COVID-19: Calgary Sikh temple ready to welcome back weddings as Stage 2 allows for more guests

Calgary Sikh Temple,Canada

Places of worship in Calgary are welcoming more guests now that Stage 2 rules are in place.

Stage 2 of Alberta’s relaunch strategy amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic took effect on June 12.

There is no cap on the number of people attending worship gatherings if physical distancing measures are in place. For outdoor events and indoor seated and audience events that are not worship gatherings, including wedding and funeral ceremonies, a maximum of 100 people are allowed.

Dashmesh Culture Centre in northeast Calgary,Canada

At the Dashmesh Culture Centre in northeast Calgary, there are taped markers on the floor to remind people to keep their distance. The huge prayer hall that used to allow for 500 Sikh faithful can now fit a maximum of 110.

“It brings everyone together and through all this, it’s been hard to be sitting at home and it just gives you a chance to reconnect and be able to clear your mind and enjoy getting out,” said Dashmesh Culture Centre volunteer Raj Sidhu. He said he has no safety concerns about attending services again since COVID-19 regulations shut down the gurdwara in March.

The gurdwara was quick to reopen at the start of June at when Stage 1 of Alberta’s relaunch went into effect.

Now, with Stage 2 rules allowing for 100 people maximum at indoor seated events, there has been a surge of interest in rebooking the dozens of cancelled weddings at the Sikh temple.

“It is a great impact because people have been waiting for years to get married, and with all this COVID-19 situation, everything is changed and weddings were cancelled so they are very excited and happy and lots of parents are excited,” said Dashmesh Culture Centre president Amanpreet Singh Gill.

Link:https://globalnews.ca/news/7072961/calgary-sikh-temple-weddings-covid-19-coronavirus/

Mr.Manjinder Singh Sirsa : DSGMCTO RUN 850 BEDDED COVID CARE CENTRES TO SERVE HUMANITY

Mr.Manjinder Singh Sirsa

DSGMC TO RUN  850 BEDDED COVID CARE CENTRES
TO SERVE HUMANITY : MANJINDER SINGH SIRSA
New Delhi June 16,2020: Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management
Committee today decided to create, run and operate 850  bedded
COVID care centres in premises of its Gurdwaras set up in
various locations in the national capital Delhi   to cater to those
with low-grade fever, sore throat, malaise and another such mild
symptom  to meet the growing demands of  hospital beds in
National Capital  said Manjinder Singh Sirsa President DSGMC
here today.

The decision was conveyed today in a letter sent to Delhi Chief
Minister Mr. Arvind Kejriwal signed by  Mr.Manjinder Singh
Sirsa President and Mr. Harmeet  Singh  Kalka General
Secretary DSGMC in which DSGMC requested the state govt to
accord necessary permissions and sanctions for immediate
operation of COVID care centres by DSGMC authorities  to
provide relief to patients at the earliest.

Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that these centres will provide 
  best medical care, oxygen and laboratory services  to COVID
patients  at these Covid Care Centres . He told that  DSGMC
took this initiative following the steep surge in COVID 19
patients in the national capital.

Mr. Sirsa said that DSGMC will take care of the breakfast, all
meals, drinking water, general medicines, oxygen,
haematological and biochemistry laboratory services for the
admitted patients.

He said that DSGMC  has offered  200 beds at  its  fully air
conditioned marriage hall at Gurdwara Nanak Piao Sahib, G.T.
Karnal Road, Near Rana Partap Bagh, Delhi-110033, 110 beds
(55 rooms)125 beds (4 halls) at  Guru Harkrishan Yatri Niwas,
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, New Delhi-110001 with facilities of
Split AC and lift  ,60 beds,(30 rooms) at  Guru Arjan Dev Yatri
Niwas, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi-110001 having
air conditioner facilities ,50 beds (Ground Floor),50 beds (First
Floor),15 beds (Basement) at Guru Hargobind Institute of
Management & Information Technology, Plot No.133, Road
No.72, Hargobind Enclave, New Delhi.110092 ,50 beds
(Ground Floor) 50 beds (First Floor) with air conditioned
facilities at Guru Harkrishan Public School, MS Block, Hari
Nagar. Delhi-110064 , 40 beds  Centrally Air-conditioned at
 Gurdwara Damdama Sahib, Near Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah,
New Delhi-110013.,25 beds (Ground Floor)  25 beds (First
Floor)  at  Guru Tegh Bahadur Polytechnic Institute, Poorvi
Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi-110057, 50 beds with Lift
facilities at  Guru Nanak Sukhshala, Block 'R'. Old Rajinder
Nagar, New Delhi-110060.

Mr.Manjinder Singh Sirsa also  requested Chief Minister Mr.
Arvind Kejriwal to  kindly grant  necessary permission to
Gurdwara Authorities to  set up the Covid-19 Care Centres on
the  above said locations with the provision of required doctors,
nurses and paramedical staff by Delhi Govt  where people with
low-grade fever, sore throat, malaise and other such mild
symptoms can be  admitted  and added that  If patient  condition
becomes critical, the patients can  be referred to the Covid-19
hospitals under Delhi Govt he added.

Mr. Sirsa disclosed that he had taken up the matter with the
Delhi Chief Secretary Mr. Vijay Kumar Dev who has assured to
take up the matter with the government and get it examined so
that these centres can be used at the earliest.

He also informed that he has also discussed the matter with
Member Parliament Mr. Sanjay Singh who was very positive
about the issue and he also has assured to take up the matter
with the CM and use these facilities for the welfare of people.

With Thanks :Mr. Sudeep Singh
 Honorary Media Advisor
DSGMC

DSGMC is creating 850-beds Covid-19 Care facility at various locations in Delhi

DSGMC is creating 850-beds Covid-19 Care facility at various locations in Delhi as per the list attached where patients will be given best medical care, oxygen and laboratory services as well

Urging Arvind Kejriwal Ji to grant necessary permissions

With Thanks: Sd. Vikram Singh ji,DSGMC 

 

First Postal Stamp on Golden Temple,Amritsar

Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Smethwick (UK):Sikh Temple Features in England’s Most Important Faith Buildings

Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Smethwick (UK)

A new listing of England’s most important faith building features Europe’s largest Gurdwara features alongside iconic locations such as Stonehenge and Canterbury Cathedral.

Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Smethwick, has been chosen alongside nine other places of faith to feature in A History of England in 100 Places which is being run by campaign body Historic England.

A citation by Historic England said the Gurdwara, which was built in the 1990s, housed one of the largest congregations in the UK and was the biggest in Europe.

“It continues to expand with Smethwick’s growing Sikh population,” it added.

“Community is at the heart of the Sikh faith and Gurdwaras are a focal point for communities to come together and get closer to God.”

The faith and belief category was judged by Reverend David Ison, dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, and narrowed down dozens of nominations from members of the public into a final ten.

Rev Ison said: “Sikh communities are an important and valued part of our social fabric.

“This particular Gurdwara shows the geographical spread of different faiths in our country and represents how different communities and cultures come together to enrich British society.”

Historic England’s chief executive Duncan Wilson said: “The history of faith and belief in England is rich and complex.“They tell us about dissent, conflict, tolerance and kinship between believers, as well as how the practice of faith has influenced and been influenced by the landscape.

“They show how England has a long history of people from different faiths leaving their mark in a legacy of special buildings and places which still make a strong spiritual connection today.”

Link:https://www.theasiantoday.com/index.php/2018/04/05/sikh-temple-features-in-englands-most-important-faith-buildings/

Max Healthcare faces flak for high COVID-19 treatment cost, says picture on social media 'does not have all facts'

Cllr Bira Sehmi elected first Sikh mayor of St Davids and possibly all of Wales

ST DAVIDS has welcomed its new mayor, Cllr Bira Sehmi, the first Sikh to be elected as Mayor not only in St Davids probably in Wales.

Cllr Sehmi was born in Nairobi, Kenya and was educated in Nairobi and London. He worked in various well-known international architects' practices in London, Surrey, and Hampshire

He has been visiting St Davids since the mid 1960s and married a local farmer's daughter, the Mayoress, Sylvia Sehmi.

The couple moved back to the city in 2010 and Cllr Sehmi was elected to the city council in 2017.

A keen cricketer, Cllr Sehmi is also a committee member of St Davids Community Forum, the city's Memory Cafe, Friends of Oriel y Parc and St Davids Historical Society

"It is a great honour to have been elected as mayor and my wife Sylvia as mayoress of St Davids City Council, the smallest city in Great Britain," said Cllr Sehmi.

"This has come at an exceedingly difficult period during the Covid-19 epidemic. I will endeavour to do my best to serve the local community during this challenging time.

"During this epidemic, the local community has shown its strength and agility in helping those who needed the most help in whatever way they could."

Cllr Sehmi thanked all the volunteers of St Davids Befrienders, the councillors and volunteers in helping with the St Davids Food Pod in the City Hall for the local needy families and to key workers.

"I extend my warmest thanks to all the NHS and all the related medical staff, supporting people from various walks of profession and life who have been working extremely hard to keep us going during this epidemic," he said.

"My condolences go to all those people who lost their loved ones to this awful Covid-19."

Cllr Sehmi said he looked forward to getting back to some sort of normality soon to kick start the local tourist industry and other businesses who have faced an uncertain and difficult time.

Link:https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18495940.cllr-bira-sehmi-elected-first-sikh-mayor-st-davids-possibly-wales/

Racism: Punjabi poem asking mother, 'Why do we have colours? Why is whit...

SGPC directs teachers to conduct online classes for religious studies

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—On June 12, the religious preachment wing of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee held a meeting of teachers teaching religious studies in SGPC run colleges and schools. All the teachers were directed to complete the syllabus via online classes.

It is noteworthy here that the SGPC is already organizing online religious camps across the state due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation.

In a press note shared with Sikh24, Manjit Singh Bath informed that all the teachers have been directed to conduct online classes via video conferencing so that the syllabus could be completed by time. “We have also directed teachers to apprise students with the history of upcoming centenaries,” he added.

All the teachers presented their views and recommendations for the continuing classes for religious studies in this tough time.

Vice-secretary Tejinder Singh Padda, Gurmeet Singh Buttar, Prof. Sukhdev Singh, Palwinder Singh Chitta, Supervisor Gurpreet Singh, Bhai Jagdev Singh, Bhai Jagtar Singh Khodebet etc. were also present on this occasion.

After 73 years of Indo-Pak partition, Muslim owners still await Hindu tenant to come back and open lock of his shop

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—At the time of India-Pakistan partition in 1947, a Hindu shopkeeper doing business on a rented shop was forced to leave his shop in Loralai, Balochistan (Pakistan) as he had to move to India. He locked his shop while asking the owner of the shop not to open the lock and wait for him to return.

The owner assured him that nobody will open the lock of his shop and he will wait for him to return back.

Even after 73 years of India-Pakistan partition, the tenant shopkeeper didn’t return and the owners of this shop have not opened the lock of his shop.

It is learned that the main owner of this shop died a few years back but he had told his children not to open the lock and wait for the return of the Hindu tenant, whose surname was ‘Kakkar’.

Almost 73 years have passed, the shop is still locked. The shop still awaits the occupant who may never return, but the promise has been kept which was made 73 years ago.

Link:https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1847374878286140975#editor/target=post;postID=2474441276520520603

Hate Crimes in US: Incident of Attack on Elder Sikh man comes to fore

NEW YORK, USA—While the United States of America is facing ire over racial murder of George Floyd, another incident of racial attack on an elder Sikh in Jefferson county has come to fore. A 61 year old Sikh named Lakhwant Singh was reportedly hit by a 36 year old man Eric Breeman with his car on April 29 this year due to which he suffered serious injuries.

After attacking Lakhwant Singh, Eric Breeman shouted at him while saying “go back to your country”.

Media reports reveal that Lakhwant Singh’s arm got broken in this attack besides damage to ribs, internal bleeding, multiple bone fractures, a fracture in the spinal cord and head injuries.

Sources have revealed that the Jefferson County’s District Attorney is not accepting this attack as racist or hate crime. The district attorney doesn’t consider shouting “go back to your country” enough for hate crime charges.

The Sikh Coalition has said that the attacker shouted profanity at Singh and his wife, Manjit Kaur, and repeatedly told the couple to “go back to your country”.

Asked if “go back to your country” was not racial, DA spokesperson Russell said: “Unfortunately, that kind of talk happens all too often, but that in itself is enough for us to be able to prove he was targeted/attacked for his race.”

Link:https://www.sikh24.com/2020/06/15/hate-crimes-in-us-incident-of-attack-on-elder-sikh-man-comes-to-fore/#.XuhTe5ozbIU