Happy New Year 2011

I wish you Health... So you may enjoy each day in comfort.
I wish you the Love of friends and family... And Peace within your heart.
I wish you the Beauty of nature... That you may enjoy the work of God.
 I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities.For those things that really matter in life
 I wish you Generosity so you may share... All good things that come to you.
I wish you Happiness and Joy... And Blessings for the New Year.
I wish you the best of everything... That you so well deserve.  
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 
With Best Regards
B S Vohra
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com

Rebel Queen – a thorn in the crown

The film Rebel Queen tells the remarkable story of the last Sikh ruler of Lahore – a fearless Maharani who waged two wars against British rule in India. She is an inspiring figure for young Asian women today.

An Indian woman wearing a crinoline over her traditional clothes, and emeralds and pearls under her bonnet, walks in Kensington Gardens in 1861. She is the last Sikh queen of Lahore, the capital of the Punjab empire, and her name is Jindan Kaur. She died two years later, in 1863, and was buried in west London.

Maharani Jindan Kaur's life – much of which was spent raging against the British empire for cheating her out of the Punjab, then a vast country stretching from the Khyber Pass to Kashmir – is the subject of a film called Rebel Queen, which premiered at New York's International Sikh film festival and is set to be shown in the UK in February.

Her revolt began when her husband, the last Maharaja of the Punjab, died of a stroke in 1839 and the British tried to wrest the kingdom from the heir to the throne, her infant son, Duleep Singh. During her rule as regent, Jindan waged two disastrous wars against the British that led to the annexation of the Punjab. She may have made huge strategic errors due to her military inexperience and young age (she was in her early 20s), but Jindan was a fierce ruler. British historian Peter Bance describes her as a "very gutsy woman". "She stood her ground against the British . . . she actively took charge of the Punjab."

with thanks : guardian : link above for detailed news report.

SikhsIndia

Sikh pilgrimage train reaches its first destination

Anandpur Sahib, December 30

The Sikh pilgrimage train reached its first destination Anandpur Sahib an hour before its scheduled time at 7 am today.

On board, 88 passengers from an eight-month-old girl to 75-year-old elderly carried an infectious enthusiasm. Travelling in five-star facilities, they paid obeisance at Takht Keshgarh Sahib. Against the capacity of 80, 88 passengers are on board, who are from the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France and India.

The train belongs to the Maharashtra Government, which had sent the train unoccupied from Mumbai to Delhi.

The CEO (The Luxury Holidays), Sajive Trehan, said the train was being run on the pattern of Palace on Wheels, wherein passengers’ comfort was the prime factor.

“I always wanted to run a train for the five Takhts on the pattern of Palace on Wheels. I met Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal at New York, where he agreed to the proposal. With the help of the Punjab Government, this Shan-e-Khalsa train chugged out on its maiden visit,” Sajive said.

with thanks : sikhsangat : link above for detailed report.

SikhsIndia

Luxury Sikh pilgrimage train departs from New Delhi

A luxury train covering the spiritual odyssey including the five Takhts (temporal seats) of Sikhs was flagged off from New Delhi.

The nine-day journey costs between rupees 210,000 to 450,000 per person. Despite the hefty fare, the first trip of the train witnessed full booking for all the 80 seats.

Many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign nationals from US, Canada, Germany and France boarded the train along with a good number of passengers from India.

Christened as 'A Spiritual Journey to the Gurus' Abode', it will cover the five Takhts (temporal seats) of Sikhs including Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Akal Takht, Takht Damdama Sahib, Takht Hazoor Sahib, Takht Patna Sahib.

Most of the journey and stay of the passengers will be on the luxury train apart from the section between Mumbai and Patna and the return from Patna to Delhi that would be covered by air.

Former Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities, Trilochan Singh, said the train is a welcome initiative that will boost tourism in the country.

"This is the first time that a luxury train in India has been especially organised for the tour of all the Sikh pilgrimage centres. The Sikh community has five seats (Takhts) which are called the highest seats of Sikh religion viz. Anantpur Sahib, Amritsar, Damdama Sahib, Hazoor Sahib Nanded and Patna Sahib," said Trilochan Singh.

with thanks : SIFY : ANI : TRIBUNE : link above for detailed news report.

SikhsIndia

Pics : Gurmat Samagam : Sri Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha

 

 

 

 

 

Organised by :
SRI GURU NANAK SEWAK JATHA,
Chand Mohalla,
Gandhi Nagar,
Delhi

BBC Remembrance - The Sikh Story

with thanks : BBC & YouTube

Sikh ‘Gatka' group performs in Singapore

An Indian group performing Gatka, a weapon-based martial art by Sikhs, enthralled the audience by the art of defence at a religious festival held by the Sikh community here.

‘Bir Khalsa Gatka Group' from Punjab's Taran Taran, which has been promoting the Gatka art which originated in the late 19th century out of sword practice in the British Indian Army, performed during ‘Naam Ras Kirtan Darbar,' a three-day festival concluded on Sunday. “We are responding to the increasing number of calls from the global Sikh community for reviving this Gatka art among Sikhs,” said Manmohan Singh Bhagowal, who leads the 14-men group.

with thanks : The Hindu : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Bengal-born realtor builds bridges for Sikhs to bond

He deals in transport and real estate. And on any week day he could be seen sitting in his office located at his house at Mall Road, Dum Dum conducting his business. But Jagmohan Singh Gill is not a mere businessman. He is rather a crusader out to bridge the gap between Sikhs living in Punjab and those living elsewhere, especiallly the Sikhs of Bihar, particularly those living in Sasaram.

He has also taken upon with himself the mission to spread the message and the lofty ideals of the Sikh Gurus, the message of love, and camaraderie among human beings.

An avid student of Sikh history and culture, Gill, who was both born and brought up in Kolkata, learnt Gurumukhi with his own efforts and studied the history of the religion and its culture. thoroughly.

His article ‘Sikhs living in other states than Punjab’ was read at a seminar held on November 24 and November 25 at the Institure of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh.

with thanks : indian Express : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Luxury train on Sikh pilgrimage across India sold out

Chandigarh, Dec 26 (IANS) A unique pilgrimage of Sikh shrines across India on board the Deccan Odyssey luxury train is all sold out. Never mind if the nine-day journey costs a minimum of Rs.210,000 ($4,665) per person.

Titled 'A spiritual journey to the Guru's abode' on the Deccan Odyssey, all 80 seats for the first trip of the train, which begins from Delhi Wednesday, are taken.

The journey is not only religious in nature. It will have the passengers celebrate New Year's Day at the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines, in Amritsar. They will also be taken to historical and tourist destinations in Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur, Agra and Patna.

'This is an exclusive, once in a lifetime journey. All 80 seats are sold out. We have a mix of passengers from the US, Canada, Germany, France and a few from India also. People on board will begin their new year at the Golden Temple complex,' Sajive Trehan, CEO of The Luxury Holidays, told IANS.

The passengers aboard the first journey of the train to the five Sikh 'Takhts' - temporal seats - will also include a Bulgarian couple who are interested in the Sikh religion.

with thanks : sify : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

'Bringing Sikhs under US security scanner unfair'

Punjab Minister Manoranjan Kalia on Friday condemned the US for bringing the Sikhs of America under the security scanner yet again.

"No Indian, especially Sikh, is involved in terrorist activities in the US," Kalia, the Local Government Industry and Commerce Minister, said here.

"David Coleman Headley, who was involved in 26/11 attack on Mumbai, is an American national. But does this mean we too should bring all Americans under scanner?" he said.

with thanks : indian express : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Aurangabad artist writes holy book on rice grains

"I have written Sukhmani paath (holy chapter of a Sikh religious book) and I have sent it to the Guinness book of World records.

This would also go to the Guinness book of World records as I have got blessings from many people, I have the support of my parents as well. My wish is to take the holy book of Sai Baba to the Guinness book of World records," he said. (ANI)

with thanks : sify : link above for complete news.

sikhsindia