A visitor to Banbury Gurmat Class...

Last Monday Bhenji Daljit Kaur visited Banbury Gurdwara and kindly spent some time with the Monday Gurmat class children. Class begins with Rehraas Sahib at 5pm and ends around 7pm followed by Langar. Anyone passing by, please give darshan.

Camp Guru Ke Pyaare, Selma (California)...

From 25th December to 30th December, Camp Guru Ke Pyaare was held at Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib in Selma, California. With Guru Ji's Kirpa about 100 people attended the camp, from young children to adults. The theme of the camp was the Shaheedi (martyrdom) of the 4 Sahibzaade (sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji). 

Below are some photos from the camp:

 

Hukamnama seva by Bapu Sadhu Singh Ji

 

The theme shabad

 Bhenji singing the theme shabad

 Children exploring the way of life of a Gurmukh and a Manmukh

 Veer ji doing kirtan seva

 

 The Gurdwara Baba Ji showing how to tie a Nihung style Dumalla

 Baba Ji showing how to comb one's Kes in accordance to Maryada

 Campers tying Dastaars on other camps

 That's what you call confidence, when you tie a Dastaar with your back turned to the mirror

 Children looking radiant in Dastaars

 

Langar

 

A play by children on the Seva of Baba Moti Ram Ji

Through acting children remembered the great sacrifice of Baba Moti Ram Mehra Ji and his family who all became Shaheed for giving milk to Mata Gujjar Kaur Ji and the younger Sahibzaade.

Morning assembly

 

Announcements 

Evening diwaan

Hukamnama Seva

Evening Sangat

 

Recital of Sohila Sahib

 Sukhaasan Seva

Evening bonfire and children's Gurmat play

It was really cold. The Sangat had blankets to keep them warm

 On the last day of camp the children were treated to a trip to ten-pin bowling alley

 

 

 

 

During the trip I stayed with Bhaji Manvinder Singh Ji and Bhenji Manpreet Kaur Ji. In the evening the children are taking a break with some Simran.

 

Group photo with the Gurdwara sevadaars and sangat

Group photo with the Gurdwara sevadaars and sangat

 

Thank you card from Sujaan Singh Ji. Guess who that is supposed to be a picture of? :)

Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji! This month is not only a time of a reflection of all the sacrifices of Guru Ji’s family and his Sikhs but also the coming of Guru Gobind Singh Ji on this earth, known as Prakaash Divas. May we celebrate the Guru and pray Guru Ji is part of our life and we can remain in His Grace. 

Bhai Nand Lal Singh Ji writes countless Praises of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He ends one his poem with: .... 

ਬਰ ਦੋ ਆਲਮ ਦਸਤਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ 
Guu Gobind Singh has his hand of blessings and grace over both the worlds, 

ਜੁਮਲਾ ਉਲਵੀ ਪਸਤਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੫੬ ॥ 
All angels and gods are just trivial and inconsequential before Guru Gobind Singh. (156) 

ਲਾਅਲ ਸਗੇ ਗੁਲਾਮਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ 
(Nand) Lal is the slave dog at the door of Guru Gobind Singh, 

ਦਾਗ਼ਦਾਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੫੭ ॥
And he is spotted and smeared with the name of Guru Gobind Singh (157) 

ਕਮਤਰੀਂ ਜ਼ਿ ਸਗਾਨਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ 
(Nand Lal) is lowlier than Guru Gobind Singh's slave dogs, 

ਰੇਜ਼ਾ-ਚੀਨਿ ਖ਼੍ਵਾਨਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੫੮ ॥ 
And, he picks up crumbs and bits from the dinner table of the Guru. (158) 

ਸਾਇਲ ਅਜ਼ ਇਨਆਮਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ 
This slave is desirous of the rewards from Guru Gobind Singh, 

ਖ਼ਾਕਿ ਪਾਕਿ ਅਕਦਾਮਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੫੯ ॥ 
And, is anxious to receive the blessing of the dust of the feet of Guru Gobind Singh. (159) 

ਬਾਦ ਜਾਨਸ਼ ਫ਼ਿਦਾਇ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ 
May I be blessed that I (Nand Lal) could sacrifice my life for Guru Gobind Singh, 

ਫ਼ਰਕਿ ਊ ਬਰ ਪਾਇ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੬੦ ॥
And, that my head should lay stable and balanced at the feet of Guru Gobind Singh. (160)

Calendar Controversy...

When you thought it was only Sikhs having issues with calendars and dates, but then get this stamped on your passport and realise others have bigger issues - dealing with dates that don’t even exist!!!




#humour #india #visa #date #nanakshahi #bikrami #gregorian #calendar

Episode 5 of Punjab Travels: Visiting the Ramgarhia Bunga...

The Ramgharia Bunga is Sri Harmandir Sahib complex on the side of the Langar Hall building. Many times I have visited Sri Harmandir Sahib, but I have never thought to go and see what these two towers are that stand tall in the complex. This time I was lucky enough to visit the Ramgarhia Bunga.

 

Bunga means living quarters. After the the last attack on Sri Darbar Sahib by the Mughals in which they blew up Sri Harmandir Sahib with gunpowder, the Sikh Misls (federations) built special quarters nearby in order to protect it from any future attacks. The Ramgarhia Bunga was built by Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia in 1755. In the period following its construction it served a dual purpose of housing pilgrims visiting Sri Darbar Sahib and fortifying the area to protect the holy complex from outside invasion. 

When the Khalsa conquered Delhi, Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia brought a piece of stone, known as Sill, (length 6ft. 3 inches, breadth 4ft. 6 inches, thickness 9 inches) from Delhi. The Sill was the base on which the Mughul throne was placed on, and Mughal rulers would sit to hold their court. It is believed that the Sill itself contains some rare stones. Sardar Jassa Singh collected many historical material from the Red Fort, with which the Red Fort was built, and brought to Amritsar for the construction of the Ramgharia Bunga. The historic stone was later placed in front part of the Ramgarhia Bunga, facing Sri Darbar Sahib, where it still exists. Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia’s vow was fulfilled, when for many years it was used as throne for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. However, this practice was discontinued. 

 

Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia had a throne for him made that was made underground so that he lower than the throne of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This exists in the lower basement of the Bunga.

 

During the Sikh Empire, several Sikh Generals and Royal Families got constructed nearly 99 Bungas in the walled city of Amritsar out of which the one constructed by Ramgarhia Missal provided accommodation to visiting pilgrims. Out of the 22 watch towers constructed around Sri Harmandir Sahib in order to keep a watch on the enemy invaders, only the 2 towers adjoining Ramgarhia Bunga have survived.

During the army invasion on Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1984, these two towers were also badly damaged by canon fires. They were later restored to the original design.