Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Recordings

As I said yesterday the recording would be up soon. Today almost all the Keertan from the weekend has been uploaded on to the Sweet Sikhi website. Bhai Anoop Singh Ji's Keertan from Fridays World Sikh Youth Network simran programme, Monthly Youth Keertan recordings, and Bibi Snaatam Kaur Ji's Keertan from Sunday's Diwaan in Southall are all up, and Bibi Snaatam Kaur from Europe.

Here are the recordings from the end of month Youth Keertan:

Gurbinder Kaur new today 23.02 Mb · MP3

Manvir Singh new today 3.37 Mb · MP3

Ranjeet Kaur new today 28.64 Mb · MP3

Satinder Singh new today 12.78 Mb · MP3

Vijay Singh new today 21.13 Mb · MP3

More audio downloads on www.SweetSikhi.com

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Amazing Weekend

Been a bit busy with exams and starting a new project so I havent bloged much. Anyway this week was great.

This weekend was cool. Friday morning I had my last exam got home and chilled then in the afternoon jetted over to Southall for youth keertan program at Sikh Missionary. The program was good when I went there Singh was doing keertan

Afterwards Bhai Anoop Singh Ji Una sahib vale arrived and did keertan and simran. I have to day he seems to be doing a lot for youth which is great and seems to genuinely have a vision to network the youth which I found really inspiriong. I’ve made a little video of it so keep look out in the next week for the video of keertan and audio. Anyway after that had langar and ended up getting home very late on the trains.

Saturday had to attend an interfaith event along with Manvir Singh, and Raghbir Singh we where representing Sikhs there was a few Somalis and other Muslims and Christian people it was good. When it came to lunch we went out and had chocolate cake I made. lol We left early to get to Southall for the keertan darbar.

Manvir Singh and Raghbir Singh when we were on the train to Southall Keertan Darbar.

Got to Southall and we started setting up the youth stall for literature and stuff then the keertan started. It was awesome there was loads youth and students doing keertan Gurbinder Kaur came down and did keertan to was really beautiful. I recorded some on phone andanother sevadar has audios which will be going up soon. Everyone had a great time I think monthly youth keertans are wicked time to unwind especially with exams.

Satinder Singh Bhaji does alot of seva generally and was doing seva of tabla on Saturday.

The Sunday thought we were going to be late for Bibi Snatam Kaur but then I got a call saying she was delayed and was starting late so we rushed over to Southall. Keertan was awesome. It was intresting to see that gurdwara was packed out it was fantastic a lot of people there seemed fascinated, they would do meta tek and just stand staring at the jatha doing keertan after 30 seconds they would realise they just standing there and staring so they would quickly hurry to find a space to sit. It was really nice to see and would be great if someone was inspired by that to look at sikhi even more.

Then after Sweet Sikhi show went back to the gurdwara and there was Bhai Taar Babir Singh ji Darbar Sahib Hazoori Raagi and other jathas doing keertan together. On our way walking from the radio station to gurdwara we went past this medical centre, I was suprised to see it was namer after Guru Nanak Dev Ji but was really cool.

When we were in Langar these little kids all sabatsoorat or where becoming sabatsoorat was really awesome. they seemed more instrested in taking my phone. :)

After that Bhai Anoop Singh una Sahib vale did keertan and that was an exciting weekend. Recordings and videos will be up real soon ill post more information when I get it.

Monday, May 22, 2006

Nam, Dan, Isnan, Kirt Karna and Vand Chhakna!!

Nam, Dan, Isnan, Kirt Karna and Vand Chhakna!!

Taken from: seva to the max blog:

WaheguruJeeKaaKhalsa WaheguruJeeKeeFateh

Below is a excerpt from Bhai Sahib Puran Singh Jee - Author of 'The Spirit Born People' Highly recommended read from the Sevadars of this site - in which he explains the creed of the Sikh brotherhood and which if any Gursikh follows would not stray too far from the Guru's path.

BHAI SAHIB PURAN SINGH JI :
"In the words of Bhai Vir Singh Ji, let me describe the brotherhood in five words : " NAM, DAN, ISNAN, KIRT KARNA AND VAND CHHAKNA."

NAM - Naming Him, The Secret of the personality that has no personal aims, ambitions, of selfishness. Selfishness is transcended by love. So by living in Him, by Naming him, by dying in him, in love of him, man attains his manhood, which is forever divine and unselfish.

The essential nature of the soul is unselfish. Realizing one's soul first through Nam constitutes the life of this brotherhood. It is the maintenance of the spiritual attitude by physical effort while in this physical universe of incessant struggle.

DAN - Giving. Giving away all one has, in spontaneous sympathy, infinite philosophic sorrow for the living, and in infinite but silent, unaggressive, unobtrusive, spontaneous zeal for doing good to the living, as does the rose in the river. It is an attitude of the elevated life that gives without knowing. As hotter objects impart heat to the colder objects around by the difference in potential, so does a Brother of the TressKont of Guru Gobind Singh give.

Dan, certainly, does not mean in the Guru's Brotherhood the conscious contributions of charity, a giving of alms. "All belong to the Guru;" so does the Brother feel, and always "all is His, nothing is mine." Such affectionate attitude never comes by any social codes or rules. It is nothing mechanical, it is deep and organic. This charity of the Brother flows like rivers out of his whole being. The Brother has foregone his self, his labour, his very flesh and blood, his life, and his soul, for the beloved master.

ISNAN- Bathing the body with cold water; bathing the mind in the nectarian streams; bathing the soul in love of him.

KIRT KARNA - This is the symbolic phrase that knits Guru Gobind Singh's Brotherhood with the whole humanity of labourers. The Guru has no rich man, no idle rich man in his brotherhood, - no place for him. All must labour , must sweat to create the foodstuffs, to create shapes out of iron, wood and stone, to work, to labour and then forego the fruits of labour. And in this spontaneous foregoing is the difference between the brother and the modern labourer.

VAND CHHAKANA - Equal distribution of the fruits of labour. "Partake not of that bread which thou has not split with thy brother".

Shiri Guru Gobind Singh Ji is the Guru of the modern times. He is a Prophet who has reconstructed human society in this brotherhood of Nam, Dan, Snan, Kirt Karna, and Vand Chhakna."


WaheguruJeeKaaKhalsa WaheguruJeeKeeFateh!!!

www.sevatothemax.com

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Unconditional Love - motivating story

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.


The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart You don't know how it happens Or when it gets started But you know the special lift It always brings And you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Monday, May 15, 2006

Proof Cutting Hair Leads To Cancer

I recived the following in an email which is very intresting , so have a read and tell others. smile.gif

Brief:

HAIR CUTTING LEADS TO CANCER.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST RESEARCH DATA AVAILABLE ON CANCER, TWO MAIN CAUSES OF CANCER HAS BEEN DISCOVERED.

1.TOBACCO . 2.UV RAYS . i.e. ULTRA VIOLET RAYS COMING FROM SUN.

Further study on UV rays proves that the entry of UV rays into the inner world of human body is much easier through cortex which is the inner part of hair and access through cortex is only possible when the natural protection provided by cuticle is removed or cut as can be seen in the picture here below.

HAIR IS IN CYLINDRICAL FORM

THE AMAZING DESIGN OF ITS OUTER ENVELOPE, WHICH IS THE CUTICLE, SERVES TO OFFER IT EXCELLENT PROTECTION. Once cut, it can never be joined hence providing a clear and easy approach for UV rays causing cancer.

Download Here:
Hair Cutting & Cancer article:
HAIRCUTLEADSTOCANCER.doc

General Articles on Cancer:
www.cancer.org

Visit Forum to download

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Bhai Leela-Raam Singh jee & Exams

Author: Kulbir Singh
Date: 03-28-03 11:38

Bhai Leela-Raam Singh jee

Sikhs from Sindh province of Pakistan are known for their love and devotion for Guru Sahib. Because of lack of parchaar, many of them have not been able to adopt the Khalsa way of Sikhi but the ones who have become the Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh jee, lead an amazing life of a Sikh. One such gursikh, tyaar-bar-tyaar amritdhari singh was Bhai Leela-Raam Singh jee. His name prior to amrit chakk was Leela Raam and after amrit-chhak, with the hukam of Punj Pyaare, he became Bhai Leela-Raam Singh.

Bhai Leela-Raam Singh took amrit when he hit the teenage years. He was blessed with great faith and devotion for Guru Sahib. He used to get up early in the morning, do naam-abhyaas, then nitnem and finally go to the gurdwara sahib and listen to kirtan. Then he used to sweep the floor of the Gurdwara Sahib and do other sewa as required. Only after this nitnem, he used to start his day. He, by the kirpa of Vaheguru, never deviated from this nitnem. In the evening too he used go to the gurdwara sahib and listen to kirtan and katha there. He was leading an amazing life. He was in great rass.

Before doing anything, he used to perform ardaas before Guru Sahib. He had complete faith in Guru Sahib. When he was studying in college, a great incident occurred in his life. It was his final exam that day. Before the exam, he decided to do ardaas before Guru Granth Sahib jee and also prepare karaah parshaad for ardaas. He asked the Granthi Singh to prepare degh (karaah parshaad) and perform ardaas for him as he was goingt to write the final exam that day.

Granthi Singh was a singh of mastaani (oblivious of worldly problems) condition. He was a good gursikh with a lot of sewa. He told Bhai Leela-Raam Singh that it would take about 2 hours to prepare degh. It was 8 am at that time and his exam was at 10 am. Bhai Leela-Raam Singh had already made up his mind to offer degh to Guru Sahib and then do ardaas. He asked the Granthi Singh to try to do this as possible.

The Granthi, first did punj ishnaana and then changed his clothes to wear clean degh-waale clothes. Then he started started doing sudhaayee (cleaning) of karaahi (utensil) and pateela (utensil) to be used for preparation of degh. He took his time, oblivious of the urgency of Bhai Leela-Raam Singh’s exam. Then he cleaned the kitchen area, and while doing all this he was doing paath.

By the time, the Granthi Singh, put ghee (butter) and started heating aata (flour) in it, they heard the clock ringing for 10 am. It was 10 am. The Granthi Singh did not pay any attention to the time and kept doing paath all this time. Thoughts were coming to Bhai Leela-Raam Singh’s mind that he was probably going to miss his exam. He also thought of going without the degh but his nirmal budh (clean intelligence) did not let him take this decision. He said to himself that worse comes to worse, he would lose a year. So what? He controlled his mind and focussed it back on baani.


Bhai Leela-Raam Singh looked at the Granthi Singh who was oblivous (be-parvaah) of his suroundings and was slowly stirring the flour. It seemed as if he did not know how to work fast. He was totally absorbed in the pyaar of Guru Sahib. Seeing him in such state, Bhai Leela-Raam Singh too came in more pyaar and totally forgot about the exam. Around 12 pm, the degh was ready and they took the degh to the darbar of Guru Sahib.

Bhai Leela-Raam Singh was thinking that there was no point of going to the exam now as it was too late. Thinking this he told the Granthi Singh that there was no point of doing ardaas now as the time to write the exam was over. The Granthi Singh smilingly told him that all he knows is that he is going to do an ardaas for Bhai Leela-Raam Singh's success in exam and as for time, that was the worry of Guru Sahib.

The Granthi Singh did the ardaas and he mentioned, “Sache Paatsshaah, Aap jee ne bahut kirpa keeti, apne Sikh noo apne charnaan dee preeti bakshee atay aap dee ditti shardha anusaar, aap jee daa Sikh karaah parshaad dee degh lai ke haazir hoiya hai. Sachay Paatshaah jeeo, aap jee jaani jaan ho. Ih Sikh ne ajj imtihaan vich baithna hai. Tussi kirpa karni, iss noo kamyaabi bakshni.”

(Translation: O Sachay Paatshah (true king), you did great kirpa on your Sikh by giving him love for your lotus feet and with great faith your Sikh has come with degh. O true King, you know everything and this Sikh has an exam today. Please bless him with success in exam).

The Granthi Singh did ardaas with great love and devotion. As Bhai Leela-Raam Singh came out of Gurdwara Sahib a thought came to his mind that there was no use of going to the exam now as there was hardly any time left now. Then his conscience stopped him from doing so as this would be contemptuous to the ardaas he had just done. He gained faith and went to his college to write the exam. As he approached the school, he saw a lot of students standing outside. He thought that they were already done with the exam and now were discussing the exam.

As he got closer to the crowd, his friends came to him and informed him that the exam was 3 hours late and that it was going to start in 5 minutes. When Bhai Leela-Raam Singh heard this, he excused himself from his friends as his emotional state was not under control. He had tears in his eyes and his rom rom (every cell of his body) was thanking Guru Sahib. Then under the spell of the love of Guru Sahib, he sang the following shabad:

SATGUR MERA BE-MUHTAAJ
SATGUR MERAI SACHA SAAJ
SATGUR MERA SABHAS KAA DAATA
SATGUR MERA PURAKH BIDHAATA1

GUR JAISA NAAHI KO DEV
JIS MASTAK BHAAG, SO LAAGA SEV1 RAHAAO

SATGUR MERA SARB PRATPAALAI
SATGUR MERA MAAR JIVAALAI
SATGUR MERE KE VADIYAAYEE
PRAGAT BHAYEE HAI SABHNI THAYEEN2

SATGUR MERA TAAN NITAAN
SATGUR MERA GHAR DIBAAN
SATGUR KAI HAUN BAL JAAIYA
PARGAT MARG JIN KAR DIKHLAAIYA3

JIN GUR SEVIYA, TIS BHAU NA BIYAAPAI
JIN GUR SEVIYA, TIS DUKH NA SANTAAPAI
NANAK SODHAI SIMRAT BEYD
PARBRAHAM GUR, NAAHI BHED4

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Why there is suffering around if there is God

Since the day I started apprehending the world around with my young enthusiastic eyes, I have been constantly witnessing the suffering around, I was not able to eschew myself with the thought that Why does people suffer?

Once staring outside my window, “the reflections from my mind engulfed my thought process, when I was barely seven years old, I was playing in the ground with my friends when I suddenly fell down in the thud and I started yelling and wailing. The sweet voice of my mother fell into my ears and she hurriedly came to me with the medicine in her hand. She, while applying Dettol was reciting, “Wahe Guru Sat Nam,’’ these words were like a magic for me and out came the smile from my face.

My young mind could not understand an Iota of why and how these words helped me soothed my pains-It was a magic that my Mama knew to bring smile on my face. But now at the age where I am immersed in the materialistic pursuits of worldly pleasures, I could not find Guru Bani’s had any relevance in today’s world. Yet, in situations of isolation and emotional vacuity, I feel there should be someone I should rely upon but again when I come out of the situation, sufferings of people shook me off from my inner faith, and the same question tortures my Mind, “If there is God, why there is suffering?

And, one day I took up the courage and asked my Grand Pa and Grand Ma the same question but what I got was a very hop notch answer, they just said, “ Eh Kalyug hei, Is duniya wich Pap Bahut Vad Gaya Hei’, But as I have been reading History with interest I fully knew crime is not a new phenomenon. It is affecting human beings like a virus since the day first human made his appearance on earth and then again the question arises, if that was not the age of Kalyug then there was God, and, is there is not God now! and if there was God at that time then why there was suffering?

Someone known to me even shook my nerves by revealing that we forget God when we have good times and only remember him when any untoward incident befalls on us, that is the reason why God gives us Suffering so that we remember him from the heart of our hearts and, in that moment of remembering him we get solace and immense feeling of satisfaction and bliss, but this was also not something that could get into my mind -Is God selfish that God gives us suffering and suffering to child so that we could remember him?

Now after a two to three prolonged years of my thought process I took upon the task to talk to scholars, and read some books, the revelation that I got of suffering and what Gurbani says about suffering removed all doubts of God and its existence from my brains and made me proud of my being Sikh. And this I feel from my heart to heart to share my feelings with the readers.

Since the child starts breathing in the mother’s womb his suffering starts. Suffering and happiness are the ornaments of the human beings that they must adorn. To be human is to suffer and that is the essence of existential suffering, which is in it self inescapable. Both Raja(King) and Rank(poor) have to bear his or her share of suffering.

In one of the books Heidegger wrote about the uncaused suffering and Kierkegaard reflects that, “Earthly existence is a mysterious blend of anguish and lovely dreams, of creation and despair” and both are synonymous with existence itself and Professor Talib connotes by using the phrase “metaphysical suffering of sheer existence’ to describe the suffering inflicted in man who is born in pain and in pain he shall die.”

Buddhism did not make suffering as an inalienable feature of human existence and one of its four truths are made out to be “nirodhasatya” (the cessation of suffering), dukhasatya (the truth of human misery not being the sole or absolute truth and “Nirvana being the end of suffering, the extinction of desire, the destruction of greed, hate, delusion, and of the constituent factors (skandhas) and the volitional forces (samskaras).

In Sikhi the poet philosophers of Guru Granth Sahib- a holy scripture and, Scholars and philosophers of Sikh faith repeatedly stress the suffering and happiness as twin facts of human life, not for highlighting them but to make to us have a revelation of suffering and to conquer them.

Suffering in all its dimensions is clearly depicted in Gurbani, which includes Bhakta Bani as well. “Kind of suffering that results from separation, another kind caused by hunger, and third type results from the unfailing advent of the messenger of death. Both the emotive and physical aspects of suffering have received attention of the poet philosophers of the Guru Granth.

In Sikhi, suffering is made a blissful thing to cherish and take the positive outlook of life in one’s esteem and made a remedy as a malady. And, how Sukh is a root of evil and suffering welcomed its answer lies with Kierkgaard when he said:

“The suffering which restores man to awareness of sin is also a means to reconciliation, only, however, if one dutifully accepts the suffering and turns it to good purpose.”

Suffering is not at all purpose a misfortune or curse. The thorn in the flesh may be a blessing if it helps one to turn it into a spiritual medicine. That is the creative approach to dukh. Granted that suffering is a fundamental factor in the human situation, it is innate to man, yet the self afflicted suffering undergone for spiritual purification belongs to another category. Similarly when man undergoes sorrow that lies in alienation from God, it’s not in mundane or profane level that he suffers. His suffering may be productive of moral and spiritual good; as “Jesus suffered in the cause of God, and through his suffering was said to redeem mankind, from sin and spiritual suffering.”

The inscrutable mystery by which the Divine apportion dukh and sukh to his creatures, finds eloquent expression in Guru Nanak’s Japuji:

Countless stand condemned
To pain and miseries ever :
Such blessing in disguise
the Bounteous One may shower.

Here, even the torments are treated as the Lord’s gifts. Karl Jaspers’ paradox lends support to the view of man taking the ‘risk’ of being happy: “When a man is unhappy, being himself will be easier than when he is happy.” Man is made aware of himself by his suffering-that seems to be the moral. And the pangs of separation suffered by the soul are not extolled by Sheik Farid without reason:

The pain of birha is belittled
But, birha, thou art sovereign !
A body that never tasteth pangs :
Treat it like a dead ground.

Thus, the suffering is a blessing in disguise, it reveals us our hidden potentials to come out bravely and to face the adversities towards the spirituality and success.


1 Sikhism Philosophy and Culture by Wazir Singh

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Sponsored Sky Dive

My cousin, Varinder Kaur has asked me to forward an email so I thought I would blog it. She has decided to chuck her self out of an aeroplane thousands of feet in the sky away from the groundshock.gif, (and everyone thought I was the MAD one!tongue.gif).

Our auntie, passed away around 3 years ago she was diagnosed with Lupus which is a chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease.

I would have helped her with her sponsored Sky dive or as I call it “the jump of doom” tongue.gifbut I have exams, d_oh.gifoh well shame next year maybeunsure.gif.

Please if you can sponsor her the Link and info from her is below. Guroo Rakha

To all the world wide International community, My name is Varinder Kaur & I am doing a Sky dive for Lupus UK on the 21st of May. The reason I am raising money for lupus is a few years ago my massi ji passed away and she suffered from this disease. She was an amazing person who was more like my best friend then anything else and I shall forever more look up to her for her courage and her love of life. That is the reason I wanted to do something for Lupus. Lupus is a widespread and chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease that, for unknown reasons, causes the immune system to attack the body's own tissue and organs, including the joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood, or skin. The immune system normally protects the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. In an autoimmune disease like lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissue.

It's an incurable immune system illness, probably genetic in origin and mainly suffered by females.

Some 50,000 are now thought to have lupus in the UK - it's systemic, in that it can affect any part of the body and that's the danger.

More information regarding Lupus can be found at http://www.lupusuk.com/

For my skydive I need to raise a minimum of £385 anything extra goes directly to the charity.

If you would like to donate money towards my sky dive you can do so via paypal skydive4lupus@yahoo.co.uk. If you would like to post me the donation then please email me on the same address and I will send you details of the address where sponsorship money can be sent. You may also contact me through msn messenger at waheguru_ji@hotmail.com. Thank you for taking time to visit this site.
- Varinder Kaur

Lupus amongst other sufferers

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Game of Love



What is True Love? Bhai Satwinder Singh talks about Sikhi and True Love. Who is a Sikh and how can you be in Love with god. With the aid of Gurbani Bhai Satwinder Singh gives an enlightening talk on Love and Sikhi.

“Do not utter even a single rude word to anyone, as the True Master dwells in one and all. Do not break the heart of anyone as every heart is priceless jewel.” – Shaikh Farid

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Kings Simran


Another Film from Kings Simran!

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Hectic weekend

This weekend was hectic and eventful all in one. On Saturday I went to the end of month kirtan at Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, Park Avenue. The other guys where couldn’t make it so I had to set up. I didn’t realise how much of a mission it was going to be!

First the Vaaja and tabla wasn’t where it should have been some one moved it from the storage so after making phone calls the Gyani ji Said we could use the gurdwara’s Vaja but there wasn’t any table!. I went of to set up the speakers and the projector to only find out I didn’t have the password. Phone up singh got the password but then the projector wouldn’t work! Finally we got started and from some where a table appeared much to my delight. (After sangat done benti a table turned up.)

Finally bhaji Baljivan Singh turned up thank vahiguroo. He sorted out the projector system with apparently must be turned on in a certain order for it to work, screen, Projector then PC otherwise it doesn’t work.

Just as I thought everything was set up I realised I had put the stall out so I quickly ran and set up the stall.

Kirtan was fantastic hopefully we should have audios soon on www.sweetsikhi.com. Bhenji Sukhmani Kaur did simran and ardaas at the end Guroo kirpa program was awesome even thought there was a Rainsbai up north.

Sunday

Yesterday went to gurdwara then shoot of to Southall. I had to present Sweet Sikhi show as others couldn’t make it again. Got to the show and thankfully a Hardip bhaji turned up. We hardly knew the controls so had a quick crash course of 30 seconds before we started. That was nerve raking thankfully we didn’t recive any complaints, lol.

In the second half of the show Bhenji Navleen Kaur turned up with Bhaji Pardeep Singh who was going to be interviewed on the water crisis and Panjab as a whole with regards to the issue of it turning to a desert by 2025. The show was full of mixed emotions scarry that this was happening and nothing being done, imagine Panjab being the next Somalia easy enough for us living in the west to just say its not our problem.

The show was a real eye opener, again will be on www.SweetSikhi.com real soon. For more information on the water crisis in Panjab see: www.witness84.com.

We finished the show at 8 got home just after 10pm, thankfully got the bus and train on time other wise would have been later.














P.S. I played a simran Track on the show and people been asking who its by. Its by Acapella Jatha and you can listen below and download it.

Click and save to download

Monday, May 01, 2006

Vaisakhi Smagam 2006

Last week was the Vaisakhi Smagam me and other Singh’s went up a day earlier was great but we didn’t get any sleep!

There was an international AKJ smagam last week in Derby and Singhs decided to go up earlier and asked me to come with them. SO on Friday we thought we would meet at Kings Cross St Pancreas and get the train to derby. I made my mind up to go the night before so I rushed all over to get my bana and stuff ready. Got to the station and Tarsem Singh tells me that all trains are cancelled from station as a power line had gone down. We waited for another singh and then walked over to Euston. Got there And I had to buy a ticket with my younger person rail card she asked if I wanted a single or return so I asked price difference and she said £1 I’m thinking how much is the ticket, only £30. Oh My Word £30 what is worse is I later found out two Singhs paid £5 each. Any way we are waiting for the train’s also we went outside station as people are smoking. All 3 of us are wearing cholla or Kurta.

Any way next thing I see a special constable approaching. He said this person (a rail way worker) say you have a knife, so we explain it’s a kirpan singh wears a big one and handel was sticking out. Well the guy working at Euston station was on a fag break (having a smoke) we had gone outside to get away for it all and he saw us. He told a community support officer who came up to us saying we had a report you’re carrying a knife so we explained it’s a kirpan. Then tat guy came up to and we said we are in Sikh Dress (banna) and going to a religious function. We also explain how by law we are permitted anyway he suggested putting it in our bag which we said NO to saying we can’t remove it of our body. Then they asked if we are travelling on the train, I’m now thinking what else are we meant to be doing in Euston Station?

So cleared that up and got on our way they talked between them selves which we left them to. Then on the Virgin train as we where about to get of and change train a gora said to singh again ah you should keep that under raps, nice guy and he didn’t freak anyway we chatted with him as it was taking ages for the train to let us of. Then we ran to the platform for our connection train, holding our kirpans so they didn’t swing about. 3 singhs running for a train up north with kirpan can draw attention! We got on the train and sat down started. One station before derby a gori sitting opposite us got of and went to the office it was opposite our carriage. Seemed from her actions she was complaining reporting us for having kirpans. Pointing at us and her waist probably explaining about our kirpan, oh well we where of now anyway.

Finally got to Derby and called up local singh to collect us. While we waited outside a gora while walking asked singh we he had a knife singh just smiled. We all agreed it was the most attention we received about kirpan in any one time.

Anyway I just found some photos on my phone thought I would share.







Click for link to keertan from UK Vaisakhi Smagam 2006