Pic of Khalsa coin by Nepal Government !

Amritsar: Sikh calendar released as Nanakshahi Samat 547

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has sounded the death knell for the Nanakshahi calendar finally by publishing a version that bears the stamp of the lunar-based traditional Bikrami calendar that Sikhs followed before 2003.

Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on Saturday released this new calendar here as Nanakshahi Samat 547 (2015-16) at his office in the Golden Temple complex. It coincided with the first day of the first month of Chet of the Sikh new year.

Notwithstanding the similarity of the new calendar with the Bikrami datebook, the Jathedar took the courage to claim that "it is a Nanakshahi calendar in letter and spirit, and all Sikhs must celebrate or observe their historic and religious occasions for the current year in accordance with it". When media sought to know whether the calendar was Bikrami or Nanakshahi, he got agitated and replied: "How many times do have I to say that it is Nanakshahi, and only Nanakshahi."

However when reference was made to the similarity with the Bikrami calendar that is in circulation currently, the jathedar avoided giving a reply. He, however, denied that there he or the SGPC had made any attempt to bury the Nanakshahi calendar. "This calendar (the one released on Saturday) is only for Nanakshahi Samat 547. The calendar for the next year (from March 14, 2016) will be based on the report of the soon-to-be-formed committee to sort out the issue," he said, indicating that the committee will be asked to give its report by 2015-end.

Takht Keshgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Mal Singh; Takht Damdama Sahib acting jathedar Giani Gurmukh Singh; Harmandir Sahib priests Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Gurminder Singh; SGPC officials Roop Singh, Manjit Singh, and Daljit Singh Bedi; and Golden Temple manager Partap Singh were present.

Hard to read

Printed in Gurmukhi, the calendar says "Nanakshahi Samat 547" right at the top. Even the date numerals are in Punjabi and Hindi, in scripts that only a few people in the modern age would be able to read. A vast majority of Sikhs would prefer consulting the common calendar.

Claiming that the SGPC and the jathedar had "killed" the Nanakshahi calendar, Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh said: "The community has been cheated. Nanakshahi calendar gave us an independent identity, which this calendar has buried secretly."

Date dispute

He also held the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership responsible, saying the proposed committee to resolve the issue was mere eyewash. "By the new calendar, there will be no Parkash Utsav (birth anniversary) of Guru Gobind Singh in 2015. The occasion is listed for Magh 3 (January 16, 2016). The martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev, which was in June one last year, will now be on May 22. The Parkash Utsav of Guru Ram Das, which was on October 9 last year, is on October 29 this year," he added.

The Parkash Utsav of Guru Granth Sahib, celebrated on September 1 since 2004 by the original Nanakshahi calendar, will now be celebrated on September 14. The martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur, which Nanakshahi calendar fixed on November 24, now will fall on December 16. The Gurta Gaddi Divas (coronation day) of Guru Granth Sahib has been changed from October 25 to November 13.

SAD (Delhi) president Paramjit Singh Sarna also accused the SGPC and the Akal Takht jathedar of "burying" the Nanakshahi calendar under pressures from Punjab's ruling family of the Badals.

with thanks : HINDUSTAN TIMES : LINK : for detailed news.

Shots fired during fight at Sikh temple !

The following information was compiled from Renton Police Department case reports and police personnel.

Shots were fired during an argument between two men at the Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sikh temple the afternoon of March 8.

A large fight and shooting was reported at about 2 p.m. at the temple, 5200 Talbot Road S., Renton.

The incident was still being investigated midweek, but it appeared there was a dispute between two men who are known to each other, according to Terri Vickers, a Police Department spokeswoman.

Two shots were fired, no one was injured, and the people involved have been identified, she said. No clear victim or suspect had been established as of mid-week.

with thanks : rentonreporter : LINK : for detailed news.

5-year sentence for Sikh Temple assault

A man convicted of assault during a riot at the Sikh Temple in 2012 was sentenced Friday to five years in prison and ordered to pay $48,900 in restitution.

A Sutter County jury in November convicted Mangal Singh Sanghera of assault with a deadly weapon for stabbing Balbar Bains.

Most of the onlookers at the sentencing were supporters of Sanghera. Some of them wrote letters to Judge Brian Aronson, questioning the jury's decision. Every seat in Aronson's courtroom was filled.

Attorneys debated the seriousness of Bains' injuries and discussed the impact of Sanghera's prison sentence on his family. His wife does not work, drive or speak English.

Defense attorney Sara Rief said Sanghera exited the gurdwara to find a brawl. She said Bains' injury was a half-centimeter puncture wound, not a stab wound.

with thanks : appeal-democrat : LINK : for detailed news.

'Shocked and upset' Christian mother told to send daughter, 11, to Sikh school fears she will become 'isolated'

with thanks : dailymail : LINK : for detailed news.

Super Sikh: Turban-Wearing Superhero Fights Injustice And Ignorance

with thanks : socialnewsdaily : LINK : for detailed news.

Meet Secret Agent Deep Singh, a hero who fights the Taliban in the new comic book series 'Super Sikh'

with thanks : NYdailynews : LINK : for detailed news.

Power of being #together #lookup with optimism !

We were just going to the bed when I got the message that our uncle had met with an accident & he has been taken to a hospital in south Delhi. We immediately rushed to the hospital & found him in a bad position. He had multiple fractures in his bone & doctors had asked for immediate operation in the morning. They asked us to arrange few bottles of blood by morning and handed over a big list of required medicines. While discussing the issue with doctors, they informed us that steel rods are to be inserted in place of multiple fracture.

My uncle felt very depressed when he came to know about the insertion of steel rods. He even started crying, not due to the pain, but due to the fact that if steel rods will be inserted, he won’t be able to walk freely in future. He toldme to do something but I could not understand that what to do or whom to talk at that late hours.

I have a big group of friends & I immediately placed the message on whatsapp. In minutes I got several messages from my friends that they are reaching there for donation of blood.

I got a call from one of my very close friend, a doctor himself. He told me to bring the X ray & other reports to him immediately. I took the reports & rushed towards my doctor friend. I discussed with him about my uncle that he was very depressed on finding the insertion of steel rods. My Doctor friend checked everything & suggested that we can move even without the operaton.

He suggested that if your uncle can take rest of two to three months, without any movement, with heavy weights on his legs, he can be perfectly ok even without the operation. I immediately discussed it with our other family members present in the hospital & we stopped the operation.

My uncle was very happy when he heard that he will be perfectly ok even without the insertion of steel rods. He got a great level of strength & was highly motivated & he started looking upwards with absolute optimism.

The next morning, he was shifted to our home. My friendly doctor visited us & performed the necessary actions on my uncle. It took him almost three months & he was OK. Doctors did certain physiotherapy techniques on him & soon he started walking on his own.

In the summer holidays we decided to go to Hemkund sahib where one has to walk 21 Kms one way i.e. 42 Kms both ways. My uncle came with us to the trip. That was the most memorable moment for all of us as he was walking freely on the hills with great strength & optimism. It was a moment of joy for all of us as our efforts were successful and our dearest uncle was absolutely on his own & he was walking even without any stick. All this could happen as all of us were #together & with positive #lookup in our mind.

Therefore, we must be optimistic even in the most grave situations as the light of optimism can brighten our future at any minute. Even you must log on to the website https://housing.com/ as it is a most optimistic website that can offer you a wide variety of property at various locations in India. You can also promote it by tagging @housing or +Housing-com with the hashtag #together and #lookup. 

Two days event to commemorate "Delhi Fateh Diwas"

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee (DSGMC) is all set to celebrate ‘Delhi Fateh Diwas’ on March 21 and 22 for the second consecutive year. Shiromani Akali Dal – Badal led DSGMC which took over two years ago conceived the plan of commemorating unfurling of the Khalsa flag over Lal Qila in 1783 by Baba Baghel Singh. “The efforts are being made to make it an annual program,” said Manjit Singh GK the President of DSGMC, making announcement for this year’s program talking to media persons here today.

GK said that as part of the two days program, on the first day on March 21 Kirtani Jathas would recite Gurbani and an attendance of over one lakh people of different religions is expected in the Kirtan Darbar. “The two day event commemorates the glorious past of Sikhs, their valour, and courage and this important fact of the Sikh history remained ignored for many years,” adds GK. “On March 22, Jarnaili March (Martial’s March) would converge at the Lal Qila Maidan. The march would begin from Pracheen Hanuman Mandir on the ring road, five head priests will lead the march and have Nihang Singh Jathebandis, police and military bands, different religious organizations and different Gatka groups,” informed GK.

Speaking on the occasion, DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, said that the Gurdwara Committee is celebrating the two event with religious fervor and Sikhs living all across the world would feel pride about the Sikh history.  He informed that Live telecast of the event has also been planned. He adds that duties have been given to committee staff and sewak jathas and Singh Sabhas have also been actively involved for the conduct of the two days event. 

“A light and sound and plays showing glorious Sikh history has also been organized in the evening on March 22,” adds GK. Further according him, heads of different religions would also take part and a number of voluntary organizations have come forward to take part in the two day event. 

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

Sikh student gets compensation in NZ racial harassment case

Melbourne: A Sikh student has been awarded 45,000 dollars in damages by a rights tribunal in New Zealand for racial harassment and humiliation he suffered at the hands of his Indian-origin employers.

Satnam Singh told the Human Rights Tribunal he suffered racial abuse, culminating in a physical assault, while employed for two months at Scorpion Liquor in Mount Roskill, a suburban area in the city of Auckland, The New Zealand Herald reported.

Singh was also paid less than minimum wage, earning between 6 to 7 dollars an hour. Store manager Shane Singh and his mother Raj Devi, who owns the business, did not respond to the claim and took no part in proceedings.

The decision of the tribunal said Singh took the part-time job in January 2012 after coming to New Zealand on a student visa.

During his two months at Scorpion Liquor, Shane Singh frequently made racial remarks. He also made comments about Singh's long hair, a requirement for his Sikh religion.

with thanks : Zee News : LINK : for detailed news.

Britain’s Sikh community tightens grip, asks candidates to adhere to the manifesto

LONDON: Britain's Sikh community are tightening their grip over the outcome of the upcoming general election with the Sikh Federation writing to the main candidates in over 100 constituencies urging them to adhere to their recently released election manifesto demanding allocation of a site in central London for a permanent monument to Sikhs who lost their lives in the World War 1. 

The politically active Sikh community have also called for a statutory code of practice on items of the Sikh faith in order to prevent discrimination in the workplace and public spaces besides an independent inquiry into the actions of the British government in relation to the Amritsar and Delhi massacres of 1984. 

Bhai Amrik Singh, the chair of the Sikh Federation said each candidate in the 100 constituencies are being asked to provide a general endorsement of the Sikh manifesto and indicate those items they are prepared to specifically commit to and work on if elected. 

Singh said "So far the Labour leadership continue to take the Sikh vote for granted. We will publish a summary of the responses from candidates in the 100 constituencies one month before the general election on May 7. We are also planning meetings with the leadership of the main parties to get their commitment to specific issues that will be shared widely with the 700,000 strong Sikh community. Sikh voters will then look at both the support of the party as well as the individual candidates before casting their vote". 

with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.