Thursday, September 24, 2009

4,000 Sikh pilgrims arrive from India

Thursday, September 24, 2009

LAHORE

AT least 4,000 Indian pilgrims, wearing colourful turbans and with smiling faces, arrived at Wagah Station to take part in the ceremony being held in connection with the 470th death anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Narowal.

The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) welcomed them at Wagah Station. Tonnes of petals were showered on them amidst drum beats and dancing horses especially arranged for their warm reception.

The pilgrims were entertained with a hearty lunch and drinks by Syed Asif Hashami, chairman of the ETPB.

Speaking at the Wagah Railway Station after arriving from India, the leader and senior member of Sharmini Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee, Sardar Ameerit Singh Wachaoo, said that after Maharaja Ranjeet Singh it was Syed Asif Hashami who had taken care of the sacred places of Sikhs in Pakistan and the Sikh community had no enough words to thank him.

He said the services Asif Hashami rendered for Sikhs were unparallel and he was respected by the Sikhs all over the world. He thanked Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani for appointing such a devoted person as chairman of ETPB.

Former Indian parliamentarian Sardar Guldeep Singh Wandala said that he was overjoyed at the reception they received at Wagha and wanted peace in the region. He said that he was happy over the security arrangements for the Sikh devotees and was thankful for the free residence, medical and transport facilities provided to them. He said, “We have not seen such good arrangements in the last 60 years.”

Sardar Balvinder Singh said that Asif Hashami had a lot of respect and love for the Sikh community and the Sikhs respect him a lot.

Dr Pertapal Singh, who has come from America, said that Asif Hashami had been able to successfully assembly people of two different religions in a befitting manner which was a big achievement.

Sardar Sham Singh, Sardar Bishen Singh, Sardar Soren Singh and many others also spoke. The pilgrims hoped that the governments of India and Pakistan would work to bring harmony and peace in the region while resolving all the disputes amicably. They said that visa restrictions should not be removed but they should be eased as regulations were also necessary to foil nefarious designs of those hidden elements that had been trying to disrupt peace efforts between two countries.

They said economic and cultural ties should be promoted in the region. They also stressed resolution of all contentious issues including Kashmir issue. They said both the governments should release prisoners languishing in jails of each other’s countries. They thanked the Pakistani government for providing them with first-class facilities at Wagah Station.

Speaking on the occasion, ETPB Chairman Asif Hashami said that Guru Nanak spread peace and love in this region and Mian Mir, Bhullay Shah and others spread the same message to make this region an area of peace.

He said, “More Sikhs should come to Pakistan and give us an opportunity to show hospitality towards them and when they return, their hearts should be filled with appreciation of our country.” Asif Hashami said that the President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani had issued special instructions for the wellbeing of the visiting Sikh pilgrims.

The visiting Indian pilgrims would visit various sacred places during their stay in Punjab. All the departments were working in collaboration and they have set up their counters separately to facilitate the pilgrims.

with thanks : source : http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=199775

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Gurmat samagam : Akhand Keertani Jatha Delhi

Please view details of 5 day programme at various Gurudwaras in Delhi by
Akhand Keertani Jatha Delhi ( Regd):


Abolish visas, demand Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan

by IANS on September 22, 2009

Over 350 Sikh devotees from India, who arrived in this Pakistani city to attend the death anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, have urged Islamabad and New Delhi to abolish visas for pilgrims.

The Sikh devotees, who are travelling under the aegis of India’s Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee, arrived here Monday and would be visiting Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib situated in Narowal district of Pakistan.

The devotees urged both the governments “to abolish the visas for the pilgrimages”, Geo TV reported Tuesday.

The group would also visit other Sikh shrines, including Punja Sahib, Dera Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Sacha Sauda Sahib and Rohri Sahib, before leaving for India Sep 28.

with thanks : source : http://www.latestnewsonline.net/world/abolish-visas-demand-sikh-pilgrims-to-pakistan/45033.html

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Sapreet Kaur named Executive Director of Sikh Coalition


Punjab Newsline Network
Tuesday, 22 September 2009

NEW YORK : Sapreet Kaur has been named as the new Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition. Sapreet Kaur was most recently the managing director of human assets strategy for Teach for America (www.teachforamerica.org), a national non-profit which focuses on eliminating educational inequity.

Sapreet Kaur served on the Sikh Coalition's Board of Trustees for the last one and a half years and will now lead the organization in a staff role. She will continue the work shepherded by Amardeep Singh, co-founder and outgoing Executive Director of the Coalition. Singh will be assuming the role of Director of Programs and Advocacy.

"We are thrilled to have a senior executive like Ms. Kaur on the Coalition's staff team," said Amardeep Singh. "I look forward to partnering with her to take the Sikh Coalition to a higher level of impact and growth."

Over the past three years, the Coalition has grown over 500% in its budget and staff. The Coalition opened an office in the San Francisco Bay Area last year, giving it coast to coast coverage for its services. The Coalition has long attracted a dedicated core of professionals and the expertise that Ms. Kaur brings to the team will further institutionalize the organization in the coming years.

"Sapreet will guide the next phase of the Coalition's growth," said Prabhjot Singh, the Coalition's Board Chair. "Our goal is for her to bring her vast management experience and keen insight to bear on expanding programmatic efforts and shoring up the infrastructure to continue the Coalition's work. I want to thank Amardeep for leading the Coalition during an unprecedented era of growth. I am excited about this opportunity for him to focus his energies on our overall programming strategy."

Kaur plans to advance the Sikh Coalition's legal, advocacy, community organizing, and public education programs to focus on further serving the community, while creating a deeper grassroots presence. She also plans on leveraging her experience from Teach for America to provide stewardship of the Coalition's public education work, which seeks to inform the broader community about Sikhs and the Sikh way of life.

"Only after we successfully educate our neighbors, will we be able to stem the tide of employment discrimination, school bullying, and the myriad of other bias incidents our community suffers everyday," said Ms. Kaur. "At the same time, we will bring the full force of all our program areas, partner organizations and volunteers across the country to defend the rights of Sikhs to fearlessly practice our faith."

Born and raised in central New Jersey, Ms. Kaur attended Camp Chardi Kala in New York as well as the Khalsa School at Bridgewater Gurdwara while growing up and has been active in different Panthic community activities for the last two decades. She has a passion for working with the Sikh community and especially enjoys working to empower the next generation of youth and children. Ms. Kaur is a graduate of the Stern School of Business at New York University with a dual degree in marketing and international business.

Ms. Kaur's appointment marks the first time that a female and someone steeped in nonprofit management has led a Sikh civil rights organization in the U.S. Prior to joining Teach for America, she held management positions at Coach Inc. and Williams-Sonoma Inc. She also served in the United States Peace Corps in Kenya and Uganda, where she designed and executed local community programs around income generation related to conservation, conflict resolution, lobbying & advocacy, as well as organizational development & capacity building. Ms. Kaur also serves as a board member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (wagggsworld.org), a 10 million member worldwide movement across 135 countries providing non-formal education where girls and young women develop leadership and life skills.

Founded after September 11, 2001, the Sikh Coalition is a community-based organization that works towards the realization of civil and human rights for all people. The Coalition has offices in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area and 10 full time staff members. The Coalition serves as a resource on Sikhs and Sikh concerns for governments, organizations and individuals.

with thanks : source : http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/19000/92/

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Daily live video Kirtan program from Harmandir Sahib on the internet demanded

Punjab Newsline Network
Tuesday, 22 September 2009


AMRITSAR: Amritsar Vikas Manch has demanded a site for the video broadcast of daily live video Kirtan program from Harmandir Sahib on the internet and also an extension of its audio broadcast on the internet radio from the beginning to the end. In a reminder to the SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar, the Manch patron Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala has apprised him of the technological developments in USA, Canada, UK and many other countries (included India) where by all Gurdwaras have set up their own websites and started dishing out video programs just like TV and one of the most visited sites http://www.sikhnet.com/ provides links to different Gurdwara websites so as facilitate the users.

Even the service from Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib Ludhiana telecast from 4:30 am to 11 am (IST) and 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm (IST) is linked to benefit viewers sitting anywhere. Last year on 22nd August,Dr.Gumala wrote a letter in this regard to Makkar but nothing has been done.

Programs from the Harmandir Sahib Amritsar are viewed with respect and enjoyed worldwide by not only the Sikh population but also many others. These programs are telecast daily by PTC Punjabi channel in India and by Alpha/ETC Punjabi channel all over the world.

Unfortunately these channels are not available on the internet and a special and costly connection is required from satellite and cable companies. In USA , Dish Network (Satellite Company) charges $150 for installing a new dish and $20 per month for showing this channel alone thus robbing huge sums of money from Gurbani Lovers. And, Alpha/ETC Punjabi is not available in many countries, so it is not possible to watch Gurbani Kirtan from Harmandir Sahib even if they want to spend any amount. In fact, even in USA , Canada , where Alpha/ETC Punjabi channel is available through Dishnetwork, viewers living in apartments cannot watch this channel because it requires putting up a dish which is not permitted in apartment housing. One of the biggest cable company Time Warner show Indian channels but skips Alpha/ETC Punjabi.
Besides, the moment Gurbani Kirtan program stops, the screen of Alpha/ETC Punjabi is taken over by ads from taantriks and venders of superstitions and dogma.

With the availability of direct video programs from the Harmandir Sahib on the SGPC site, viewers, whether in Europe or America or Far East or middle East or even Australia and New Zealand would be able to access them. So world over, thousand of University students can also view and listen to Gurbani on the internet. This would also neutralize the charge of marketing Gurbani which the SGPC has to face not unoften.

Similarly, the radio hours of Gurbani Kirtan should be extended to cover the entire service i.e.from the beginning to the end, daily.

with thanks : source : http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/18966/38/

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Sardars unite to make more Singhs king


By: Varun Singh Date: 2009-09-21 Place: Mumbai

Maharashtra Sikh Association to walk the extra mile to ensure at least five Sikh candidates win the forthcoming Assembly polls.

Sardar Daljeet Singh Bal, the president of the Maharashtra Sikh Association (MSA), feels that Mumbai's five lakh Sikhs are sorely underrepresented in the state's political setup.

There are just two elected representatives from the community MLA Sardar Tara Singh of the BJP from Mulund and BMC corporator Harvinder Kaur Singh Bira from GTB Nagar.

In a close-door meeting at Dadar last week, the MSA decided to support Sikh candidates in the forthcoming Assembly polls irrespective of the party that fields them.

"We want at least five MLAs from our community. We have communicated this to various political parties and asked them to field more Sardars.

We will ask political parties to not pit one Sikh candidate against another in the forthcoming polls," said Bal.

The MSA has already extended its support to Mandeep Singh Sehgal, a Samajwadi Party ticket hopeful, from the Sikh dominated Sion-Koliwada neighbourhood.

"I am certain that I will win the seat, as the Sikh community is united in its support for me.

The Congress is fielding a non-Sikh candidate from the constituency, who does not enjoy the support of the locals," said Sehgal.

Sikh MLA

Sardar Tara Singh, the lone Sikh in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, however, said political parties should consider competence of a candidate and not membership to a community as a criterion when they issue tickets.

"North Indians and Gujaratis are demanding tickets for members of their community. Tickets, I feel, should be given to deserving candidates irrespective of the religion they profess or the state they come from," he said.

Raj Shroff, the general secretary of Mumbai Congress, said, "Electing the right representative irrespective is of paramount importance.

As long as the persons chosen do their job, their religion or community should not matter." said Shroff.

with thanks : source : http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/sep/210909-Mandeep-Singh-Sion-Koliwada-area.htm

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500 Indian Sikh pilgrims due in Pakistan today

Over 500 Sikhs from India will arrive in Pakistan from today for about a week to participate in the Joti Jot (death anniversary) of Guru Nanak. The Sikhs will reach Wagah railway station by Samjhota Express and arrive at the Gurdawara Dera Sahib in Lahore.

They will visit Gurdawara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpura, Narowal, on September 22 where Evacuee Trust Property Board chairman Asif Hashmi will host a reception in their honour and address them. They will travel to Nankana Sahib later in the week. They will also visit Gurdawara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, Gurdawara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal and Gurdawara Rori Sahib in Aimanabad.

with thanks : source : http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=315979&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23

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Monday, September 21, 2009

Gurmat samagam : Sri Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha

Please view details of Gurmat Samagam arranged by Sri Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha,
Chand mohalla, Gandhi nagar, Delhi

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Shabad Vichar SMS postings

Please read some of the postings from Shabad Vichar SMS - Sent by Sd. Jagjot singh ji.

· "BIN SATGUR NAO NA PAYIYE, BIN NAAVE KYA SUAO"Sada man roopi bhanda vikaran di mael nal bhareya hai. Bina Guru Shabad(Gyan) roopi sabun de eh man manjeya nahi jayega. Te jad tak eh bhanda manjeya nahi jayega, tad tak es vich pavitar Amrit Naam kive niwas karega ji?

· Guru Gobind Singh Ji ne aisa Sikh banaya, jisda prabhav duniya kabool kare. Afsoos, aj te sade naujawan veer/bhena filmstars te TV actors da prabhav kabool kar, unha varga saroop bana rahe han. Sanu apna etihaas padna te hora nu prerna chahida hai te ardaas kariye ki Guru sanu puratan sikhan varga sidak bakshe.

· We generally take God's Gifts for granted. Just do a small exercise. List down 10 things that you love the most in this world. And for a moment, imagine life without them. Then, you will realize what all Waheguru has given us."Das Bastu Le Pache Pave, Ek Bastu Karan Bekhot Gavave"

· Baal awastha vich Parmatma naal judna zyada sokha hai,kyuki tad manukh padarathan de moh vich nahi pya honda.Sanu apne bacheyan, rishtedaran ate jankaran de bacheyan nu Simran,Sewa,Bani naal judan di prerna deni chahide he, taki aan wale samay vich Sikhi chardi kala vich rahe.

· Shabad Guru, manukh de Jeevan di POTENTIALITY nu REALITY vich badal denda hai. Manukha Jeevan bahut kimti hai ji, es nu vyarth na gvayiye.

· Jad tak asi ekaant vich beth ke, apne dhyan(surat) nu bani(shabad) vich nahi jodhde, tad tak Man tikega nahi te manukh sansaar de sab sukh bhogde hoye vi dukhi hi rahega. Agar asli sukh chahida hai, te thodi mehnat kar ke din da kuch samay Guru nu do,taki man bani anusar ho jaye ji.

· Jis tarah Guru sharir nahi, Shabad hai. Us hi tarah, Sikh vi sharir nahi... ASI JOT HAA (MAN TU JOT SAROOP HAI, APNA MOOL PACHAN) Kadi observe karo, sadi sari energy sharir di jharooratan vich lagi hai, ki asi Atma nu vi savarya hai; kadi Guru da gyan le ke,apne man nu badalna chahya hai?

· Kaam,Krodh,Lobh,Moh te Ahankaar sade man de charo taraf ek chakravyu bana ke bethe ne. Sanu Nimarta,Simran,Sewa,Daya te Sach roopi yodheyan de sahare enha naal jhoojhna hai.Ta hi Man de kile te fateh ho sakagi, ta hi man vich vasde Parmatma tak pahuch ho sakegi. MAN JITE JAG JIT.

· Sikh nu Guru agge apni mang rakhan da adhikaar hai, par eh gal dhyan rahe ki usdi mang Vikaaran di poorti layi na hove. Nahi te haalat eh ban jayegi ki "Bin Tudh Hor Je Mangna, Sir Dukha Ke Dukh" Guru da gyan le ke Sikh eh mang karda hai "De Naam Santokhia, Utre Man ki Bhuk"

· Prem te Moh vich thoda hi antar hai. Kisi padarath/vyakti layi pyaar di bhavna rakhna Prem hai. Par jad eh sade man nu apne adhin kar le, ta eh Moh da roop le lendi hai. Gurmat sansar naal Prem karan to nahi rokdi, par kisi de moh vich Guru de bhane nu na kabulna, Gurmat to ult hai.

· We would like to know your feedback on our SMSs. Pls. send MSG SHABADVICHARSMS followed by your opinion as an SMS to 567678.

· If you feel our SMSs are any help to you, pls. ask your friends/relatives to join in by sending JOIN SHABADVICHARSMS as an sms to 567678.

Sent by : Sd. Jagjot singh ji

SikhsIndia
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405th installation anniversary of Sri Guru Granth Sahib

2009-09-19 18:40:00

People of all religions and communities gathered to celebrate the 405th anniversary of the installation of the Sikh holy scriptures, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, at Gurudwara Maithan in Agra.

This was a significant landmark for the Sikhs, as the 275-year-old handwritten scripture, whose front pages are written with gold, was put on display for the devotees.

"The Guru Granth Sahib has the preaching or 'bani' of famous poets like Kabir ji, Guru Ravidas ji and Baba Farid ji. It is symbol of humanity and so people of all the religions have gathered here to celebrate the 'Prakash Parv', the installation ceremony together," said Kanwldeep Singh, President of Sri Gursikh Sabha.

Also on display was a miniature scripture of Guru Granth Sahib, which has been preserved at the Gurudwara Maithan for the past 15 years.

"We have Guru Granth sahib of 1 X 1 inches long. The British for the convenience of Sikh soldiers especially designed the holy book during the First World War, as they could not carry a normal sized book in the battlefield. The miniature Guru Granth Sahib was printed in Germany. It was kept in a silver box," said Gyani Kashmir Singh, head Granthi of Gurudwara Maithan.

To mark the anniversary of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, special prayers were also held in the Gurudwara premises, which once the house of Mai jassi that was visited by Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur.he gurudwara is currently undergoing renovation and will be expanded to facilitate the large number of devotees visiting the shrine.

A total of 20 million dollars will be spent on renovation and construction of new Gurudwara, a 100-bed hospital and a community hall.

Gurudwara Maithan also upheld the tradition of Langar, which has been followed over the centuries. Guru Arjan Dev and Mata Ganga set the precedent of preparing and serving food to the hungry, in the langar hall, where all social, economic and religious barriers collapse and all - the laborer, the lord, the peasant and the prince, are treated alike and served the same food in the same manner.

This is a practice of great social significance, and it is the key to the understanding of Sikhism.

with thanks : source : By Brijesh Sharma (ANI) &
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jjtsEehchii&title=405th_installation_anniversary_of_Sri_Guru_Granth_Sahib

SikhsIndia
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Live internet broadcasting sewa for Gurmat samagams

We are pleased to inform that www.baani.net offers Video recording, Projector & Live internet broadcasting sewa for Gurmat samagams.For bookings as well other co-operations, please log on to the website to contact the organisers.

SikhsIndia
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