112 - January 16, 2009 - INDIA-WEST------- People _

Jathedar of Akal Takhat Visits West Coast GurdvvarasBy MICHEL w. POTTSSpecial to India-West

Singh Sahib Gurubachan Singh,the Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib,visited gurdwaras in New Mexico,Arizona and California during awest coast visit Jan. 6 to 9 at theinvitation of Bhai Sahib SatpalSingh Khalsa, ambassador of SikhDharma and chairman of the NewMexico-based Guru Ram Das SikhMission of America.Accompanied by Giani Ranjit

Singh, head of the Granthi BangIaSahib, and Satpal Singh Khalsa, hisfirst stop was in Espanola, NewMexico, where he attended theJan. 6 evening kirtan program inremembrance of the Jrme 6 attackon Aka! Takhat Sahib in 1984.Sikh Dharma. ashrams across

the nation and internationallycelebrate this particular day onthe 6th of every month of theyear following a tradition initiatedby Yogi Bhajan to remember themartyrdom of Akal Takhat Sahibon that fateful day in 1984.In his address to the gathering,

the Jathedar spoke of the servicesof Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogijito the Sikh Panth and his role inbringing thousands of westernersto the Sikh faith.The Jathedar said that he was

impressed and inspired by thededication of the local sangat andtheir role in continuing the mis-sion started by Yogi Bhajan. Heappealed to all members of SikhDharma International to workin unity to promote the missionstarted by YogiBhajan.At the end of his address, he

was honored with a saropa from

Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa,Siri Sikdar Sahiba of Sikh DharmaInternational.The next stop was Phoenix, Ari-

zona, where on Jan. 7 the Jathedarvisited the Guru Nanak DwaraAshram and was shown the newgurdwara building rmder construc-tion. He was welcomed by SikhDharma International and localcommunity members and was givena saropa at the Gurudwara. He alsovisited several other local commu-nity members in the afternoon.The Jathedar arrived in Los

Angeles in the evening of Jan. 8and went directly to the WalnutGurdwara, where he was honoredwith a saropa by the managementcommittee. In response, he saidthat as Akal Takhat Jathedar hewas always there for the entire Sikhcommunity and could be contactedat the office of the Akal Takhat forany information or help.Whileaddressing the WalnutGur-

dwara sangat, he said there is a needfor Sikh parents to bring the valuesand teachings ofthe SiriGuruGranthSahib to our children.Giani RaI\jit Singh said that the

entire Sikh community must adhereto the Hukamnamas and directionsfrom the Akal Takhat as it is thesupreme authority of the Sikhs.The second stop was at Buena

Park Gurdwara, where the Jathe-dar said that he was happy tocome to the Southland and visitthe local sangat of the Sikhs. Inhis address, he emphasized thefact that all Sikhs must adhere bythe teachings of the Shabad Guruand also tell their next generationto live by the Shabad Guru.He noted that while the de-

From left to right: Giani Ranjit Singh, Bhai Sahiba Bibiji, Bhai Sahib Satpal Singh, Jathedar Akal Takhat Giani Gur-buchan Singh, and Siri Sikdar Sahiba Guru Amrit Kaur at Espanola Gurdwara, New Mexico, Jan. 6.

voted have a television in everyroom in their homes and listento all kinds of music and watchTV shows, most families do nothave the Siri Guru Granth Sahibin their homes. He said that wemust teach our children Ptu\iabiand instill in them the teachingsof the Shabad Guru.On Jan. 8, the Jathedar visited

the Vermont Gurdwara in NorthHollywood along with Giani RanjitSingh, where he was honored bythe managing committee of theGur~wara with a saropa, and sev-eral members brought a numberof Sikh issues to his attention.

The Jathedar assured them thathe would address the issues alongwith the other Jathedars of otherTakhats and bring a uniform codeof conduct for all Sikhs.The Jathedar then visited the

Lankershim Gurudwara, whereGianiRaI\jitSinghstressed the needfor all Sikhs to abide by and respectthe office of the Aka! Takhat. Hereminded everyone that after theGuru Granth Sahib and the PanjPayaras, the Jathedar of AkalTakhat is the next highest person

in the Sikh Panth, which must havethe respect of all Sikhs.The three-day visit was Giani

Gurubachan Singh's first to theUnited States after assuming theoffice of Jathedar of Akal TakhatSahib. In allhis speeches at variousGurdwaras, he asked the Office ofthe Ambassador of SikhDharma tocontinue to promote the teachingsof the Shabad Guru in the westerncormtries and inspire more peopleto live by the teachings of the SiriGuru Granth Sahib.