Lakhpat Gurdwara

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Fall Leaves

With Today’s Storm,

Weak fall leaves are falling on the grounds,

Like flowers are spread in mounds.

Soon there will be no leaves on the trees,

Give way to blossom fresh leaves.

Double Rainbow blesses the affair,

Makes whole phenomena rarely rare.

Gifts From Window

Far away from these trees, hills, mountains of snowy peaks and oceans, Baba ji sends us innumerable gifts through this window:

Vava Gobind teaches Geet

I find it very heartening and amusing when Gobind has started giving English and Math lessons to his little sibling. That is a great way of showing Sibling love to each other. 

To my surprise Geet listens to her older brother seriously and is learning fast. I am sure She will continue to learn from him all her life and show him the respect while Gobind will also continue to impart his accumulated knowledge and shower his love on his younger sisters both Jania and Geet.

Kedarnath 2018

Kedarnath temple lit up beautifully as the final rays of the setting sun light up the snow-clad Himalayas in the backdrop. Har Har Mahadev!

'Maharani Jindan' A play well directed by Surinder Dhanoa

It was a boon indeed for the lovers of Punjabi language, heritage and Sikh History to watch and enjoy an epic period drama 'Maharanj Jindan'. The play beautifully recreated the grandeur of mighty Sikh Empire of 19th century.

Maharani Jindan was Regent of the Sikh Empire from 1843 until 1846. She was the youngest wife of the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, Ranjit Singh, and the mother of the last Maharaja, Duleep Singh. She was renowned for her beauty, energy and strength of purpose and was popularly known as Rani Jindan, but her fame is derived chiefly from the fear she engendered in the British in India, who described her as "the Messalina of the Punjab", a seductress too rebellious to be controlled.

After the assassinations of Ranjit Singh's first three successors, Duleep Singh came to power in September 1843 at the age of 5 and Jind Kaur became Regent on her son's behalf. After the Sikhs lost the First Anglo-Sikh War she was replaced in December 1846 by a Council of Regency, under the control of a British Resident. However, her power and influence continued and, to counter this, the British imprisoned and exiled her. Over thirteen years passed before she was again permitted to see her son, who was taken to England.

The scene showing the bitterest blow to the Maharani was the separation from her 9-year-old son was enacted very well and had tears in the eyes of viewers.

In January 1861 Duleep Singh was allowed to meet his mother in Calcutta and take her with him back to England, where she remained until her death in Kensington, London, on 1 August 1863 at the age of 46. 

In another emotional scene, Rani Jindan influences upon Duleep Singh to understand the great values and heritage of Sikh Gurus and their children who could not be converted to other religion even at the cost of their lives. They upheld the cause of upright living in pursuit of public justice. She wanted to see her son to support turban and bearded like his Dad was.  This resulted in repeated applauds among the spectators. Her teachings has lasting effect and inspired Duleep Singh to revert back to Sikhism.

She was temporarily buried in Kensal Green Cemetery and cremated the following year at Nashik, near Bombay. Her ashes were finally taken to the samadh (memorial) in Lahore of her husband, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, by her granddaughter. 

The actors fully justified the roles of the characters they were asked to act. Surinder Dhanoa assisted by Pauli Dhanoula did a remarkable job in putting together the show. Rani Jindan played by Mrs Dhanoa was impressive. The appearance of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharaja Prince Duleep Singh were near actuals and attracted the audience. Prince Bamba and 'Punjabi Dharti' were nicely highlighted.

Arvind Singh introduced the play with clarity and most admirably. Its a 'Must See' for our young generation of kids to learn History and Heritage.

Scriptures & Heritage Of Sikhs _Chicago Tribune

WORD OF GOD ON CD-ROM

Richard Scheinin, Knight-Ridder Newspapers

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

 The CD Rom Front Cover:

The CD Rom Back Cover containing comments of prominent intelligentsia and Media:

Word Of God:

"You wake up in the morning, you have doubts, and you're wondering, `What is life? What is God?' So what do you do?" asks Preet Mohan Singh Kapoor. "You say, `Let's look it up in the Guru Granth Sahib on the CD-ROM.' And you find your answer."

In fact, you find 320 answers.

God is "All Truth, all Penances, all Goodness, all Miracles," say the Sikh holy Scriptures, known as the Guru Granth Sahib. "God is like a beauteous temple, studded with rubies and jewels and pearls and pure diamonds. He is the enticing fortress of gold."

With ‘Bill’ Bhupinder Singh

"God" is one of 35,000 search topics that can be accessed by owners of the new CD-ROM "Scriptures and the Heritage of the Sikhs." San Jose computer engineers Kapoor and partner Bhupinder Singh are making history by issuing the Scriptures on CD-ROM for the first time.

The disc not only presents the Scriptures in English translation, it also plays the 31 ragas to which the Scriptures have for centuries been chanted, and takes viewers on a pictorial tour of Sikh sacred sites. And, yes, there is an audience for this: 21 million people around the world practice the monotheistic Sikh faith, which was born in India about 500 years ago and describes itself as "the universal religion."

For many Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is the literal embodiment of God, making its digital transformation a curious event.

Kapoor and Singh are pushing Sikhism into the digital revolution that's sweeping religion. The Koran, the Talmud, the Pali and Tibetan Buddhist canons, the Bible, the catechism--all are available on multimedia CD-ROM. There's a new "Mary Page" on the World Wide Web, and Internet chat rooms are deluged with conversation about everything from Kaballah to Khalsa, which is the name of the Sikh holy order.

As with so many immigrant groups, Sikhs are concerned about the loss of culture and language among young people. Putting the Guru Granth Sahib on CD-ROM is part of a push to translate classical texts into English. "It's a step into the next century," says Melanie Daniells, English editor for World Sikh News, published in Stockton, Calif. "That's its greatest significance--to make the heritage more accessible to the young people who are affectionately known as the `born-heres.' "

The Sikh religion was founded in the 15th century by a spiritual master named Guru Nanak. He was the first in a line of 10 gurus who are revered as exemplars of spiritual perfection. The fifth master was Guru Arjan Nanak (1563-1606), who in four years amassed the wisdom of centuries from dozens of spiritual teachers--Hindus, Muslims and Sufis among them--and included his gleanings in the holy text that became known as the Guru Granth Sahib.

When the 10th guru announced that he would have no successors, the holy book's status was transformed. Henceforth, the 10th guru said, the Scriptures themselves would serve as eternal guru to all Sikhs. He didn't mean this metaphorically. To this day, the Guru Granth Sahib is viewed as the living embodiment of the 10 gurus' spiritual essence--and, according to some interpretations, of God itself.

Every Sikh temple, known as a Gurdwara or "House of the Lord," contains a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, printed in Punjabi in the ornate cursive style known as Gurmukhi. Worshipers prostrate themselves before the Scriptures, which are adorned by silk coverlets. Silk canopies hang overhead. Before anyone chants from the Guru Granth Sahib, he or she waves a holy whisk in the air above the book, as if fanning a living being--the King of Kings.

And what lies ahead for the text in its digital version? Will Sikhs bow before the shiny silver disc?

"No! Not in the same way!" exclaims Kapoor, who insists that the CD-ROM version is "only a translation" and obviously not even in the same class as the original sacred text, written in Punjabi. "But this CD-ROM," he predicts, "will be highly respected."

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For information on the CD-ROM "Scriptures and the Heritage of the Sikhs," call Advanced Micro Supplies at (800) 208-6427. The disc costs $69.

Melbourne Collin Street reminds me of Karol Bagh

I like the Collin Street which reminds me of Karol Bagh. There is similar hustle bustle and people sitting in the middle of street enjoying their favorite dishes. And above all Tram and Train services are free with in specific area and very affordable.  People are friendly and beautiful to talk and deal. It is another matter that in Karol Bagh there is hardly any space for 'Graffiti'

Even in my own community, when I got delayed in eating Langar and Big Kirtan at Craigieburn Gurdwara, there were more than two people offering to drop me at the station with proper guidance even at this late hour.  I asked for help in getting Uber in the absence of WIFI, I asked a gentleman who was at the duty for raising funds. He went all places to help me but could not.

Being a devout Sewadar Sardar Balvinder Singh Nagra immediately offered to drop us at the station. After handing over his Gurdwara duty to his colleague, he took out his car and dropped us at the station. He was also keen to drop me at the airport next day morning after knowing that we were further leaving for Cairns. What a service attitude Sikhism has spread globally. Mr Nagra is a living example. As he is still working in the Railways in the area, went to the station master for getting the train schedule for us and explained to me clearly that I had to take off the train at particularly station near to my Hayat Place Hotel in Essendon Field. Having lived in this are for many decades, he was very proud to have served the community at Gurdwara Sahib at all levels from regular Sewadar to President Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Thanks Sardar Balvinder Singh Ji, Waheguru may always bless you

With Sardar Balvinder Singh Nagra

I met two patrolling people who called a taxi for me from her phone as my phone refused to get WiFi although I had paid to get one.

Even a Uber driver from Ethiopia went out of his way to get water stock for me at his own tab.

I am flabbergasted by their friendly behavior.