Sikhs to have separate marriage law soon

Sikhs are likely to have a separate marriage law soon with the ministry of home affairs planning to move the Union Cabinet in this regard Ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, the Centre has decided to accede to the long-standing demand of the Sikh community for enacting a separate Anand Marriage Act, giving legal sanctity to the marriages under Sikh religion, official sources said.

So far, Sikh marriages are solemnised under Hindu Marriage Act after the annulment of the Sikh Marriage Act in 1955.

Prior to Independence, marriages among Sikhs were held under the Anand Marriage Act in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib and the practice continued till 1955 when the Sikh Marriage Act was replaced and included in the Hindu Marriage Act, clubbing four communities together-- Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain.

The sources said after the Cabinet clears the proposal, a bill in this effect will be tabled in Parliament and once it gets approval, Sikhs can marry under the new law.

with thanks : Hindustan times : link in the headline above for detailed news.

They make city proud with achievements

LUDHIANA: Creating a platform to recognize the efforts of Ludhianvi Sikhs, who have been remarkable in their respective spheres of life, and honouring them with lifetime achievement awards is an inspiring idea.

Sikh Welfare Council took this initiative and a few noteworthy Ludhianvis awarded at the function were Onkar Singh Pahwa of Avon Cycles, Harbhajan Singh Chugh of Oster Knit, Gurcharan Singh of Gulzar Group of Institutes, Dr Chanbir Singh of RG Stone Hospital andBollywood music director Ravinder Singh.

With thanks : Times of India : link in headline for detailed news.

Guru Nanak legacy in Odisha forgotten

The locals of Jajpur district seem to have forgotten Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, who, during his pilgrimage to Puri, had landed in Jajpur in 1506.

“A well was dug in Jajpur town to provide water to Guru Nanak and his disciples during their visit to the place. A large number of people used the well considering the water to be holy like the water of the river Ganga. But now some influential persons in a clear nexus with officials are trying to damage the 500-year-old well,” said Gurucharana Singh Gill of State Sikh Pratinidhi Board.

The ancient well is now covered with garbage. It is a matter of regret that some persons are trying to erase the memory of Guru Nanak by leveling the well. The altar (gadi) of Guru Nanak near Barahanath temple in Baranath village of Jajpur town, where Nanak sat during his visit to Jajpur, is also neglected.

“Though belated, the altar of Guru Nanak and the 500-year-old well could still be restored to its original design,” said a researcher of Jajpur Eakadashi Padhi.

with thanks : dailypioneer : link in headline above for detailed news.

GHPS - Hargobind Enclave - Adventure camp for Students

Adventure Camp in GHPS, Hargobind enclave, where teachers also participated alongwith the students !

Chinese restaurant ad causes controversy

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DUBAI // An advertising agency has come under fire for a Chinese restaurant advertisement that its critics say is racist.

The advert for China Times, which has branches in Deira City Centre and Jumeirah Plaza, features photographs of three men - a Sikh, an Arab and a black man - whose eyes have been digitally altered to look Chinese, with the slogan "Brings out the Chinese in everyone".

Created in 2009 by an agency in Dubai, the advertisement was approved by the restaurant but never used. It was also entered in an advertising industry competition in Dubai.

Now the ad has found its way on to the internet and has attracted criticism, particularly among users of social media websites.

"I feel it is really shameful to see a ridiculous stereotype like that used to promote a restaurant," said Katrina Hall, an Australian expatriate who lived in China for six years and is fluent in Mandarin.

"Surely people have more intelligence than that? Surely there is a better way to attract customers?"

She added: "I personally find the advertisement to be highly offensive and racist and I am sure I am not alone. In a country as diverse and culturally rich as UAE, which has such a huge number of people from all around the world, I would hope that there would be a bit more respect than just making a mockery of 'slanted eyes'."

TD&A DDB, the agency that created the ad, entered it in the Dubai-based Lynx awards for the advertising industry, but it did not win.

with thanks : thenational : link in headline for detailed news.

Gurudwara Kitchen

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above.

Judge – border guards can order removal of Sikh turbans

A court has ruled that when border guards ordered British-Sikh Shaminder Puri to remove his turban at Warsaw airport in October 2009 they were “acting within the law”.

Warsaw airport

Judge Jacek Tyszka ruled that though Warsaw airport border guards had violated his dignity when he was passing through controls at the airport, the action was not illegal under Polish law.

“Such an inspection may be unpleasant but it is sometimes necessary,” the judge ruled.

Puri, who was not in court to hear the verdict, told the Gazeta Wyborczanewspaper by telephone yesterday that “I am disappointed by the verdict. Now we must carefully read of the judge's ruling and consider an appeal”.

Shaminder Puri, a fluent speaker of Polish after he studied for a degree in the country 30 years ago, had demanded a public apology from the border guards and media which had covered the case, and 10,000 euro be paid to charity.

with thanks : thenews : link in headline above for detailed news.

Sehajdhari row: Sikh hardliners condemns HC verdict

Amritsar: Radical Sikh organisations on Wednesday condemned the order of Punjab and Haryana High Court, which allowed 'sehajdharis (non-baptised Sikhs) to cast votes in SGPC polls.

"The High Court decision has plunged the Sikh community into fresh crises...Sehajdharis are non-Sikhs, describing them as part of Sikhism is untrue," Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said.

He said due to some political reasons, Sehajdharis were given voting rights in 1959 though there was no such provision in the original Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.

However, this "anomaly" was corrected in 2003 when a Union government notification debarred Sehajdharis from casting votes in SGPC polls, he said.

with thanks : IBNLive : link in the headline above for detailed news.

SGPC to challenge HC verdict on Sehajdhari Sikhs' voting rights

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee will be challenging the verdict delivered by Punjab and Haryana high court granting voting rights to Sehajdhari Sikhs, in the Supreme Court.

A day after the Punjab and Haryana high court gave a verdict the SGPC and the SAD went into a huddle to discuss the issue. The matter will also come up for in depth discussion in core committee meeting of SAD scheduled for Thursday evening.

"The SGPC will not take it lying down," saidSukhdev Singh Dhindsa, senior SAD leader.

The newly elected SGPC is also likely to appeal to the Sikh Gurdwara Commission not to issue orders of re-election but to challenge the matter in the Supreme Court. On the flip side, on Wednesday, a delegation of Sehajdhari Sikhs met Sikh Gurdwara Commission chief H S Brar, and handed him over a copy of the HC verdict quashing the notification denying voting rights to them.

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

Gurmat Samagam : Sri Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha