth guru of the Sikhs, and is, also due to the shrine, known as Guru Di Nagri meaning city of the Guru.

The Darbar Sahib is considered holy and beautiful by Sikhs because the eternal Guru of Sikhism, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is present inside in it. The temple is surrounded by a large Sarovar (manmade lake), known as the AmritSar (Lake of Holy Water or Immortal Nectar).

with thanks : source : http://www.zopag.com/news/another-golden-temple-in-punjab-pics/3156/0

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Christians condemn attack on Sikhs in Kashmir

June 09 2009

JAMMU, Jammu & Kashmir : The attack on minority Sikhs in Rangret of Budgam district June 4 by the members of the majority community was strongly condemned by the Displaced Catholic Christian Forum, the All Jammu and Kashmir Catholic Sabha, the leaders of political parties and social organisations.

Reports reaching Jammu said a group of majority community members attacked the Sikh Guruduwaras and the houses of the Sikh community at Rangret in the Budgam, 8 kilometres from the summer capital of the State, Srinagar.

The report said the trouble erupted over a cricket match.

In a statement, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) condemned the attack and said such shameful acts have hurt the religious sentiments of the entire Sikh community across the world.

It further urged the government to take effective measures and protect the minorities of the Kashmir Valley. The statement also warned of possible reaction from other parts of the country if such attacks in Kashmir on the minority Sikh community continue.

Meanwhile, National Sikh Front district president Udhampur, S. Kulwant Singh, has also condemned the attack on Sikh religious places. He has also taken strong exception to the action of the miscreants wherein it is reported that the miscreants disrupted the cremation of an elderly Sikh woman at Didar Pura village.

It is reported that the miscreants had forced the Sikhs to bury the body of the woman instead of cremating it.

The Displaced Catholic Christian Forum condemned the murderous attack on the members of the Sikh community and asked the government not to play mute spectator as it had when the entire Kashmiri-speaking Catholic community had to abandon Kashmir under similar circumstances in 1990.

Those who also condemned the attacks include All Jammu and Kashmir Catholic Sabha, Mr. Raman Bhalla, MLA, All State Kashmir Pandit Conference, Punun Kashmir.

The Kashmiri Pandits Organisations have called it a conspiracy aimed at terrorising the remaining minority groups so that they also migrate like 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits and some families of Kashmiri Pandit Catholic Christians.

Courtesy : Sarnews; http://www.indiancatholic.in/news/storydetails.php/12322-1-1-Christians-condemn-attack-on-Sikhs-in-Kashmir

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Smethwick Sikh leaders grateful to police

Jun 9 2009 by Chris Henwood, Birmingham Mail

POLICE officers have won praise from Sikh leaders for rebuilding community links in the aftermath of violence at Vaisakhi celebrations in April, 2007.

Committee members from the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Smethwick High Street, surprised Insp Jamie Pearson and Sgt Simon Hensley with commemorative plates to thank them for their support over the years and wish them well as they prepare to move on to new roles.

The officers have been working closely with the temple committee following a violent disorder at the Vaisakhi celebrations in.

Following the 2007 incident, that resulted in a man being seriously injured, the Sikh community came under severe scrutiny by the media, and relationships among the local community became strained.

Committee president ­Tarsem Singh Shoker said: “We are very grateful for the work the officers have carried out for our community and we look forward to working with their successors and West Midlands Police. We wanted to formally recognise the hard work Insp Pearson and Sgt Hensley have put in over the years to show our appreciation.”

Insp Pearson said: “The Gurdwara and committee have worked hard to rebuild the reputation of its community and embraced our support and assistance, making our job a lot easier.”

with thanks : source : http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/06/09/smethwick-sikh-leaders-grateful-to-police-97319-23822274/

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200 Sikhs leave for Pakistan for Guru Arjun Dev martyrdom anniversary

2009-06-09 14:20:00

Amritsar, June 9 (ANI): Nearly 200 Sikh pilgrims left for Pakistan on Tuesday from the Golden Temple in Amritsar to mark the 403rd martyrdom anniversary of fifth guru of Sikhs, Guru Arjun Dev.

The group led by Baldev Singh, a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), will also visit various holy Sikh shrines situated in Pakistan, including Nankana Sahib, birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal and Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad.

"We are going to observe the martyrdom day of Guru Arjun Dev," said Baldev Singh.

This year the number of devotees who applied for visa to Pakistan for the pilgrimage was 240, much lower compared to previous years.

Trip organisers blamed the ongoing turmoil in Pakistan for the fall in numbers. However, even the ongoing strife in Pakistan has failed to dent the spirits of those on the trip to Lahore.

"I'm not afraid of going to Pakistan. Death will come only when and where it is meant to be. My god is with me and I have nothing to fear," said Manmohan Singh, a devotee.

The youngest son of, Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Dev was born in 1563 A.D. He was the founder-builder of the Golden Temple.

Guru Arjun Dev expanded the city of Amritsar and Kartarpur and founded the city of Tarn Taran.

Guru Arjun Dev was arrested and brought to Delhi where he was tortured for five days prior to his execution on the orders of Mughal Emperor Jehangir, who believed the Guru had conspired against him.

Guru Arjun Dev was barely 43 years old at the time of his martyrdom. (ANI)

With thanks : source : http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jgjoujggcga&title=200_Sikhs_leave_for_Pakistan_for_Guru_Arjun_Dev_martyrdom_anniversary

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Sikh religious festival starts tomorrow

Sikh religious festival starts tomorrow
Monday, 08 Jun, 2009 | 10:28 AM PST |


TAXILA: A three-day Sikh religious festival Joti jot will start at Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal from Tuesday.

Around 500 Sikh pilgrims from India are likely to participate in the festival, besides from different parts of the country. Joti which literally means the ‘light joining another light’ is also used for ‘joining of the light of the human person (soul) to the Supreme Light (God)’.

According to the Sikh religion, Gurus and Sikh scriptures teach that if someone is immortal (or attained immortality during the course of their life), he does not die even after he leaves this world as he rejoins God.

During the festival, the pilgrims will offer their religious rituals, including yatra of the Punja on a stone from where fresh water flows, Ashnan (bath in the holy water of the Gurdwara). They will also visit symbolic shrine of Baba Wali Qandhari at the hill top.

Evacuee Trust Property Board Deputy Administrator (Shrines) Syed Faraz Abbas told mediapersons that all necessary arrangements for the boarding and lodging of the pilgrims had been made. He said due to prevailing security situation in the country, enhanced security measures would be adopted for the safety of Indian Sikh yatrees.

Mr Abbas said district police with the assistance of other law-enforcement agencies had already made elaborate and foolproof security arrangements for the pilgrims during their stay at Hassanabdal.

He said strict security measures would be adopted in and around the Gurdwara with the help of close circuit cameras. He said all religious places and main routes in the city were under the vigilance of police and other law-enforcing agencies.

with thanks : source : http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/entertainment/16-sikh-festival-starts-tomorrow-hs-09

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Exhibition of rare Guru Granth Sahib Birs

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 6, 2009
The newly set up Guru Granth Sahib Resource Centre in Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan in the Capital is holding a unique exhibition of some rare Guru Granth Sahib Birs in the world. On display will be the world’s smallest printed Guru Granth Sahib Bir as also the world’s largest handwritten holy book of the Sikhs.

Director of the Guru Granth Sahib Resource Centre Mohinder Singh says the smallest printed Bir is 2.5 cm in length, 2 cm in breadth and 3 cm in height and the biggest Bir, popularly known as Chandani Bir, has been brought from Afghanistan by Sikh refugees.

“The Sadan has set up world’s first digital library on Sikh religion and will now make available online more than 200 digitised rare Guru Granth Sahib Birs, including some rare Birs with Nishans of the Gurus. Also on display will be reproductions of folios from the Kartarpuri Bir, which was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev and installed in the Golden Temple in 1604. This Bir is preserved in original with the Sodhi family of Kartarpur near Jalandhar and has Nishans of Guru Arjan Dev as mark of authentication. Among other rare objects will be the copy of first camera photo of the Golden Temple by William Baker, taken around 1864-66,” says Singh.

The exhibition is the result of a collective initiative taken by the National Institute of Panjab Studies, a sister institution of the Sadan, which took up the Herculean task of locating, cataloguing and digitising the Birs in connection with the quadri-centenary of installation of Guru Granth Sahib in 2004.

During the fieldwork, a team from the institute was able to digitise rare Birs with different Takhts in India, universities in Punjab and private collectors. Images of Birs from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the UK and the US were taken by the team.

People can view these rare Birs at the Sadan from June 10 onwards. The exhibition, the first of its kind, will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur and other dignitaries, says Singh.

With thanks : source : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090607/main6.htm

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Sikh-Muslim conflict in J&K misunderstanding: Shahi Imam

6 Jun 2009, 2206 hrs IST, TNN

LUDHIANA: Terming the conflict between Sikh and Muslim community in Srinagar as misunderstanding, Shahi Imam, Jama Masjid Habibur Rehman Sani who is
also president of Majlis Ahrar, said all misunderstandings had been sorted out, following the intervention of religious heads of both the communities.

In a press conference held in Jama Masjid on Saturday, the Imam said that it was true that some children of Sikh and Muslim community clashed with each other while playing cricket on Wednesday. “But, some miscreants misreported the matter in a nearby village saying that Sikh boys had attacked Muslim kids. However, things got settled as soon as religious leaders of both the communities intervened and cleared the misunderstanding,” said Imam.

He said Kamal Nain Singh, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Srinagar, and Maualana Shaukat, president, Ulema Council, J&K, had held a meeting with the community members to address the issue and clear the misconceptions.

Imam also claimed that he had a phone conversation with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Umar Abdullah, who ascertained that the situation was under control. “We, however, condemn whatever has happened in Srinagar. Both the communities have been very close to each other in the past and such incidents only spoil the atmosphere. We all pray that the situation comes under control and people maintain an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood in not only the state, but also across India,” added Imam.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ludhiana/Sikh-Muslim-conflict-in-JK-misunderstanding-Shahi-Imam/articleshow/4625568.cms

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