The Sikh Magazine (May 2013)

Vol 46 (No 1, May 2013) PP 16301/03/2012

kkb land

Samelan

Smiles Day

SABHA CAMP SITE @ KHALSA LANDOPENING CEREMONY & PARKASH OF

SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIBKuala Kubu Baru, Selangor

Date: 1st June 2013

The Sikh, May 2013 CONTENTS 1

Jathedar message ---------------------

KKB ----------------------------------------

Tribute to khalsaji --------------------

PJ Mini samelan ----------------------

Ladies program -----------------------

Fellowship camp ---------------------

Pmr getaway --------------------------

Smiles day KL --------------------------

Smiles day JB --------------------------

Dhol comp -----------------------------

Ipoh Branch Reports ----------------

Gatka comp ----------------------------

Sg petani weekend camp ----------

Samelan ---------------------------------

2

3-5

6-7

8

9-10

11-12

13

14

15

16

17-21

22

23-24

25-32

33

34

35

36-37

38

39-40

41-42

43-44

45

46-47

48-50

51-55

56

Love your hair Sukhjit Kaur ---------------

Love your hair Balpreet Kaur -------------

Remembering Wisconsin shooting ------

Camp Akal ---------------------------------------

Har Jas Keertan Samagam -----------------

Cardikala run -----------------------------------

Agan Bhet Sewa --------------------------------

News from around the world -------------

Loke yew ------------------------------------------

Bhai mardhana sangeet festival ------------

Punjabi article ------------------------------------

Kids corner ----------------------------------------

Sikh apps -------------------------------------------

CONTENTS

23-24

3-5

PERSONALLY FROM THE JATHEDAR The Sikh, May 20132

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. Before giving an overview of Sabha activities, I wish to humbly apologize for the delay in publishing this magazine. We experienced various problems and the publication date was postponed several times. We have now put a dedicated team in place and we expect a quarterly publication of this magazine. This is an important parchaar tool and we are working to make it readily available to all Sikhs in Malaysia, be it in printed form or as an eMagazine. It has a been an exciting year since I became the jathedar. We have duly carried out our usual projects, mini-samelans, youth and family camps and workshops, education workshops, gurbani classes, Annual Gurmat Samelan, Cheras Grand Event and other projects. We also embarked on several new projects. I’ll give an overview of the salient points of the new and key projects Camp Site at the Khalsa Land in Kuala Kubu Baru: The infrastructure to make this a full fledge camp site with a Darbar Sahib and accommodation facilities for 200 participants has been ongoing. There is an accompanying article that fully describes the facilities that are available here. Please join us on 1st June 2013 for the launch of this camp site. We are looking forward to seeing you here with you family for the parchaar camps too. Membership Database: After several false starts, we have finally got our act together to update our membership database. Teams have been at the samelans, Cheras Grand event and other locations throughout the country to update this database. It is now almost complete and we shall introduce a membership card. This card will enable our members to get discounts at the Sabha Shoppe and other participating outlets throughout Malaysia. As it is, we have identified restaurants, travel agents and bookshops.

Annual Gurmat Parchaar Samelan: We has a very successful samelan in Ipoh in 2012. We had introduced several parchaar initiatives in both the classroom sessions and darbar sahib. IPS was back in a big way too. We conducted a post Samelan review and will further improve the future samelan. Our next Annual Gurmat Parchaar in Dec 2013 will be the 50th Anniversary. Appropriately we will be back to Port Dickson, the birth place of this SNSM signature event. Please make an extra effort to join us during that eventful week. Nishkam Sewa: SNSM is identifying and helping needy Sikh families by way on monthly provisions and cash. SNSM manages and operational aspect of this sewa and the financial aspect is managed by a group of donors. Turban Tying Clinics – We started these clinics in samelans and now they are held in various semagams throughout the country. The response is indeed encouraging and we are seeing more of our youth sporting turbans. Contact us if you want a clinic is your area. We are now in the process of finalizing our parchaar calendar for the next 12 months. We hope to have more youth and family based programs throughout Malaysia and we welcome your inputs. Lastly and most importantly, I wish to extend my gratitude to all our sewadars that contributed in every way possible to make our programs successful. Thank you!

Pavandeep SinghJathedar

Personally from the Jathedar

The Sikh, May 2013 SABHA CAMPSITE (KKB) 3

Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia is developing a campsite at our land in Kuala Kubu Baru. This campsite is to cater for our future camps, workshops and mini Samelans. Currently, this site is scheduled for completion come end April and the opening ceremony is tentatively planned for May 3, 2013.

Sabha Campsite (Kuala Kubu Baru)

Facilities at this campsite will include:• Darbar Sahib• Accommodation that includes cabins for up to 100 pax• Covered area for indoor activities• Classrooms• Langgar hall • Futsal arena• Football field• Kid’s playground• Badminton courts• Low ropes course• High ropes challenge course• Flying Fox• Rock Climbing (indoor artificial wall)• Abseiling• Paint Ball area• Night walk trek• Jungle trekking• White water rafting• Raft building• Outdoor campsite

SABHA CAMPSITE (KKB) The Sikh, May 20134

The Sikh, May 2013 SABHA CAMPSITE (KKB) 5

TRIBUTE TO KHALSAJI The Sikh, May 20136

Giani Mahinder Singh Ji Khalsa, more affectionately known as “Khalsa Ji” was an institution in the corridors of Sikh Missionar y work – Sikhi Parchar in this part of the world - Singapore & Malaysia. He travelled extensively to promote the message of Sikhism to the Sikh Youth around the world. He was extremely well-versed with the sacred scriptures of the Guru Granth Sahib and had extensive knowl edge on Gurbani and was admired and well-respected by many. Khalsa Ji was born in Ipoh in 5th September 1941 to Mata Dharam Kaur Ji. His father Sardar Bhagwan Singh Ji, shared a close relationship with the revered Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji of Malacca

from whom the family gained much spiritual guidance. Khalsa Ji started learning kirtan at the tender age of 12 years from Ragi Bhai Badhan Singh Ji (Head Granthi Sahib at Gurdwara Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia). Though Khalsa Ji worked in Kuala Lumpur, he never failed to visit Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji in Malacca whenever he possibly could. These visits got him closer to Sant Ji and they started doing sangats together in Malacca. Khalsa Ji was eventually transferred to Batu Gajah Land Office in Perak, Malaysia. When Sant Ji grew gravely ill Khalsa Ji would stay with him in the hospital nightly, attending to his needs. Sant Ji found Khalsa Ji’s sewa

remarkable. Sant Ji then made him promise that he would commit himself to the panth, extending out a hand of promise. This was obviously reciprocated by Khalsa Ji in the presence of Late S. Ranjit Singh and his wife who was a distant niece of Sant Ji. From that day on, Khalsa Ji kept to his promise and carried on a legacy of work. The Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji Vidiyala was then setup in Malacca in the loving memory of Sant Ji after his passing, to promote Sikhi and Gurmat Studies. Khalsa Ji obviously volunteered himself to this noble cause. He became a parcharak and was sent to Shahid Sikh Missionary College in Amritsar Punjab (India) for training

in areas of Sikhi and Gurmat. He learnt Kirtan, Katha and Parchar. Khalsa Ji returned in 1976 and once again, carried on his love of sewa. Khalsa Ji’s devotion and dedication eventually led him to take over Giani Santa Singh Ji’s duties as the Head Teacher. There were 5 students under Giani Santa Singh Ji at that time. After Khalsa Ji took over the duties from Giani Santa Singh Ji at the Vidiyala, 22 students enrolled to be trained as parcharaks. Of these initial batch of students, 5 of then graduated in 1979 and went on to do parchar fulltime in various parts of Malaysia. Giani Dalgit Singh Ji (currently at Gurdwara Dharamsala Kuala Lumpur), Late Giani Jagjit Singh Ji (Gurdwara Pusing, Ipoh), Ranjit Singh Ji (Bentong, Pahang), Giani Gurnam Singh Ji (currently in Gurdwara Sahib Muar, Johor), Surinder Singh Ji (Giani Jagjit Singh Ji's brother). TRIBUTE TO KHALSAJI

After leaving Vidiyala in 1979, he started training parcharaks at Gurdwara Mantin in Negri where the Late Giani Jagjit Singh Ji Khalsa started his sewa after graduation from the Vidiyala. Dedicated students from Vidiyala who were under him, followed him to the Gurdwara as well. Amongst those who join to be trained as parcharaks at Gurdwara Mantin was Giani Sukhdaiv Singh Ji (Gurpuri Foundation). At Gurdwara Mantin, Khalsa Ji encouraged youth from Singapore and Malaysia to setup a registered society known as Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji Vidiyala to promote the message and mission of Sant Ji, but this was turned down as there was already a society registered bearing that name; hence Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Khalsa Gardh was chosen. The aim of this society was to promote and educate people on

Sikhi and Gurbani parchar, not just locally but in the global arena. This missionary work eventually led to the formation of the Sant Baba Sohan Singh Melaka Kirtani Sewak Jatha in 1979. In the name of parchar, the jatha toured countries like Germany, Holland, United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Singapore. Since, 1980 the Jatha also conducted annual Barsi programmes in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) inviting foreign and local kirtani jathas to participate. This was done in commemoration of Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji's Barsi (Death Anniversary). Khalsa Ji had continually been doing Nisham Sewa for Sikhi parchar in the form of kirtan tours and programmes. He never fails to emphasize the importance of taking the Amrit and being part of the Khalsa brotherhood. He stresses greatly on the importance of Naam Simran and the benefits of doing it as a family. Khalsa Ji never failed to offer assistance whenever needed and ensures Naam Simran was conducted every second Saturday of the month, in Gurdwara Sahib Dharamsala (Kuala Lumpur). Also, Kirtan programs are conducted at the request of the sangat in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom. Giani Mahinder Singh Ji Khalsa uttermost dedication to service was commendable. He was an ideal exemplar for every Sikh to emulate. His unconditional service to the Sikh community and the extensive knowledge he had accumulated over the years almost makes him a walking Gurbani dictionary, we pray that Khalsa Ji carry on his humble sewa and bring many into the fold of Guru Panth Khalsa.

The Sikh, May 2013 TRIBUTE TO KHALSAJI 7

Giani Mahinder Singh Ji Khalsa, more affectionately known as “Khalsa Ji” was an institution in the corridors of Sikh Missionar y work – Sikhi Parchar in this part of the world - Singapore & Malaysia. He travelled extensively to promote the message of Sikhism to the Sikh Youth around the world. He was extremely well-versed with the sacred scriptures of the Guru Granth Sahib and had extensive knowl edge on Gurbani and was admired and well-respected by many. Khalsa Ji was born in Ipoh in 5th September 1941 to Mata Dharam Kaur Ji. His father Sardar Bhagwan Singh Ji, shared a close relationship with the revered Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji of Malacca

from whom the family gained much spiritual guidance. Khalsa Ji started learning kirtan at the tender age of 12 years from Ragi Bhai Badhan Singh Ji (Head Granthi Sahib at Gurdwara Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia). Though Khalsa Ji worked in Kuala Lumpur, he never failed to visit Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji in Malacca whenever he possibly could. These visits got him closer to Sant Ji and they started doing sangats together in Malacca. Khalsa Ji was eventually transferred to Batu Gajah Land Office in Perak, Malaysia. When Sant Ji grew gravely ill Khalsa Ji would stay with him in the hospital nightly, attending to his needs. Sant Ji found Khalsa Ji’s sewa

remarkable. Sant Ji then made him promise that he would commit himself to the panth, extending out a hand of promise. This was obviously reciprocated by Khalsa Ji in the presence of Late S. Ranjit Singh and his wife who was a distant niece of Sant Ji. From that day on, Khalsa Ji kept to his promise and carried on a legacy of work. The Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji Vidiyala was then setup in Malacca in the loving memory of Sant Ji after his passing, to promote Sikhi and Gurmat Studies. Khalsa Ji obviously volunteered himself to this noble cause. He became a parcharak and was sent to Shahid Sikh Missionary College in Amritsar Punjab (India) for training

in areas of Sikhi and Gurmat. He learnt Kirtan, Katha and Parchar. Khalsa Ji returned in 1976 and once again, carried on his love of sewa. Khalsa Ji’s devotion and dedication eventually led him to take over Giani Santa Singh Ji’s duties as the Head Teacher. There were 5 students under Giani Santa Singh Ji at that time. After Khalsa Ji took over the duties from Giani Santa Singh Ji at the Vidiyala, 22 students enrolled to be trained as parcharaks. Of these initial batch of students, 5 of then graduated in 1979 and went on to do parchar fulltime in various parts of Malaysia. Giani Dalgit Singh Ji (currently at Gurdwara Dharamsala Kuala Lumpur), Late Giani Jagjit Singh Ji (Gurdwara Pusing, Ipoh), Ranjit Singh Ji (Bentong, Pahang), Giani Gurnam Singh Ji (currently in Gurdwara Sahib Muar, Johor), Surinder Singh Ji (Giani Jagjit Singh Ji's brother).

After leaving Vidiyala in 1979, he started training parcharaks at Gurdwara Mantin in Negri where the Late Giani Jagjit Singh Ji Khalsa started his sewa after graduation from the Vidiyala. Dedicated students from Vidiyala who were under him, followed him to the Gurdwara as well. Amongst those who join to be trained as parcharaks at Gurdwara Mantin was Giani Sukhdaiv Singh Ji (Gurpuri Foundation). At Gurdwara Mantin, Khalsa Ji encouraged youth from Singapore and Malaysia to setup a registered society known as Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji Vidiyala to promote the message and mission of Sant Ji, but this was turned down as there was already a society registered bearing that name; hence Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Khalsa Gardh was chosen. The aim of this society was to promote and educate people on

Sikhi and Gurbani parchar, not just locally but in the global arena. This missionary work eventually led to the formation of the Sant Baba Sohan Singh Melaka Kirtani Sewak Jatha in 1979. In the name of parchar, the jatha toured countries like Germany, Holland, United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Singapore. Since, 1980 the Jatha also conducted annual Barsi programmes in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) inviting foreign and local kirtani jathas to participate. This was done in commemoration of Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji's Barsi (Death Anniversary). Khalsa Ji had continually been doing Nisham Sewa for Sikhi parchar in the form of kirtan tours and programmes. He never fails to emphasize the importance of taking the Amrit and being part of the Khalsa brotherhood. He stresses greatly on the importance of Naam Simran and the benefits of doing it as a family. Khalsa Ji never failed to offer assistance whenever needed and ensures Naam Simran was conducted every second Saturday of the month, in Gurdwara Sahib Dharamsala (Kuala Lumpur). Also, Kirtan programs are conducted at the request of the sangat in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom. Giani Mahinder Singh Ji Khalsa uttermost dedication to service was commendable. He was an ideal exemplar for every Sikh to emulate. His unconditional service to the Sikh community and the extensive knowledge he had accumulated over the years almost makes him a walking Gurbani dictionary, we pray that Khalsa Ji carry on his humble sewa and bring many into the fold of Guru Panth Khalsa.

PJ MINI SAMELAN The Sikh, May 20138

The much awaited Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya (GSPJ) mini samelan that made a comeback from the 18-20 August 2012, after a wait of about 365 days, successfully charged the spirit of spirituality among the younger generation of Sikhs, participants and sewadars alike.

Samelans are like tonics that buzz one to happiness through a myriad of activities that are exciting and nurturing in nature. Undoubtedly, it was the collective efforts from all the parties involved were a vital ingredient in making the GSPJ mini samelan, themed SEWA, a memorable affair for the approximately 150 participants and 40 sewadars, alongside the PJ sanggat and organising committee, had participated in this three days event. The response received was overwhelming, especially for a long weekend, signifying a strong thirst for insights on the various aspects of Sikhi, from the young and elderly alike.

The participants, aged between 5 and 16 years of age, were divided to 3 groups, each assigned with its own facilitators with varying curriculums. Upon arrival some participants, especially the younger ones were reluctant to part from their parents, but the gloom lifted immediately once they saw the familiar faces of friends from the last mini samelan waving and smiling at them. Soon everyone was occupied with talk and laughter, settling into the momentum of the camp, as they settled administrative related tasks. The participants then gathered in the darbar sahib for the arambakh

ardass and opening hukunama, and with that the mini samelan officially took off.

Over the samelan duration, key activities involved inspirational sessions to promote the concept of praying as sadsanggat, during which everyone present collectively chanted and sung along in an ecstatic setting, experiencing the sweetness of naam japna in shabads such as ‘Satgur ki sewa safal hai jay ko karay chit laa-ay’.

Participants were also engaged with discussions and debates on various issues revolving around the theme of – Sewa, that it can be practised across the environmental, social and economic spheres.

Through discussion, historical details and evidence from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the facilitators translated these words into action and taught the participants how to apply them practically. While the darbar sahib and classroom sessions were meant to impart knowledge necessary to uplift the soul, to promote healthy living and strengthen solidarity, outdoor sessions were also organised.

Key highlights of the camp include camp fire that involved games, drama, dharmik presentations and sing along sessions. What is more, participants had put to practise the essence of knowledge acquired in the discussion sessions by leading sewa sessions such as washing the toilets, cleaning up the darbar sahib, and washing the Gurdwara Sahib pakarma.

There is more actually, and that is activities such as the amazing

race, Master Chef, Heart-to-Heart and jungle trekking. After solving clues and challenges which strengthened camaraderie and sportsmanship among the participants, next up was the Master Chef. The participants had collectively conquered the kitchen and langgar hall, cooking gulab jaman, barfi, and samosa for chatime. Later, even serving all the adults and participating in the washing sewa.

The heart to heart session was another highly engaging session, where discussion ranged on myriad of topics ranging from ‘Sikh views’ on contemporary ethical issues, to ‘Who is a Sikh’.

Trekking Gasing Hill was the fantastic closing to an exciting camp, during which the participants and local sanggat had ventured varying trails, but with the same exalted spirit. Although some were physically exhausted, their spirits remained intact. It was heartening to note that the participants, through direct exposure to Mother Nature, appreciated the wonders of God’s creation, while understanding the importance of healthy living. In fact, some of the participants never stepped a foot in the jungle.

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, so did the GSPJ mini samelan 2012, after a gotong-royong session, after three whole days of fun, learning and adventure. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see that many of the young participants have been regularly participating in the various activities organised by GSPJ.

PJ Mini Samelan

The Sikh, May 2013 Ladies Programme 9

Just for the ladies…To honour the special women in our lives, monthly Ladies Satsang sessions have been conducted at Sabha House and Gurdwara’s around the Klang Valley. Besides the delicious recipes that were shared with all those present, enlightening talks by esteemed guests such as Gurka Singh, Shanti Kaur Khalsa and Sarab Rog Ka Aukhaad Naam Mission. While the mum’s were engrossed in the sessions, the dads were dotting on the kids and having a hearty “cha” session of their own.

Ladies Programme The Sikh, May 201310

From my kitchen to yours…Sukhveer Kaur shares some of her recipes and advice when cooking - Cooking with Love, Gratitude and Simran enhances your food with positivity and recharges those who eat with positive energy. Hope you enjoy trying out these dishes!

PANCAKE

KAYACoconut Cream Ayam Brand ---- 2 litersDaun Pandan - 6 Make Into KnotsSugar ---- 500gmsCorn Oil 3-4 Tbsp METHOD Pour sugar in pan and caramelise it ( slow fire as we do not want to burn it otherwise kaya will become bitter), Cool with some water, add santan and daun pandan,

Slow cook till it becomes thick, takes aproximately 1-2 hours and longer for bigger ammount In process of Kaya getting brown add corn oil (do not use peanut oil, olive oil or any oil with smell)

1cup wheat flour

Blend some fresh daun pandan leaves and sieve it.Add wheat flour and and make batter with daun pandan juice (we can also blend it)(another option for this is you can use pandan flavour but the fresh option is much better)See the consistency the batter should not be very watery or thick. Add a pinch of salt Optional if you want kuih ketayap to be rich you can add 1 cup fresh milk and less water. Cook the pancake on the tawa just like the pancakes above (bigger size). For The Filling 1/2 freshly grated coconut (White)gula melaka ( all depends on how sweet you want)2 knotted daun pandan. Dry fry all the ingredients for 10 - 15 minutes till nice fragrance, but make sure it does not become very dry otherwise it will not be juicy. As we make the pancakes add the filling and roll.

KUIH KETAYAP

A) -1cup self raising flour 1 cup fresh milk 1tbsp sugar Pinch of salt B) -yogurt (optional) METHODBlend ingredients A and add a little water. Keep aside. If you want to make yogurt pancake you can add yogurt. Heat tawa and make round pancakes with the thick consistency, till bubbles appear and the surface is dry. Can be eaten with kaya, honey or golden syrup. (some people like to drizzle a little lemon juice on it).

The Sikh, May 2013 FELLOWSHIP CAMP 11

An adventure up in the breezy solitude of Cameron Highlands, it’s easy to see why year after year, the fellowship between partici-pants continues to grow. And like other Fellowship Camps before this, the Special Raya Edition camp saw the participation of over 60 young campers over the long festive break. For the first time ever, these campers experienced the beauty of Mother Nature even more up close and personal with an overnight camping session which was followed by a jungle trek – talk about heeding the call of the wild! With fun, fellowship and full on enlightening sessions, it was indeed a weekend to remember! Fellowship Fever

An adventure up in the breezy solitude of Cameron Highlands,

Forging friendships at Fellowship Camp

it’s easy to see why year after year, the fellowship between partici-pants continues to grow. And like other Fellowship Camps before this, the Special Raya Edition camp saw the participation of over 60 young campers over the long festive break.

For the first time ever, these campers experienced the beauty of Mother Nature even more up close and personal with an overnight camping session which was followed by a jungle

trek – talk about heeding the call of the wild! With fun, fellowship and full on enlightening sessions, it was indeed a weekend to remember! Fellowship Fever

An adventure up in the breezy solitude of Cameron Highlands, it’s easy to see why year after year, the fellowship between partici-pants continues to grow. And like other Fellowship Camps before this, the Special Raya Edition camp saw the participation of over 60 young campers over the long festive break. For the first time ever, these campers experienced the beauty of Mother Nature even more up close and personal with an overnight camping session which was followed by a jungle trek – talk about heeding the call of the wild! With fun, fellowship and full on enlightening sessions, it was indeed a weekend to remember!

FELLOWSHIP CAMP The Sikh, May 201312







The Sikh, May 2013 PMR GETAWAY 13







The PMR Getaway is an ideal opportunity for teens to take a break after the endless stress of sitting for a major exam. It’s also an ideal way for them to rekindle old friendships, expand their networking circle, pursue self development and basically have fun!

You may ask what would such a tiny group of 30 teenagers actually do over the weekend at Port Dickson? I bet the parents must be thinking that we practically slept for 15 hours straight, ate till we were stuffed (especially me!) and lazed around the beach. Guess what, dear parents, that's where you guys are so so wrong. We actually participated in activities that were specially arranged to improve our self-esteem, political consciousness and leading a well balanced teenage life.

This camp was far more than a three day weekend of fun, it was an avenue where we teen's were given tasks to exponentially develop ourselves via a series of games and discussions.

The first day of camp actually started in PJ Gurdwara. When I arrived, I have to admit that we were caught off guard. Everyone seemed to have their own "clans" and we were practically lost, not knowing where or who to go to. We resigned to the darbar and shortly later the ardaas was done. Later on, we were separated into two different groups as there were two vans to "ship" us over to Port Dickson Gurdwara. Needless to say, all "clans" were destroyed. *MUHAHAHA*

*Ahem* Not bragging here, but just stating a fact. The van which I

was on was totally awesome, I really can’t describe how great the journey was thanks to all those who were aboard! We were singing all the way to the Gurdwara and getting to know each other, so much so that I forgot about my rumbling tummy.

Once we reached, we did an ardaas and later on all the partici-pants settled themselves into their respective rooms. After having lunch, the fantastic ice-breaking games kicked off!

One of the most significant activities we had on the first day was the beach walk. During the course of that activity, everyone really loosened up and mingled around. We were also given a short presentation about the works carried out by Global Sikhs. This discussion, although short, really captivated all the participants mind and gave us something to ponder on. Right now, I can say, that it’s high time we teens start taking notice of what's happen-ing around and speak out.

The best part was at night, when we had our BBQ party (all vegetar-ian mind you). I shall not devour on how finger licking good the food was, I bet you guys already get my point. Haha!

Saturday kicked off with the morning panj banias and ardaas. We had our nishan sahib selami and some activities to warm ourselves up before the hike to the Rachado Lighthouse. Later on, we went to the beach! I drank lots of salt water, got sun burnt and gained some beautiful memories. By cha-time, some participants went back to the gurdwara and some remained at the

beach to play futsal and just linger around.

After washing up, we proceeded with the Rehraas and keertanDarbar session was fantastic! Triphtpal, Mokham and Arween sang beautiful kirtans and shabads; leaving everyone memorized Dinner time was extra special! CURRY NOODLES WAS ON THE MENU! Ho-yeah! I couldn't stop myself for a second serving!

After getting high on the carbon-ated drinks, sleep was definitely not an option. Instead, we had a game of cards followed by futsal with Gurjeev, Nashvin, Udham, Simret, Gurvin, Ekjoth and the gang! But as midnight approached my tummy started rumbling even more. But thank heavens, I was not alone. We made a trip to the nearest McDon-ald's (to those who didn't come, please be jealous!) and satisfied our cravings with sundae and fries! We had a merry night with all the singing and eating. Finally, sleep came to depart us.

The last day, a sunny Sunday was very emotional. No one wanted to go back home! We had a gotong royong session which was followed by the camps wrap-up session. Later on we had our lunch and did our final ardaas for a save journey.

But, there was no way we would leave Port Dickson without a taste of its must talked about cendol! After, devouring on the heavenly dessert, we made our way back to PJ Gurdwara.

It was evident on everyone's face that no one wanted to bid their goodbye.

A well deserved break

SMILES DAY KL The Sikh, May 201314

In conjunction with World Smiles Day (celebrated officially on the first Friday of October), Oh My Guru (O.M.G.) decided to have our very own Smiles Day celebration on September 29th, 2012 for the second consecutive year. Our main objective was to do a random act of kindness and make someone smile. We also wanted to create awareness of our organisation and be able to network with other youths.

We distributed colourful

carnations, little yellow smiley badges, bounty balloons and delicious cupcakes in exchange for smiles from the busy crowd at KL Sentral. Some rejected our gestures while others happily cheered us on. It was indeed a wonderful experience. We often forget how little things in life can bring us much joy. By doing this small act, we managed to make so many people cheerful.

We were truly happy to brighten up the moods of the crowd who were hustling and bustling through what seemed like just another day. This time around, we even had our non-Sikh friends who joined in and helped us make this event sweeter.

To take the Smiles Day spirit to the next level, O.M.G. joined in the langgar sewa the following day to carve smiles on the faces of patients at KL General Hospital. The expressions of love and kindness that we got while serving roti, dhal and kheer to the patients

(patients’ families and the hospital staff too) is indescribable. Even though, a handful of them were confined to their beds with tubes attached all over their bodies, they still

managed a smile upon seeing us. The positive vibes we help create at the hospital was truly extraordinary.

The Smiles Day celebrations created a unique experience not only for us but also for all those we offered our acts of kindness to. What goes around comes around It truly brought us together as God’s creation and reiterated what our Gurus preached - that by touching others we bring profound joy to our own hearts.

Prepared by,Harmeet Singh

SMILES DAY

The Sikh, May 2013 SMILES DAY JB 15

So far, OMG JB has organized two events which was a satsang in loving memory of the victims of Oak Creek shooting and also Smile Day. For the satsang program, the youth of OMG JB prepared a slide show for the sangat which was played during kirtan done by the naujawan itself. We also had gathered all the kids and youth on that day that came for the satsang and handed them fresh white flowers. As the kirtan was going on remembering the victims and praying for their peace, all the youths ushered in with white flowers which was nicely arranged in front of Guruji once they had metha take. Once the satsang was over, everyone gathered at the Nishan Sahib area to light up candles.

The next big event we did was Smile Day which was held on 2nd of September 2012. Once again all the youths came together and helped out with the preparations. The Smile Day was held at City

Square one of the most popular hangout spot for people here. Night before the event we made posters writing quotes regarding Smile for everyone to read and also blew lots of balloons with smiley’s made on them. During the event, we all dressed in yellow and only had one mission which was to put a smile on another person’s face. We went up to random people and handed them a red rose which has quotes stuck on to them. It was joyous seeing other peoples face lit up by this random act of kindness.

We were all over the place holding up cardboards of messages, giving out smiley balloons, cupcakes and it felt good receiving so much warmth from people out there too. All in all it was a very happy event for all of us.

Spreading hope

DHOL COMP The Sikh, May 201316

In conjunction with World Smiles Day (celebrated officially on the first Friday of October), Oh My Guru (O.M.G.) decided to have our very own Smiles Day celebration on September 29th, 2012 for the second consecutive year. Our main objective was to do a random act of kindness and make someone smile. We also wanted to create awareness of our organisation and be able to network with other youths.

We distributed colourful

carnations, little yellow smiley badges, bounty balloons and delicious cupcakes in exchange for smiles from the busy crowd at KL Sentral. Some rejected our gestures while others happily cheered us on. It was indeed a wonderful experience. We often forget how little things in life can bring us much joy. By doing this small act, we managed to make so many people cheerful.

We were truly happy to brighten up the moods of the crowd who were hustling and bustling through what seemed like just another day. This time around, we even had our non-Sikh friends who joined in and helped us make this event sweeter.

To take the Smiles Day spirit to the next level, O.M.G. joined in the langgar sewa the following day to carve smiles on the faces of patients at KL General Hospital. The expressions of love and kindness that we got while serving roti, dhal and kheer to the patients

(patients’ families and the hospital staff too) is indescribable. Even though, a handful of them were confined to their beds with tubes attached all over their bodies, they still

managed a smile upon seeing us. The positive vibes we help create at the hospital was truly extraordinary.

The Smiles Day celebrations created a unique experience not only for us but also for all those we offered our acts of kindness to. What goes around comes around It truly brought us together as God’s creation and reiterated what our Gurus preached - that by touching others we bring profound joy to our own hearts.

Prepared by,Harmeet Singh

National Level Dhol Competition 2012

This was the First mini samelan held in Gurdwara Sahib Chemor, Perak by Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia. About 70 participated in the samelan held for 3 days on 26th Oct to 28th Oct during the last hari raya haji holidays. This mini samelan was managed by 20 sewadars. The theme for this samelan was Sabh Sikhan Ko Hukam Hai, Guru Maanee-o Granth.

We started off with registering the participants and giving out name tags. There were 3 jathas which were Jatha Baba Ajit singh ji, Jatha Baba Deep Singh Ji and Jatha Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. This was followed by Nishaan Sahib salami (flag raising). Later on the participants were briefed on the activities and rules throughout samelan. Without wasting anytime, we started off with ice breaking session. Carried on with rehraas, an IPS session with Veer Daaljit Singh and awesome dinner prepared by the Chemor sewadars. After dinner the participants had a session on

26th Oct to 28th Oct 2012

CHEMOR MIINISAMELAN

Article by Danisha Kaur

“Danger of Drugs” by Veer Satvinder Singh. The mighties were under Penji Kiran, Veer Basant and Veer Mansimran while the miri piri’s were under Penji Ashvin, Penji Nisha, and Penji Vinny. Veer Harjinder gave an inspiration talk to the participant’s parents. The chairman of this samelan was Veer Pardip Singh, Veer Narin was handling the administration, Veer Casvin helped out in darbar sewa and logistics was under Veer Jagjit. Not forgetting, all the awesome memories captured by Veer Angath.

Day two started as early as 5.30 am with Nitnem and followed by nishan sahib salami, a little bit of exercise and aerobics handled by Veer Manmohan and then breakfast. An IPS session was handled by Kemey Veerji after

breakfast.Right after

lunch, the participants were lead to the field for some games and fun. The kids enjoyed all the games n was quite exhausted but yet they were in high spirit for what’s

coming up at night. At night, we all wore our own bana’s and yes we all looked stunning. A small camp fire was organized and lots of fun activities were held and yes not forgetting the delicious food.

A typical day three at the samelan again starts at 5.30am with Nitnem, nishan sahib salami and again a little aerobics. Then we headed to langaar for breakfast. After breakfast, the participant had an IPS session with Giani Surinderpal Sing, prize giving session and speeches and then by 1pm after lunch we had to say our goodbyes till we meet again.

Participants

Question & Answer Session

Nishan Sahib Selami

Mascot for mighties

Lecture and Teaching during inspirational session (IPS)

17IPOH BRANCH REPORTSThe Sikh, May 2013

On the 23rd of August 2012, Gurdwara Sahib Gopeng, Perak welcomed all its Perak Sikh Youth Camp participants and sewadars with open arms. The Gurdwara was decorated with canopy tents, banners and chendia. The samelan was carried out during the end of school break which successfully attracted many participants between the age of 8 years old up to 18 years old from Selangor and all over Perak to experience these 4 days of Gurmat infusion plus great teachings of Sikhism were portrayed.

There were 160 participants registered and few others who came just for visiting but yet extended helping hands while participating in some of the activities which had been planned meticulously for the purpose of learning.

The main purpose of this camp was to instill knowledge about Sikhism among our younger generations, which they were not aware of before. Sharing the message from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was one of the greatest key points to be highlighted and central core of the Samelan. From lecture sessions to group activities, everything revolved about the theme shabad:

aad pooran maDh pooran ant pooran ParmaysurehIn the beginning, He was pervading; in the middle, He is pervading; in the end, He will be pervading. He is the Transcendent Lord.

These samelan preparations started a month ago, where the sewadar’s decided to go all gurdwaras in Ipoh to promote and to get the participant registered. Samelan started with registration at 3.00pm by Danisha Kaur, Pardip Singh, Jagjit Singh and Keshwinder Kaur, Keshvinder Singh and Roshwynder Singh. It was then followed with Nishan Sahib Selami by Veer Kulvinder Singh (Kemey).

This was then followed by Ice Breaking activity lead by Veer Pardip Singh. Ice breaking activity was a total joy since it got all the participants excited while getting to know each other better. It was then continued by tea break and wash up. In the evening it was time for Rehraas Sahib and continued with Kirtan by participants. It was then time for dinner and the participants had wonderful dinner prepared by the local sewadars of Gopeng. All the participants and

sangat were inspired with IPS session which was conducted by Veer Kulvinder Singh (Kemey Veerji). He was very efficient with his stimulating talk which managed to attract the thoughtful minds of the participants. He reminded us, the importance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and its teachings. Then it was time for recap session and Milo and all the participants to sleep.

Day 2, commenced with Simran at 5.30 am in the morning then followed by Nitnem at 6.00am and ardas. It was then continued with Nishan Sahib Selami and aerobics. Then it was the time for breakfast and continues by Inspirational Session (IPS). After IPS we had classroom sessions for Miri Piri participants and activities for Mighties under Penji Kiran and Penji Nisha. After lunch, we had group dynamics. They were great activities planned by Veer Jagjit, Veer Malwin and other sewadar’s for this activity. At about 2.30pm until 5.00pm, the Miri Participant had great activities carried out in Gopeng Town Padang while the mighties had sukanneka in Gurdwara Compound. After tea and wash up, we had Kirtan by participants. Right after rehraas

everyone adjourned to the langgar and then for Inspirational Session. After ardas and semapthi, we had heart to heart session with Miri Piri participants which majorly involved sharing and listening to problems which normally often faced by our particapants in life. During this session, mighties were having their milo and later went for peaceful sleep. Miri Piri participants slept at 11pm after listening to advices and the messages passed on by dedicated sewadars.

We had many activities planned for day 3. It was a bana day. Some of the participants were excited to be in their white bana. We had Amazing Race planned by Veer Satvinder Singh, Veer Malvinder Singh and others for all the Participant in Gopeng Town Padang with all the sewadar’s involved. We had our tea break and sandwiches while at padang and

once back to gurdwara it was time for wash up and those wants to tea time for second time. Next, we had Kirtan by participants. Right after rehraas everyone adjourned to the langgar. We had a wonderful decoration for darbar sahib with white cloth, candles and flowers. The Miri Piri Participants, enter darbar sahib with flowers by bowing down with respect and reverence. We continue the evening with a great Inspirational Session joined by the local sangat from Gopeng, Kampar and Ipoh. After ardas and semapthi, we had camp fire and Veer Ajitpal Singh and Veer Satsimran Singh planned very interesting activities for everyone, not only the participant, also the sewadar’s. The last day kicked off with the Simran and recitation of Nitnem. After ardas, we had Nishan Sahib Selami, aerobics followed by breakfast. Then participants had a

Perak Sikh Youth Camp 2012By Narian Singh (Narin)

Group Dynamics

IPOH BRANCH REPORTS The Sikh, May 201318












classroom session to recap all the topics discussed throughout the Samelan and mighties had colourings and other activities planned by Keval Kaur, Gurpinder Kaur, Basant Singh, Harmeet Singh and other sewadars. After that we proceeded with the final IPS of the samelan by Penang Jatha, lead by Veer Gian Singh and Penji Gelinder Kaur. They talk on Bhagat Puran Singh, who was a great saint. After ardas and souvenir was given to the main speakers invited and also Gurdwara Sahib Gopeng as a token of appreciation from Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia.

Looking back at the excitement and feedbacks from parents and participants we are affirmative that with Guruji’s kirpa Perak Sikh Youth Camp had a positive impact on the participants’ daily practice lives as a Gursikh. What matters most is how parents and the Gopeng Sangat are going to do to sustain the concepts that our future Sikh generation has grasped during the Four Gurmat inspiring days? We need to put our heads together and workout ongoing Gurmat activities for our children and our future Sikh generation. It was not ending of samelan but beginning of samelan.

Bana Day IPS

The sewadar Team

Inspirational sessions Parents Session

The Sikh, May 2013 IPOH BRANCH REPORTS 19












Sikh Naujawan Sabha Perak Branch organised a mini samelan at Gunung Rapat Gurdwara on the 18th - 20th August 2012. The samelan was themed SATGUR KI SEWA SAFAL HAI JEH KO KARAY CHIT LAYEH.

About 100 people including participants and sewadars attended.

We had Veerji Dr. Paramjit Singh from Kuala Lumpur and Veerji Harjinder Singh from Butterworth for the very beautiful and inspiring IPS sessions.

The MIGHTY kHALSA and MIRI PIRI sessions were facilitated by Veerji Boghar Singh from Kuala Lumpur, Veerji Daljit Singh and Penji Sukhveer Kaur from Penang.

Parenting sessions were facilitated by Giani Lakhbir Singh and Veerji Boghar Singh.

All the sessions were encompassing the theme of the samelan "SEWA"

This samelan also gave our young children the chance being young leaders leading the ardaas, hukumnama, emceeing and also being big brothers and sisters to Mighty Khalsa. The young leaders feed back was so inspiring as them came up to our sewadars and said Thank You for giving us an opportunity to boost our self esteem and confidence level.

Rumala Project by Mighty Khalsa was a great inspiration and on the last day of Samelan when Mighty Khalsa brought the Rumala in Darbar Sahib during the Kirtan and IPS and Jaikara's was a beautiful and emotional moment for the sadhsangat.

Outdoor activities were carried out at ECO PARK, where all participants and sewadars had wonderful outing with lots of fun and food.

The sandwiches for the outing

was prepared by participants where MIRI PIRI did all the washing, cutting and clearing. MIGHTY KHALSA buttered the breads and put in the filling. This incorporated the Junior chef and also the theme shabad.

The wrap up SEWA for the samelan was cleaning up Sachkhand where all sewadars, MIRI PIRI participants and some of the Gurdwara Committee members. This was done with great interest and cleaned with enjoyment. t Feedback from first timers in samelan:

Veer singh from Ipoh, participant Mighty Khalsa said he enjoyed every moment of the samelan and wants to attend more samelans in future. He enjoyed the outing very much and also the food.

Harvinder Kaur from Tronoh, participant Miri Piri, enjoyed the samelan although beginning she was a little shy. The IPS sessions and classroom sessions were very good and educative. The food was good, if only there was dessert such as kheer or custard.

REPORT MINI SAMELAN GUNUNG RAPAT,

PERAK

PARTICIPANT - MINI SAMELAN GUNUNG RAPAT AT ECO PARK.

MIRI PIRI GROUP

MIRI PIRI DISCUSSION WITH PHENJI SUKHVEER KAUR (PENANG)

IPOH BRANCH REPORTS The Sikh, May 201320












classroom session to recap all the topics discussed throughout the Samelan and mighties had colourings and other activities planned by Keval Kaur, Gurpinder Kaur, Basant Singh, Harmeet Singh and other sewadars. After that we proceeded with the final IPS of the samelan by Penang Jatha, lead by Veer Gian Singh and Penji Gelinder Kaur. They talk on Bhagat Puran Singh, who was a great saint. After ardas and souvenir was given to the main speakers invited and also Gurdwara Sahib Gopeng as a token of appreciation from Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia.

Looking back at the excitement and feedbacks from parents and participants we are affirmative that with Guruji’s kirpa Perak Sikh Youth Camp had a positive impact on the participants’ daily practice lives as a Gursikh. What matters most is how parents and the Gopeng Sangat are going to do to sustain the concepts that our future Sikh generation has grasped during the Four Gurmat inspiring days? We need to put our heads together and workout ongoing Gurmat activities for our children and our future Sikh generation. It was not ending of samelan but beginning of samelan.

The colouring competition for MIGHTY KHALSA was held on the 9th September 2012, at the SABHA HOUSE, IPOH organize by Mighty Khalsa Division team by Veer Suwaran Singh, Veer Autar Singh, Phenji Premjit Kaur and Phenji Kiren. The Langgar Hall was converted into a beautiful decorated hall to accommodate this competition. There were three categories in this competition where the participants were divided into various age groups from four to twelve years.

The competition attracted a total of 60 participants despite not been able to include those Mighty Khalsa who were sitting for their UPSR examination on the following Tuesday. Before the competition began, the excited participants sang the Mighty Khalsa song both in Punjabi and English and thereafter Veerji Arjan Singh explained in simple Punjabi the meaning of the pictures that was to

be coloured which was related to the Sikh Panth and again thanks to Phenji Premjit Kaur and Phenji Kiren for conducted attire programme.

While the competition was in progress, an impromptu session on parents talk was held where Phenji Halvinder Kaur from Universiti Kuala Lumpur(Royal college of Ipoh) hosted the parents with the assistance of Veerji Suwaran Singh and Veerji Arjan Singh and discussed openly about communicating with growing up children and the problems they face. It was very productive where the reaction from the parents present was that there should be more talks like this organised by the Sabha in the future.

All the drawings were judged by a group of independent judges who had a hard time deciding on the winners. Participants were judged based on three factors that were presentation, neatness and creativity of their colourings. While the judges were deciding on the winners, the participants and their parents were treated to high tea. Eventually the results were announced and the excited winners proudly received their prizes from the guests invited to present the prizes. The following were the main prize winners:

Category A (4-6 Years old)1st prize: Manraaj Singh2nd prize: Kiran Kaur3rd prize: Tota Singh

Category B (7-9 Years old)1st prize: Ashwin Singh2nd prize: Jasneek Kaur3rd Prize: Alwin Singh

Category C (10-12 Years old)1st prize: Sachpreet Kaur2nd prize: Kelvin Singh3rd prize: Karisha Kaur

All in all, it was an exciting day for Mighty Khalsa and the competition was a successful event. The organizing chairman, Veerji Suwaran Singh thanked all present especially his committee members for all the hard work they had put in to make sure everything went on well and Dr Sarabdeep Singh was a happy man because with Waheguru’s grace, all the activities organized by the SNSM Perak Branch so far have gone on smoothly.

“ Colouring our lives with the spirit of the Khalsa Panth”

Prepared by,Suwaran Singh

SNSM PERAK BRANCHCOLOURING COMPETITION 2012

The Sikh, May 2013 IPOH BRANCH REPORTS 21

GATKA COMP The Sikh, May 201322

Sikh Naujawan Sabha Perak Branch organised a mini samelan at Gunung Rapat Gurdwara on the 18th - 20th August 2012. The samelan was themed SATGUR KI SEWA SAFAL HAI JEH KO KARAY CHIT LAYEH.

About 100 people including participants and sewadars attended.

We had Veerji Dr. Paramjit Singh from Kuala Lumpur and Veerji Harjinder Singh from Butterworth for the very beautiful and inspiring IPS sessions.

The MIGHTY kHALSA and MIRI PIRI sessions were facilitated by Veerji Boghar Singh from Kuala Lumpur, Veerji Daljit Singh and Penji Sukhveer Kaur from Penang.

Parenting sessions were facilitated by Giani Lakhbir Singh and Veerji Boghar Singh.

All the sessions were encompassing the theme of the samelan "SEWA"

This samelan also gave our young children the chance being young leaders leading the ardaas, hukumnama, emceeing and also being big brothers and sisters to Mighty Khalsa. The young leaders feed back was so inspiring as them came up to our sewadars and said Thank You for giving us an opportunity to boost our self esteem and confidence level.

Rumala Project by Mighty Khalsa was a great inspiration and on the last day of Samelan when Mighty Khalsa brought the Rumala in Darbar Sahib during the Kirtan and IPS and Jaikara's was a beautiful and emotional moment for the sadhsangat.

Outdoor activities were carried out at ECO PARK, where all participants and sewadars had wonderful outing with lots of fun and food.

The sandwiches for the outing

was prepared by participants where MIRI PIRI did all the washing, cutting and clearing. MIGHTY KHALSA buttered the breads and put in the filling. This incorporated the Junior chef and also the theme shabad.

The wrap up SEWA for the samelan was cleaning up Sachkhand where all sewadars, MIRI PIRI participants and some of the Gurdwara Committee members. This was done with great interest and cleaned with enjoyment. t Feedback from first timers in samelan:

Veer singh from Ipoh, participant Mighty Khalsa said he enjoyed every moment of the samelan and wants to attend more samelans in future. He enjoyed the outing very much and also the food.

Harvinder Kaur from Tronoh, participant Miri Piri, enjoyed the samelan although beginning she was a little shy. The IPS sessions and classroom sessions were very good and educative. The food was good, if only there was dessert such as kheer or custard.

Malaysia Gatka Cup

The Sikh, May 2013 SG. PETANI WEEKEND CAMP 23

A two day camp was organised at Sg Petani , Kedah on 10th and 11th November 2012. As soon as I got registered, I was given a smiley badge and was told that we were going to smile and make others smile during this camp. It also was a way of serving people who are God’s creations.

We were shown videos of people helping others to motivate us to better improve ourselves. We got to like and love ourselves first before we could show love to others. In the afternoon we were divided into two groups. One group went to the mall and another visited the hospital. I was in the group that went to Village Mall. At first we were too shy to approach the shoppers but after a while we got comfortable and since all of us were smiling there wasn’t much to say as “A Smile Is Worth A Thousand Words”.

We gave away special smiley badges, balloons and cupcakes. Some shoppers thought that they had to pay for them and refused to

accept at first. Once we explained that it was free we saw all the sweet smiles from them. These smiles brought joy to us and inspired us to approach even more people.

My brother visited the hospital and there they distributed vegetarian curry, chapatti and fruits to the patients and their loved ones. They also brought along play cards to encourage people to smile. At first they thought the patients might be reluctant to accept the food being served but that was not the case: everyone willingly smiled and accepted food.

Our coordinator also gave us an idea on how we could serve the Sewadars in the Gurdwara. We decided to massage their tired hands, feet and shoulders. The IPS sessions were also focused on Serving God’s Creation. We were shown more videos and movies emphasizing on “Paying It Forward”.

Another activity we had was the group dynamic session where we

had to prepare Pizzas and Vegetarian Burgers for the Sanggat (of course we were given the recipes!). All of us co-operated and helped each other preparing these dishes. The Sanggat were really pleased and praised us on the delicious food. It felt really nice receiving these compliments.

This camp really opened my eyes to the many opportunities in making a difference in people’s lives. I really enjoyed myself at this camp. I learned that I had to appreciate myself first before I could serve others: only than I can bring a wonderful experience to God’s creations.

Report byAjinder SinghSungai Petani

Learning to serve god’s creations

SG. PETANI WEEKEND CAMP The Sikh, May 201324

It wasn’t just the sight of an entourage that included a horse carriage that caused a buzz in the usually laid back town of Ipoh, but it was the presence of over 1,000 Sikhs youths who had converged at SM Teknik Persiaran Brash to participate in the 49th International Gurmat Parchaar Samelan or Annual Sikh Youth Camp.

Organised by the National Sikh Youth Organisation (SNSM), the week-long Samelan has a reputa-tion of being one of the biggest Sikh youth gatherings in the world. Tracing back to its humble beginnings when it was first organised in 1963 at Port Dickson

with a mere 50 participants, the camp now attracts participants from as far as Australia, India and Canada.

The objectives of the Rakan Muda-sanctioned Samelan was to educate and inculcate Sikh youths on the basic tenets of the religion as well as its traditions and culture.

It aims to teach them how to plan their career paths and the importance of networking. There are motivational talks and inspira-tional sessions to help the young-sters realise their actual potential and the need to respect every individual regardless of their race

or religion.One of the highlights of the

camp would surely be the first day, when the Sikhs brought the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book which the Sikhs regard as their living guru) in a horse carriage-led convoy to the school. Locals, who had never seen such a sight before, stopped to watch as five Sikhs, dressed in their traditional attire, carried the Granth Sahib in a palanquin into the school grounds.

A usual day at the camp would began as early as 5am with morning prayers. This was followed by the singing of Nega-raku and the reciting of Ruku-negara. After breakfast, the youths were divided into teams for group dynamics and projects.

As they say about all work and no play, the youths were also given a crash course on surviving the outdoors via their social dynamic sessions. Although many started out clueless, not even knowing how to read a compass, by the end of the week many of them had successfully complete a series of outdoor challenges. One day in the week was also reserved for Bana Day, when the youths were required to dress in traditional attire – a great start at preserving

culture and heritage.The youths, who put up in the

school’s dormitories, were also told the importance of the gotong-royong spirit with groups given daily duties to clean up the toilets as well as the camp grounds. This stress on humility would hopefully instil the importance of teamwork, to ensure that the youths always remain humble and that they put the interest of others before theirs.











Checkout http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/11/15/north/12315300&sec=North for a news article on this event.

The Sikh, May 2013 SAMELAN 2012 25



Annual Gurmat Parchaar Samelan 2012




















SAMELAN 2012 The Sikh, May 201326





























The Sikh, May 2013 LOVE YOUR HAIR SUKHJIT KAUR 33

A Testimony on CourageFrom the 8th - 13th of July I was lucky enough to be selected as the Member for Jandakot, my local electorate, in the annual YMCA Youth Parliament of Western Australia. Here young people come together to share their views on community issues and develop a piece of youth legislation. On the last day in Parliament House, we were given the opportunity to speak on any issue of our choosing. I chose to give a testimony on courage, drawing on my personal experiences with accepting the hair on my body and my story of overcoming bullying. I felt that these issues were important to explore as it gave the audience a chance to enter my world, feel my emotional and impassioned story, and take that message of courage with them

What other opportunity would I get as an 18 year old to voice my opinions/journey/story to 55 Youth Parliamentarians, various West Australian politicians, special dignitaries and the general public? It gives me great pleasure to share with you my speech.

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.

Gorilla Girl.

Today I would like to share with you how these two words ultimately shifted the paradigm of my high school and my life.Let us begin with the roots. I am a Sikh, born and raised in Australia. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. We are believers of selfless acts of service (Seva) and stand up for

human rights and equality. Sikhs can be recognised by their unshorn hair, turbans and beards. Which is why I have never cut my hair in my life. We believe that there is a practical and spiritual purpose for every hair on our body, which keeps us in balance. Most importantly, I keep my hair for identity purposes and the battles in Sikh history it represents.

However, I didn't arrive at this conclusion overnight. We all have our insecurities and mine was my hairy legs.

Brought up in a secluded home away from 'western influences' and beauty magazines, I grew up believing that Caucasian girls weren't born with leg hair! Unaware of the fact that girls actually shaved their legs. I often questioned: "Why aren't I like everybody else? Why don't I feel feminine?" And hair removal advertisements exclaiming that THIS is "what beauty feels like" triggered me to think... am I not a beautiful girl?

In the school environment, Gorilla Girl was just one of the forms of verbal abuse I received. I was bullied for four years for not conforming to the high school hierarchy. Every day the amount of boys bullying me grew like an epidemic. Furthermore, as Head Girl of the school, a position of respect, it was highly embarrassing. I cannot convey to the chamber how humiliated and ashamed I felt to be Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa.So I decided to pull a twist to the traditional bullying victim card. I decided to face all 26 of my bullies, with the support from the principal, teachers, and my friends, in a safe mediating environment. I spoke straight from my heart for 45 minutes

about the things they were doing, how they were doing it, where they were doing it, questioning why they were doing it, how it made me feel, the affect it had on my studies, my wellbeing and my duties as the Head Girl. I put them in my shoes, highlighted the link between bullying and teenage suicides, racism, hate crimes and current world issues, and finished off with a sincere plea for my bullies to just... stop. Believe me, I have never felt a room so sacred and silent, never have I seen that many boys come close to tears, never have I ever seen my teachers/principal cry from listening to my words, never have I felt so overwhelmed with emotion and release and NEVER have I experienced such courage.

I felt as if I wasn't just standing up for myself, I was standing up for everyone who had ever been bullied in the past. The school was buzzing. Students were finally addressing bullying in a manner that had never in my experience been done before. I sent a clear message to my peers: if it takes 1 girl to stand up to 26 boys, she will.

As a result, I got an unexpected amount of heartfelt apologies from all of those 26 boys. The day after, the atmosphere changed in the school corridors. No longer did I feel fear or hate. The nods of acknowledgement, genuine smiles and friendly hellos from my bullies made me realise that I had achieved something. I had gone into this 'mission' yearning for respect and came out receiving more than I could have possibly imagined.

All Sikh girls are given the name Kaur which translates to Lioness or Princess. After accepting my identity for what it is and staring at bullying right in the face, I rose above a sea of grey. That is the day I took my first steps as a Lioness.

My bullies didn't undergo a punishment. Instead, my means of communication forced them to face their actions, educated them about my context and gave them a chance to change.

It's time to stand up. It's time to stand up and face our fears. It's time to stand up and discover the courage we never thought we had. It's time to stand up to change. To a positive revolution. A revolution that we as young people can be a part of. If I can do it, SO CAN YOU!

Now every day when I leave the house, hairy as ever, I command to the world: Judge Me. I Dare You."

The response I got during and after the speech was phenomenal! There were plenty of tears from both the audience and myself. And as I took my seat, I felt overwhelmed as an array of notes flooded my desk from all corners of the room. Notes exclaiming how inspired my peers were, calling me a lioness in each one of them. One boy even wrote: "You truly sparkle within. Be proud of those legs!" Furthermore, the amount of people that came up to me afterwards wanting to learn more about Sikhism was truly astonishing! At that moment, I have never felt prouder to be a Sikh. Most of my audience had never heard of Sikhism before. And now, not only had they heard of it, they had understood it in a way that hopefully they will never forget. I truly thank Waheguru Ji for giving me this opportunity to speak from my heart and for the strength He gave me to deliver the speech.

Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa

LOVE YOUR HAIR BALPREET KAUR The Sikh, May 201334

From the 8th - 13th of July I was lucky enough to be selected as the Member for Jandakot, my local electorate, in the annual YMCA Youth Parliament of Western Australia. Here young people come together to share their views on community issues and develop a piece of youth legislation. On the last day in Parliament House, we were given the opportunity to speak on any issue of our choosing. I chose to give a testimony on courage, drawing on my personal experiences with accepting the hair on my body and my story of overcoming bullying. I felt that these issues were important to explore as it gave the audience a chance to enter my world, feel my emotional and impassioned story, and take that message of courage with them



Gorilla Girl.














Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa

09/25/2012: A picture snapped surreptitiously and posted to Reddit's r/funny thread has drawn attention to a little known tenet of the Sikh faith."Yes, I’m a baptized Sikh woman with facial hair," Balpreet Kaur, a college student, wrote in response to her picture.Kaur, an Ohio State University sophomore studying neuroscience and psychology, is a baptized Sikh, and as such follows the so-called "5 Ks," or five physical symbols that date back to the creation of the faith by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, according to BBC.One of the tenets is kesh, or uncut hair."Yes, I realize that my gender is often confused and I look different than most women. However, baptized Sikhs believe in the sacredness of this body - it is a gift that has been given to us by the Divine Being [which is genderless, actually] and, must keep it intact as a submission to the divine will," she added to her response on Reddit.The photo was also picked up by Cracked.com, which lauded the student for her "graceful and fresh" response.The poised student, who is also president of the Sikh Student Association and plans to be a neurosurgeon, also said that she believes that by not worrying on her outward appearance, she is able to

better focus on actions that matter."When I die, no one is going to remember what I looked like, heck, my kids will forget my voice, and slowly, all physical memory will fade away," she writes. "However, my impact and legacy will remain: and, by not focusing on the physical beauty, I have time to cultivate those inner virtues and hopefully, focus my life on creating change and progress for this world in any way I can."While not alone in her adherence, Western culture's standards of beauty -- which involve all sorts of waxing and shaving -- have made many Sikh women disregard the rule.According to Gurinder Singh Mann, a professor of Sikh studies at UC Santa Barbara, more and more women have begun to treat the religious requirement as flexible."The winds of all this modernity and secularism are growing," Singh Mann said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.For Kaur, however, there's nothing to be ashamed of."I’m not embarrased or even humiliated by the attention [negative and positive] that this picture is getting because, it’s who I am," Kaur wrote. And, she added, if you're out and about on the OSU campus, by all means come by and say hello.

Balpreet Kaur, Sikh Woman, Proudly Sports Facial Hair In Accordance With Her Faith

The Sikh, May 2013 REMEMBERING WISCONSIN SHOOTING 35

From the 8th - 13th of July I was lucky enough to be selected as the Member for Jandakot, my local electorate, in the annual YMCA Youth Parliament of Western Australia. Here young people come together to share their views on community issues and develop a piece of youth legislation. On the last day in Parliament House, we were given the opportunity to speak on any issue of our choosing. I chose to give a testimony on courage, drawing on my personal experiences with accepting the hair on my body and my story of overcoming bullying. I felt that these issues were important to explore as it gave the audience a chance to enter my world, feel my emotional and impassioned story, and take that message of courage with them



Gorilla Girl.














Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa

REMEMBERING WISCONSIN SHOOTING

Inspiring teacher Shanti Kaur Khalsa studied under Yogi Bhajan for about 30 years and served as his security on his many foreign trips. A Keertan and Simran programme was held at Gurdwara Sahib Titiwangsa while Camp Akal which focused on Teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Chanting, Yoga, Exercise and Self-Empowerment Workshops among others was held at Gurdwara Sahib Parliament.

Camp Akal

CAMP AKAL The Sikh, May 201336

The Sikh, May 2013 CAMP AKAL 37

HARJAAS KEERTAN SAMAGAM The Sikh, May 201338

ORGANISING a full-scale charity fun run, even if just for 5km is no walk in the park. When one adds in the fact that a world-famous centenarian marathoner, Fauja Singh has agreed to grace your event, the obstacles seem more insurmountable. The Chardikala Charitable Fun Run took place on Dec 2 from 4pm to 7pm at the Astaka Field in Petaling Jaya. One of the aims of the organisers is to encourage more youths and Malaysians in general to pick up a healthier lifestyle, while also raising the profile of Malaysian Sikhs and Punjabis at the same

By lucky coincidence, the world’s oldest marathoner Fauja Singh is scheduled to take part in

the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon on the same day. According to organisers, it took some time to gain approval from Fauja’s trainers to allow Fauja to take part in the fun run but the centenarian was present to flag off the races.

In addition to the fun-run, participants would also get to partake of Punjabi cuisine prepared for the event after the race.

The race itself is divided into five categories — men’s and women’s Open for participants 13 years and above, Under-18 boys and girls (from 13 years to 18 years old), mix Veteran for participants 40 years old and above.

“There are cash prizes for the top three in each category, along with medals for the top 10 and finishing certificates for all participants. Registration fee is RM20 for all categories,” shared one of the organisers.

While the Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya, along with the Malaysian Sikh Youth (Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia) have helped to sponsor the organisation for this year’s Chardikala fun run, Taranjit added that the committee was still sourcing for sponsors in any aspect for the run, either through cash or kind. The committee will also issue receipts to sponsors and donors for tax rebate.

Melodious keertan and meditative vibes, the HAR JAS KEERTAN SEMAGAM 3.0 was held during the Hari Raya Holidays featuring renowned keertanis like Giani Gurdev Singh Australia, Bhai Ravinder Singh Delhi, Bhai Gurbir Singh Tarn Taran, Bhai Davinder Singh ASI, Bhai Parminder Singh Australia, and Bhai Harsimran Singh Australia. Bliss is the best word to describe the feeling that was felt in the Darbar during the entire duration of this samagam.

Harjaas Keertan Samagam

The Sikh, May 2013 CARDIKALA RUN 39








Chardikala Charitable Fun Run

CARDIKALA RUN The Sikh, May 201340








The Sikh, May 2013 AGAN BHET SEWA 41








AGAN BHET SEWA OF BIRAD SAROOP OF SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JIWhat is Agan Bhet Sewa? - Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which are either too old or damaged and any waste produced during printing are cremated with full devotion. This ceremony is called Agan Bhet Sewa.

AGAN BHET SEWA42 The Sikh, May 2013

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD 43The Sikh, May 2013

News from around the worldUnited Sikhs' Jatinder Singh Offers Sikh Prayer at Opening Session of UN General AssemblyNEWS REPORT

United Nations Headquarters, New York

On Thursday, February 14, 2013, Jatinder P. Singh, Associate Director of United Sikhs, had the honour and privilege of offering prayers at the United Nations 67th General Assembly Opening Session that took place in New York, USA.

Jatinder read the Mool Mantar, the opening verse of the Japji Sahib composition by Guru Nanak which

begins the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Scripture. The recitation was accompanied by a flute played by Jon Blond.

“Ik Oankaar, Satnaam (There is One God, the Name is Truth) ... In this age of Darkness, this world is loaded with maya, money, and weapons of mass destruction. The only answer to save this world is in prayers in the company of Saints.”

Jatinder then read the English translation of an excerpt from Sukhmani Sahib:

“In the company of saints, all enemies become friends. In the company of saints, man becomes pure ...” He closed the prayer by adding, “ I truly hope one day, all the countries can get together at the United Nations and just pray for world peace. Sat Sri Akal.”

Attendees from diverse faiths, organizers of this event, and

members of the UN approached Jatinder after his prayer and shared how they were moved by the positive and uplifting message of peace that was presented in the prayer. One member was so moved that she asked for a copy of the Sukhmani Sahib to take with her.

There were over 1500 attendees, and messages of world peace and prayers were also offered by members of other religions and denominations.

This was followed by a world peace flag ceremony, where the flags of each of the 193 UN member states and two observer missions were presented. As each country was presented, everyone welcomed them in saying “May Peace be in … (followed by the country’s name).

This moving scene was accompa-nied by Chris Farrell on the piano.

Shakespeare in Punjabi

With the publication of the Punjabi translation of Henry VIII, Surjit Singh Hans’ two-decade long work on William Shakespeare has concluded.

In one of his early works, Love’s Labour’s Lost, William Shakespeare dwelled on the idea of pursuing studies to the exclusion of women from the lives of his protagonists.

Centuries later, Surjit Singh might not have taken a similar oath of seclusion, but he surely devoted two decades to translate every ‘written word’ of the bard into Punjabi.

Now 82, Professor Surjit Singh Hans has translated all 43 works of Shakespeare, including 38 plays and all his sonnets, narrative poems and epitaphs.

“You can say that each word Shakespeare has written is now available in Punjabi,” he says with satisfaction.

Officially, Surjit singh first started translating Shakespeare (Othello) on a Punjabi University fellowship on January 1, 1993, after he retired as the Head of Department of History at the Guru Nanak University.

The renowned scholar’s tryst with Shakespeare had, however, begun in 1955 when, as a student of English literature, he started translating Macbeth.

“When I read the translation, I realised that the pentameter was not correct. So, I translated it again,” he recalls.

The relationship became thicker during his UK stay (1965-73) as a

member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

“The experience helped me understand Shakespeare and his works better.”

Surjit Singh was paid Rs. 8,000 per play by Punjabi University, which published all the volumes, including the last, Henry VIII.

Despite all his efforts, he couldn’t translate more than two plays a year.

“So, I got Rs. 40 a day,” he laughs.What now?

“I have already started working on Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species. Translating science is far more difficult than translating literature,” he smiles.

[Courtesy: Hindustan Times]

O Romeo, Romeo! Kitthey ho Tussi? By VISHAV BHARTI

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD44 The Sikh, May 2013

Stanford University's 122nd Commencement Weekend, which is scheduled for June 14-16, 2013, will feature New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the 2013 Commence-ment speaker.

The Baccalaureate address will be given by alumna Valarie Kaur, an award-winning filmmaker, civil rights advocate and interfaith organizer.

She is the founding director of Groundswell, a non-profit initiative at Auburn Seminary that mobilizes people of faith in social action. Currently a Fellow at Yale Law School, Sikh-American Valarie Kaur is the founding director of the Yale Visual Law Project, where she makes documentary films and trains students in the art of visual advocacy.

For the last decade, she has combined storytelling and advocacy to lead campaigns for racial dignity, religious pluralism, immigrant rights, prison reform, and LGBTQ and gender equality.

Her award-winning film Divided We Fall (2008), with Sharat Raju, earned national attention as the first feature documentary on post-9/11 racism and continues to inspire

Valarie Kaur to Deliver Stanford University's 2013 Baccalaureate Lecture By LISA LAPIN

national grassroots dialogue. As a civil rights advocate, she has clerked on the Senate Judiciary Committee, traveled to Guantanamo to report on the military commissions, filed a landmark immigrant rights lawsuit with her clinic team in law school, and led a high-profile campaign against racial profiling with a coalition in East Haven, Connecticut.

Valarie Kaur first spoke at Stanford's Baccalaureate as a student speaker in 2003, after being elected by her class. That year she earned Bachelor's degrees in Religion and International Relations. She went on to earn a Master's degree in Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School as a Harvard Presidential Scholar, and a Law degree at Yale Law School as a Knight Law and Media Scholar.

"Valarie's unique as a Baccalaureate speaker, having been the student speaker when she graduated from Stanford a decade ago," said Scotty McLennan, Stanford's Dean for Religious Life. "Ever since, she's been a tireless and very effective national advocate for positive interfaith relations and for civil rights, especially

in relation to post-9/11 bigotry and violence. We're very proud to have her as this year's speaker."

The Class Presidents added: "We are excited to hear from Valarie Kaur, because as a Stanford alumnus, she shares and embodies many of the values associated with Stanford students. These values include the power of individuals to make a difference in the face of adversity and the importance of real social change. We believe her diverse background, creative vision and exceptional story will inspire students to pursue their deepest passions in innovative contexts."

Stanford's 122nd Baccalaureate ceremony is part of a celebration for graduates, their families and friends, and members of the Stanford commu-nity.

The Baccalaureate ceremony will be held on the Main Quad on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

[Courtesy: Stanford News. Edited

for sikhchic.com]

Shakespeare in Punjabi

By VISHAV BHARTI

With the publication of the Punjabi translation of Henry VIII, Surjit Singh Hans’ two-decade long work on William Shakespeare has concluded.

In one of his early works, Love’s Labour’s Lost, William Shakespeare dwelled on the idea of pursuing studies to the exclusion of women from the lives of his protagonists.

Centuries later, Surjit Singh might not have taken a similar oath of seclusion, but he surely devoted two decades to translate every ‘written word’ of the bard into Punjabi.

Now 82, Professor Surjit Singh Hans has translated all 43 works of Shakespeare, including 38 plays and all his sonnets, narrative poems and epitaphs.

“You can say that each word Shakespeare has written is now available in Punjabi,” he says with satisfaction.

Officially, Surjit singh first started translating Shakespeare (Othello) on a Punjabi University fellowship on January 1, 1993, after he retired as the Head of Department of History at the Guru Nanak University.

The renowned scholar’s tryst with Shakespeare had, however, begun in 1955 when, as a student of English literature, he started translating Macbeth.

“When I read the translation, I realised that the pentameter was not correct. So, I translated it again,” he recalls.

The relationship became thicker during his UK stay (1965-73) as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

“The experience helped me understand Shakespeare and his works better.”

Surjit Singh was paid Rs. 8,000 per play by Punjabi University, which published all the volumes, including the last, Henry VIII.

Despite all his efforts, he couldn’t translate more than two plays a year.

“So, I got Rs. 40 a day,” he laughs.

What now? “I have already started working on

Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species. Translating science is far more difficult than translating literature,” he smiles.

[Courtesy: Hindustan Times]

O Romeo, Romeo! Kitthey ho Tussi?

Loke yew crematorium

The Sikh, May 2013 LOKE YEW 45

Just yesterday the talented kids from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Gurmat Sangeet Academy performed skillfully with their taanti saaj, taus, dilrub and rebab, among others, on the first ever platform for local, non-professional talent at the Bhai Mardana Sangeet Festival. I must

admit that their performance blew me away and left me wondering if I should enroll myself in the academy and learn to play one of the instruments myself! Other brilliant performers at the outdoor Sangeet Festival included Anhad, Veer Vaar Project, Tabla solo performance, and Qwalli Jatha. It was interesting to see the blend of various instruments like guitar, drums, harmonium (waja) and tabla orchestrated together to create melodious music that injected Gurbani into our soul. My mind drifted back to the ongoing Raensebaee Darbar. One after another, jathas were doing kirten; 29 in total, including one

jatha from Singapore and Bangkok each. I couldn’t help thinking of the tremendous amount of hidden treasure that was present in this Darbar. I could tell the amount of practice and hard work put in by the jathas as most of their performances were flawless. It was 1am and the darbar was still full with sanggat, singing their hearts out to the soothing kirten. I was caught by surprise when I found out that almost 100 viewers from all around the globe were tuning in to the live streaming broadcast provided by SikhInside.

Music for the soulThe Bhai Mardana Sangeet Festival is a prestigious celebration of local and regional talent where non-professional jathas commemorate the greatest gift granted by our gurus – to be able to sing the praises of the Akaal Purakh in Saadh Sanggat..

BHAI MARDHANA SANGEET FESTIVAL The Sikh, May 201346

“It’s like a market downstairs,” someone whispered into my ears. That got me all excited and I quickly went downstairs to check out the Midnight Food Cravers Hideout. The sanggat were lining up at the various stalls waiting to satisfy their taste buds with the delectable channey pathurey, pakorey, jelebis, French fries, ice cream and bubble tea. Needless to say, I grabbed something to bite and hung out with friends. The stalls closed by 3am and most of the sanggat either left for home or went back to the darbar sahib.

Just yesterday the talented kids from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Gurmat Sangeet Academy performed skillfully with their taanti saaj, taus, dilrub and rebab, among others, on the first ever platform for local, non-professional talent at the Bhai Mardana Sangeet Festival. I must

admit that their performance blew me away and left me wondering if I should enroll myself in the academy and learn to play one of the instruments myself! Other brilliant performers at the outdoor Sangeet Festival included Anhad, Veer Vaar Project, Tabla solo performance, and Qwalli Jatha. It was interesting to see the blend of various instruments like guitar, drums, harmonium (waja) and tabla orchestrated together to create melodious music that injected Gurbani into our soul. My mind drifted back to the ongoing Raensebaee Darbar. One after another, jathas were doing kirten; 29 in total, including one

jatha from Singapore and Bangkok each. I couldn’t help thinking of the tremendous amount of hidden treasure that was present in this Darbar. I could tell the amount of practice and hard work put in by the jathas as most of their performances were flawless. It was 1am and the darbar was still full with sanggat, singing their hearts out to the soothing kirten. I was caught by surprise when I found out that almost 100 viewers from all around the globe were tuning in to the live streaming broadcast provided by SikhInside.

The Sikh, May 2013 BHAI MARDHANA SANGEET FESTIVAL 47

“It’s like a market downstairs,” someone whispered into my ears. That got me all excited and I quickly went downstairs to check out the Midnight Food Cravers Hideout. The sanggat were lining up at the various stalls waiting to satisfy their taste buds with the delectable channey pathurey, pakorey, jelebis, French fries, ice cream and bubble tea. Needless to say, I grabbed something to bite and hung out with friends. The stalls closed by 3am and most of the sanggat either left for home or went back to the darbar sahib.

PUNJABI ARTICLE The Sikh, May 201348

The Sikh, May 2013 PUNJABI ARTICLE 49

PUNJABI ARTICLE The Sikh, May 201350

The Sikh, May 2013 KIDS CORNER 51

KIDS CORNER The Sikh, May 201352


KIDS CORNER The Sikh, May 201354


Technology has the power to transform lives worldwide and the way in which we live. More and more Gurbani Apps have been developed and are being developed, so we’ll surely be seeing more of them in the future. Here are some useful apps that are currently available for both Apple as well as Android users.

Apps to download

Facts About Sikhism

This app from SHARE has almost 1000 facts about Sikhism! All you have to do is tap the screen and the app will give you a random fact about Sikhism! Platform availability: Android and iPhone (Free)

"Learn Punjabi" is a simple app that helps learners to learn Punjabi alphabets, numbers and words quickly. Platform availability: Android Only (Free)

Learn Punjabi

Live Kirtan Golden Temple (Darbaar Sahib) Amritsar

ChardiKala

Vismaad, the pioneers in creating animated movies based on glorious Sikh history have launched their first game for Android - Chardikala. The game's objective is to teach the importance of implementing the positive attributes (denoted by random buttons), in our life to attain Chardikala or else our life would deteriorate to Dehndi Kala. Chardikala is a significant

expression used in Sikhism which means a state of high spirits and resilience. It can be acquired by leading a life full of Paath, Simran, Seva, Stasangat, Cheerfulness, Courage, Acceptance of Waheguru's will (Bhana), positive a attitude and intense faith in Waheguru. Platform availability: Android Only (Version 2.3.3 & up) (Free)

Report complaints of air travel discrimination in real time. FlyRights provides a quick easy way to report complaints of air travel discrimination in real time., right after the incident occurs. With this application you have the option of reporting your copmlaint directly to the Transportation Security Administration/Department of Homeland Security so that their offices of civil rights are aware of your complaint and can investigate it. You can also file your complaint with the Sikh Coalition, the nation's largest Sikh civil rights organization. Platform availability: Android and iPhone (Free)

An App dedicated to Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as The Golden Temple for the Sikkhs all over the world who daily wish to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas. Live audio and daily Scriptures updated are the important features incorporated in an amazing user interface. Platform availability: iPhone Only (Free)

The Sikh Sangeet app delivers Shabad Gurbani Kirtan, Dharmik, Katha Veechar, Gurbani Uchaaran and Dhadi Vaaran to iPhone OS. Browse from a huge music collection of Sikh Music from the Shri Guru Granth Sahib and the Dasam Granth and other Dharmik music. Platform availability: Android and iPhone (Free)

For transportation contact:

Ipoh – Pajan Singh : 019-377 1881Penang – Harbans Singh : 016-490 9097Johor – Resham Singh : 013-707 0773Malacca – Ranjit Singh : 019-307 6687Kedah – Bhupinder Singh : 016-431 7623Seremban – Balbir Singh : 012-226 6744Port Dickson – Surinder Singh : 012-612 0984Pulapol – Amarjit Singh : 012-275 8005

Titiwangsa – Jasdave Singh : 017-870 2730Kg Pandan – Ravinder Kaur : 012-385 8556Selayang – Gurmit Singh : 019-330 0358Petaling Jaya – Awtar Singh : 013-363 3737 Klang – Jagdev Singh : 019-311 3537Sentul - Gurdiall Singh : 017-331 5527

KHALSA LANDLot 537,Jalan Orang Asli, Kampung Buloh Telor, Ampang Pecah, 44000,Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor. (5 km from Kuala Kubu Baru, Next to the Selangor River)

SIKH NAUJAWAN SABHA MALAYSIANO. 11A, Jalan Kuantan, Titiwangsa,

53200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 603-4021 3313 Fax: 603-4021 0313Email: [email protected] Website: www.snsm.org.my

For further enquiries: Pavandeep Singh 016-551 0148 or Malkith Singh 012-288 0557

SABHA CAMP SITE @ KHALSA LANDOPENING CEREMONY & PARKASH OF

SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIBKuala Kubu Baru, Selangor

Date: 1st June 2013

Program 1st June 20135.00am – 6.00am – Nitnem6.00am – 8.00am – Asa Ki Vaar by PKJ9.00am – Nishaan Sahib Selami9.30am – Arrival of Guru Maharaji10.30 – 4.00pm – Kirtan, Katha & lots more

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The Sikh Magazine (May 2013)

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