My family and our times: 04/01/2012

Thursday, April 19, 2012

A dinner just before Texas

After driving more than 600 miles on I-40, we thought of having a nice dinner. Was it possible at night in a remote desert place.
Suddenly we saw a sign board very well lit saying Dhillon Truck stop and just make an exit now. I in a quick flash took the exit and cautiously drove towards the Taste of India.

Visit to Flagstaff and Great Meteor Crater Arizona

The world’s best preserved meteorite impact site on Earth. Located just minutes from Interstate 40 in Northern Arizonanear Winslow, Meteor Crater is the breath-taking result of a collision between an asteroid traveling 26,000 miles per hour and planet Earth approximately 50,000 years ago.

Meteor Crater is nearly one mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and more than 550 feet deep. It is an international tourist venue with outdoor observation trails, air conditioned indoor viewing, wide screen movie theater, Interactive Discovery Center, unique gift and rock shop, and Astronaut Memorial Park at the Visitor Center located on the crater rim.

While on our way from Flagstaff, we were determined to visit this Meteor Crater and found the sight very thrilling to the eye.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

American Sikh Gurdwara, Espanola, N.M.

Swarn Kaur welcomes us and poses with Harvinder

86 miles up in the North of Albuquerque New Mexico, there is a mini heaven on earth. This is made possible by a small but strong community of Sikhs who were inspired by Harbhajan Singh Yogi. In the high desert town of Espanola, N.M., the American Sikhs have established a beautiful Gurdwara.

It is a must visit for all those who believe in simple, honest and spiritual living. You have to see the love of humanity by only being present in the midst of this community.

As their community outgrew at their location in Santa Fe N.M., American Sikhs asked their founder popularly known as Yogi Bhajan where to move the location where they could live, pray and develop together comfortably. That day, the sky was over cast and it was raining and thundery. He advised them to go further North and stop at a place where the sun starts shining. So as they started on a mission and reached this spot, the sun just sneaked out through the clouds. With the ray of Sun came the ray of hope. They looked around and found a lonely house.

Langar Hall

They knocked at the door and an old man opened the door. When asked if the house was for sale. The bewildered man got a shock and gave a curt reply. So the gentlemen, as disappointed they were, started back slowly towards their car. They started the ignition and were about to move ahead, when they say the old man reopening his front door and waved towards them to halt. He came close to them and informed them that he had pondered over again and had decided to reverse his decision and was ready to sell the house. The deal to buy the house and accompanying land was closed in two weeks promptly.

Painting of Guru Ram Das

The Gurdwara "Sri Maha Akal Mandir" is a white structure with a golden onion shaped Dome on its top. Swaran Kaur welcomed us at the gate and gave us a tour of the Gurdwara. She was humble, simple and very well informed. As you enter, on your right is a very well built up Pagoda where a sculpture of Baba Siri Chand in 'Yog Mudra' done by Amrit Singh Khalsa, has been beautifully set up.

Gurmastuk Singh enjoying his lunch, while Ravinder
Singh visiting from Gandhi Nagar Delhi is having a chat.
The buildings behind white structures behind are the
HQ of AKAL SECURITY

From the left as you are guided to enter, there is a 'L' shaped single story building. The right wing is the Gurdwara and on left wing has two storied Langar Hall etc. the two wings are connected by a vast lush green grass. There are rows of tables and chairs on gravel for the Sangat to enjoy Langar in sun. In the Verandah leading to Langar Hall, shoe racks have been placed. In the strict Sikh tradition, you have to squat on the ground in a row and eat Langar together with the Sangat.

Swarn Kaur explaining the influence of Local as Virgin Mary
is seen here blessing the Harimandir Sahib

On the right wing is the main Darbar Hall for Gurdwara which can comfortably accommodate 150 and more people. As you proceed for the view of the Gurdwara Sahib, you have to pass through a small lobby which is extremely well decorated by exhibiting the golden replica of Darbar Sahib Sri Harimandir Sahib Amritsar placed on a befitting medallion. On either side are very attractive meaningful paintings. On one side of the wall, there is also a painting of Virgin Marry on one of the side walls showing as if she is blessing the golden temple, while on opposite wall is enhanced by a painting of Vishwa Sikh Sammelan.

The Mini Sculpture of Guru Ram Das was done
by one of the prisoners where Guruka Singh
had gone to address them

As we enter the the main Diwan Hall, the whole place looks colorful and heavenly. The glittering paintings including those of the Sikh Gurus are hanging on all sides of the wall. There is a magnificent huge painting which covers the entire back wall. The local influence of Virgin Mary is prominently displayed by the artist on this painting. The floor is covered with colorful thick woolen carpets.

There is a harmonium and a Tabla sitting on the stage. In the right hand corner, a Nagarha is well placed.

Akhand Path is being recieted in English

While going through the tour of this holy place we found that an 'Akhand Paath' is being performed. There is a strong community of about 300. On every Wednesday the start of uninterrupted reciting of Guru Granth Sahib is undertaken and completed the reading on following Saturday. This service is done by the community themselves. May it be known that the Guru Granth Sahib reading is done in English language and hence the young world wide educated Sikhs understand their religion more through this media. This is a major reason that more and more people all over the world are getting attracted by Sikh religion.

Guruka Singh and Gurmastuk singh make me feel secure and strong

Handsome Harijot Singh posing with his set of computers
where he helps Sikhnet with Audio Stories

The office of well known Sikhnet is sort of wrapped around the Darbar Hall and some most amazing works of Sikh Religion are being produced by Mr Guruka Singh Khalsa who is well supported by Mr Gurmastuk Singh. Another handsome gentleman Mr Harijot Singh is helping the audio stories. The Sikhnet has also get outsourcing help from one person in Mumbai and the other from Chandigarh.

You shall love to see their latest App on Multimedia. I am a hard core fan of Sikhnet Radio and listen to Gurbani from wherever I am on the plannet.

Just at a stones throw is the headquarters of America's largest security personnel firms ie Akal Security which inter alia is the largest provider of contract Judicial Security Services, protecting federal courthouses in 40 States. Daya Singh Khalsa heads this organization. I am told that Daya Singh Khalsa was keen to Join n Police Department, but when he found out that his long uncut hair was a problem to join the police force. He started his own private to profit company by getting a loan of $1200.00 from one of the founders of Sikh Dharma in America. With his devotion, dedication and untried service of unmatched integrity, the Akal Security earned a billion dollars contract from the federal Government in three years after 9/11. We wish them all the best in their endeavor.

In true and traditional Sikh style, Mr Guruka Singh Khalsa offered us tea and enquired if we had food. He also suggested local eating and tourists places.

They all requested us to stay overnight to listen to the Gurbani Kirtan in the morning, but we had to proceed further on our scheduled trip to Dallas Tx.

Swarn Kaur snaps us

Friday, April 13, 2012

Get A Baby Brother

Today another upper frontal Deciduous tooth fell out from Jania's mouth. So as the tradition goes in the family and practiced by my grandmother I asked her to follow that immediately.

I asked her to wrap the tooth in a wad of cotton and go to the roof of second floor and throw the same on the lower roof. And while throwing pray to the almighty for blessing a baby brother. This is what have been going on in our family. A year after I was born, followed my sister Bhagwant. By the time Bhagwant was 5-6 years old and was at the stage of decaying milk teeth. My grandmother Karam Devi promptly suggested to the little kid to wrap the tooth in a wad of cotton and go to the roof and throw it with power on lower level roof with a prayer that God should bless the family with a baby boy. I remember there was a huge 'Neem' tree in our back yard. So the wrapped tooth was lost somewhere in the dense leaves of the tree. And a prayer was placed at the feet of Almighty to fulfill our family wish.

The poor little girl respectfully prayed to Get another brother.

So when my mother was pregnant, she could not deliver a healthy baby boy as he was born dead. All felt very sad. But my grandmother was up again and wishing for a second son. When the next milk tooth decayed, the opportunity once again came as my mom got pregnant one more time. My sister very respectfully threw the dead cotton wrapped tooth from the gallery of the house with a lot of force. I am pretty sure her throw would never have been able to cross the thickly populated leaves of the Neem tree.

At the time of next delivery, my ailing mother was lifted in a cot in to the bus and taken to a distance of 50 miles and admitted into Lady Harding Hospital New Delhi. Everybody both in my mother's family and my father's family were hopeful and positive that a bubbly, active and above all live brother to me will be among us soon. But instead a very beautiful girl enhanced our family.

My grand mother would not relent and tried again but then too, another girl, my third sister joined our still extending family. The Deciduous tooth did not help. A bother to me always eluded our family.

So next time it was decided to wait for some more time and after five/six years, the milk tooth of third sister was used, there was a lot of hope that this sister's tooth will do some miracle and our prayers will be answered finally.

This time the delivery was arranged at home. An expert midwife was engaged. So finally in one chilly early morning in Dec, another child came. All were anxious to know the out come of the God's wish. No body will believe that it was once again a baby girl. The Family was devastated. I remember even the baby girl could not get her rightful name. It was only after a few days later when a visiting distant aunt named the brand new baby girl as Tripat meaning contentment and prayed to God that the family needed no more kids hereafter.

All efforts to get a brother for me failed and family hopes were dashed to the ground. On the other hand, this fourth sister Tripat, being 14 years younger to me, has been a source of support & strength to me all through. I wonder a brother in her place could have ever substituted in a similar way. Rain or shine, none of my sisters have given me a chance to think the need of a brother.

This Deciduous tooth when warped in a wad of cotton could not prove my grandmother right. But I keep on following in her footsteps and wish that some day a brother to Gobind will be born. I have yet to find out if these wishes has to do something with the word 'Grand'

But to my utter surprise little Jania has revolted and says point blank 'No' to the prayer. She is ready with a wrapped tooth to throw but will pray only for a baby sister to be born in the family.

The laws have changed

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Detective Agency G & J

Detective team in serious discussions.

The Spring break is here. It is a stupendous task to engage G & J when they are on a school holiday.

Harvinder proposed them to become detectives and search one of the misplaced phones in the house. The idea clicked instantly. And both the kids were, then onwards, super active to trace the lost phone. They in fact opened a company in the name of Detective Agency G & J.

Both G & J started working on intercoms and were very actively using the same by moving from one room to other. Intercom # 1 was taken over by Agent J while the intercom # 2 was possessed by Agent G. They were quick to find out that the missing phone was the intercom # 4. They physically went to each and every corner of the house.

Agent G in detective dress

Suddenly they decided to look like real time detective agents. Hence the detective agent G came across black pant and a matching jacket and dressed himself as a professional. The detective agent J could not find black and adopted dark brown dress. G & J were pretty sure that the agents always wear dress in blacks.

The entire house was searched and researched but without any success. Detective J felt this project as boring and wanted to quit.

Agent J all ready to act with tool in hand

Finally they had discussions with their Super Boss Detective Agent S who recommended to place an advertisement in the in-house Magazine '205 Weekly' by now a popular communication tool in the house.

Well, that was an interesting idea thought the detective Agent G who has since put up an Ad in the weekly.

Let's wait for the result.

Photos: courtesy Harvinder Kapoor

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Gobind starts his Magazine '205 Weekly'

Gobind K

Let me introduce a brand new Publisher in the family. Gobind has started to publish a weekly Magazine named '205 Weekly'. The Magazine is named after the address of our house at 205 Sherwood Ct San Ramon Ca. He intends to write all that happens in the house with his personal advice on all matters. You can also send him an email which he promises to reply all your questions promptly. Gobind is Mr House President of '205 Weekly'

Here is his First Edition:

On Apr 10, 2012, at 9:39, Gobind Kapoor wrote:

advice column

from Mr. house president(seedocument)
Yo mr. house pres.

what should I do for a house job,
Jania

Yo Jania. Start out with a want. If that doesn,t work, try a need.

____________________________________________________________________________

School in peril by Shiv

Dadaji elmentry is now going bankrupt. "It is a celebration for me." said Dadima from her dadima prep.

"He is so mean so I joined Dadima." said Jania former student of dadaji.

"In my days schools never went bankrupt." said dadaji. "Now I am ruined."

___________________________________________________________________________

menu

tue dinner: dal roti(brown)

wed dinner: corn, garlic bread, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies

thur diner: chinese noodles, steamed brocolli, tofu

fri diner: potluck and barbecue_

____________________________________________________________________________

bugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Jania

Bugs have been in the house."I saw a big one." said Gobind. "I do not agree about the bugs present in the house," said dadima. "Who cares." said dadaji.Will this problem become disastrous?

Will the bugs die?Find out in part 2.

___________________________________________________________________________

If needed ask for advice by e mail.

___________________________________________________________________________

guest

4 /10/12 is special because we have guests. please share this with them.

Best of Luck, Gobind.

My family and our times