The Sikh community has joined Muslims here to distribute ‘iftaris’, the sunset meal to break the dawn-to-dusk fast during Ramzan, to promote religious harmony and tolerance in Pakistan.

At Aasia Gate, Sikh businessman Sahib Singh has set up a stall outside his medicine shop to dole out sweet-drinks, ‘lassi’ and food to fasting Muslims.

“The objective behind distributing iftari items is to promote the concept of inter-faith harmony in our country,” he said. Singh has also arranged food for the needy.

A former councillor, Singh said he wanted to apprise Muslims that his community accorded full reverence to their religious rituals. “This is the spirit of interfaith harmony,” he said.

Singh said he also wanted tell the world that religious tolerance exists in Pakistan where people from different faiths and beliefs respect each other and accord reverence to religious festivals.

“The Hindu community has also decided to start the practice of bringing people of different faiths nearer to each other,” Founding Member Council of Pakistan World of Religion, Haroon Sarbdial, said.

Sarbdial said we are planning to hold iftari at different places in Peshawar and waiting for Maulana Qureshi, the Imam of the Masjid Mohabat Khan, who is in Saudi Arabia for performance of Umra, to arrive.

He said because of this spirit, people in this region reside together in harmony.

The Hindu community has made iftari arrangements, like in Peshawar, for Muslims in Sindh province, Sarbdial said.

“This is the real face of Pakistan and its people who have great regard and reverence for each other, regardless of difference of faith and believes,” he said.

_Hindustan Times

Belonging to a rural area was no deterrent for Jasmeet Kaur a student of Akal Academy Gomti U.P. who became a shining star with her exceptional performance in CBSE Board 2017 Results.

Hailing from a rural background this girl has proved that success can come the way we want. Jasmeet Kaur scored 94.2 per cent marks in commerce stream and exams and is first in Tehsil and 7th in District.

Jasmeet said that worked hard throughout the year under the guidance of her teachers .Her father Sardar Satpal Singh and mother sardarni Manpreet Kaur too had their role in bringing laurels “It was due to the hard work put in by teachers and parents. She has toiled really hard for us and prepared herself without tuition or extra coaching. Her performance is no less than the students from city schools.

It’s an ideal present that members of the Muslim community could hope to get, ahead of the holy month of Ramzan in their village. They will no longer have to travel to nearby villages to offer ‘namaz’. Setting an example of communal harmony, the villagers of Ghalib Ran Singh Waal — which has a majority of Sikhs and Hindus — have constructed a mosque in the village.

The mosque was formally inaugurated by the villagers on Thursday. “Our long cherished demand has been fulfilled with the joint efforts of villagers. It’s a beautiful mosque. We will be able to pray here during the holy month, and it is an Eid gift for us,” said Liaqat Ali, a local villager.

Appreciating the gesture of Shahi Imaam Punjab and the village panchayat, Muslims said the Hazrat Abu Bakar mosque indeed was an Eid gift for them. “It’s so touching, and a big gesture of brotherhood on the part of villagers, that they came forward to help us in the construction of Hazrat Abu Bakar mosque in the village. This was a long pending demand of our community members in the village. Now, we will be able to pray in the village in this mosque,” said Shahi Imaam Punjab, Maulana Habib Ur Rehman Saani Ludhianvi.

The resolution for the construction of a mosque was passed way back in 1998. “The villager’s meeting had approved it with consensus. After that, about a kanal of panchayat land was also allotted for the construction. But the work could only begin on 2 May last year, following the efforts of villagers,” said village sarpanch Jagdeep Kaur. Taking pride in describing her village as an epitome of communal harmony, she says a temple was also now being constructed in the village with the joint efforts of villagers.

With a population of about 1,300, the village has around 700 Sikhs, 200 Hindus, and 150 Muslims. Most of the Muslims had settled in the village after partition. The village also has a Nanaksar Gurdwara where members of various communities go and offer their respects.

-Hindustan Times

Those fighting in the name of religion instead of dividing, work to unite human beings

It’s an ideal present that members of the Muslim community could hope to get, ahead of the holy month of Ramzan in their village. They will no longer have to travel to nearby villages to offer ‘namaz’. Setting an example of communal harmony, the villagers of Ghalib Ran Singh Waal — which has a majority of Sikhs and Hindus — have constructed a mosque in the village.

The mosque was formally inaugurated by the villagers on Thursday. “Our long cherished demand has been fulfilled with the joint efforts of villagers. It’s a beautiful mosque. We will be able to pray here during the holy month, and it is an Eid gift for us,” said Liaqat Ali, a local villager.

Appreciating the gesture of Shahi Imaam Punjab and the village panchayat, Muslims said the Hazrat Abu Bakar mosque indeed was an Eid gift for them. “It’s so touching, and a big gesture of brotherhood on the part of villagers, that they came forward to help us in the construction of Hazrat Abu Bakar mosque in the village. This was a long pending demand of our community members in the village. Now, we will be able to pray in the village in this mosque,” said Shahi Imaam Punjab, Maulana Habib Ur Rehman Saani Ludhianvi.

The resolution for the construction of a mosque was passed way back in 1998. “The villager’s meeting had approved it with consensus. After that, about a kanal of panchayat land was also allotted for the construction. But the work could only begin on 2 May last year, following the efforts of villagers,” said village sarpanch Jagdeep Kaur. Taking pride in describing her village as an epitome of communal harmony, she says a temple was also now being constructed in the village with the joint efforts of villagers.

With a population of about 1,300, the village has around 700 Sikhs, 200 Hindus, and 150 Muslims. Most of the Muslims had settled in the village after partition. The village also has a Nanaksar Gurdwara where members of various communities go and offer their respects.

-Hindustan Times

Those fighting in the name of religion instead of dividing, work to unite human beings

Paul House,’ situated in the centre of the city, was lightened up with flashes of cameras as the family’s daughter, who is visually impaired, scored 89% marks in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 exams, the result of which was declared on Sunday.

Gurleen Kaur, 18, is suffering from the disability since birth. Her mother Manpreet Kaur, a housewife, said that she is proud of her daughter as despite her disability, Gurleen did not quit and continued her studies. She wants her daughter to become an IAS officer.

Manpreet make files and notes for her daughter on the laptop and convert them into speech with the help of a special software that Gurleen uses.

Talking about Gurleen’s routine, her mother said, “She gets up at 6am and studies. On the day of exam, she used to get up at 2am and study till 8. Whenever I asked if she needed any help, she say that she will manage.” Her father Sukhwinder Paul Singh, who is in paint business, said he was extremenly overjoyed.

Gurleen is a student of Cambridge International School for Girls. “I am a gadget freak. I love to play games and work on the laptop,” she said.

“We plan to take her outside and organise a grand party to celebrate the success,” said her mother.

Paul House,’ situated in the centre of the city, was lightened up with flashes of cameras as the family’s daughter, who is visually impaired, scored 89% marks in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 exams, the result of which was declared on Sunday.

Gurleen Kaur, 18, is suffering from the disability since birth. Her mother Manpreet Kaur, a housewife, said that she is proud of her daughter as despite her disability, Gurleen did not quit and continued her studies. She wants her daughter to become an IAS officer.

Manpreet make files and notes for her daughter on the laptop and convert them into speech with the help of a special software that Gurleen uses.

Talking about Gurleen’s routine, her mother said, “She gets up at 6am and studies. On the day of exam, she used to get up at 2am and study till 8. Whenever I asked if she needed any help, she say that she will manage.” Her father Sukhwinder Paul Singh, who is in paint business, said he was extremenly overjoyed.

Gurleen is a student of Cambridge International School for Girls. “I am a gadget freak. I love to play games and work on the laptop,” she said.

“We plan to take her outside and organise a grand party to celebrate the success,” said her mother.

Even a rainy day couldn’t dampen the festivities to celebrate the 318th birthday of the Sikh faith.

The annual Khalsa Day celebrations occurs every spring with a downtown parade, marshal arts demonstrations and the sharing of food.

“We are celebrating Khalsa Day — and we are celebrating 125 years of Windsor, 150 years of Ontario and Canada,” said Harjinder Singh Kandola, president of the Sikh Cultural Society of Metropolitan Windsor.

“We are here to sing the praises of God and … we are remembering the guru’s teachings of freedom, equality and justice.”

Food and celebration marked the opening ceremonies at the Riverfront Festival Plaza on Sunday.

Volunteers prepared and served puddings, samosas and bread.

“That’s what we are known for … anyone who enters a holy place like our gurdwara, everybody gets food,” said Jagjit Singh Varaich, a Khalsa Day organizer.

About 800 attendees then gathered for a parade, led by Windsor police cars in recognition of Windsor’s 125th birthday.

Police vehicles were followed by a float decorated with colourful flowers and banners, containing the religion’s scriptural canon.

The float was accompanied by five Panj Pyare, representing the five men who formed the initial Khalsa — which translates to ‘pure’ — in 1699. All Sikhs who have undergone the faith’s baptism ceremony and live within the religion’s philosophy are part of the Khalsa community.

Varaich said the presence of the five Panj Pyare demonstrates the faith’s emphasis on equality.

The five Panj Pyare were baptized by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru. Those five, in turn, baptized the guru — a symbolic gesture of equality among all devotees of the Sikh faith.

“All men and women, you see them,” Varaich said. “They are sitting together, they are eating together, and everybody has prepared the food together.”

Attendees joined together to sing the divine hymns along the parade route, which began at the Riverfront Festival Plaza, travelled down Riverside Drive East to Church Street, and looped around from Pitt Street to Ferry Street before returning to Riverside Drive West.

“This day for me, personally, is everything,” said Kandola. “Because this day, Sikhism was formalized as a Khalsa community, and we were given this form of Sikh five articles of faith and Sikh identity.”

Khalsa Day also celebrates the establishment of the five articles of faith, or the Five Ks, also established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. They include uncut hair, a wooden comb, an iron bracelet, a cotton tie-able undergarment and an iron dagger.

For attendee Narinder Varaich, Khalsa Day is a celebration of where she comes from.

“We’re so honoured that we’re allowed to do this here and just show who we are, all the similarities,” she said. “We look different, but when you get to know (each other), all the core principles are the same.

“We believe in humanity and serving each other, so it’s really about getting to know one another. And this is a great way to do that.”

Tharris@postmedia.com

Source- Windsorstar,com

Even a rainy day couldn’t dampen the festivities to celebrate the 318th birthday of the Sikh faith.

The annual Khalsa Day celebrations occurs every spring with a downtown parade, marshal arts demonstrations and the sharing of food.

“We are celebrating Khalsa Day — and we are celebrating 125 years of Windsor, 150 years of Ontario and Canada,” said Harjinder Singh Kandola, president of the Sikh Cultural Society of Metropolitan Windsor.

“We are here to sing the praises of God and … we are remembering the guru’s teachings of freedom, equality and justice.”

Food and celebration marked the opening ceremonies at the Riverfront Festival Plaza on Sunday.

Volunteers prepared and served puddings, samosas and bread.

“That’s what we are known for … anyone who enters a holy place like our gurdwara, everybody gets food,” said Jagjit Singh Varaich, a Khalsa Day organizer.

About 800 attendees then gathered for a parade, led by Windsor police cars in recognition of Windsor’s 125th birthday.

Police vehicles were followed by a float decorated with colourful flowers and banners, containing the religion’s scriptural canon.

The float was accompanied by five Panj Pyare, representing the five men who formed the initial Khalsa — which translates to ‘pure’ — in 1699. All Sikhs who have undergone the faith’s baptism ceremony and live within the religion’s philosophy are part of the Khalsa community.

Varaich said the presence of the five Panj Pyare demonstrates the faith’s emphasis on equality.

The five Panj Pyare were baptized by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru. Those five, in turn, baptized the guru — a symbolic gesture of equality among all devotees of the Sikh faith.

“All men and women, you see them,” Varaich said. “They are sitting together, they are eating together, and everybody has prepared the food together.”

Attendees joined together to sing the divine hymns along the parade route, which began at the Riverfront Festival Plaza, travelled down Riverside Drive East to Church Street, and looped around from Pitt Street to Ferry Street before returning to Riverside Drive West.

“This day for me, personally, is everything,” said Kandola. “Because this day, Sikhism was formalized as a Khalsa community, and we were given this form of Sikh five articles of faith and Sikh identity.”

Khalsa Day also celebrates the establishment of the five articles of faith, or the Five Ks, also established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. They include uncut hair, a wooden comb, an iron bracelet, a cotton tie-able undergarment and an iron dagger.

For attendee Narinder Varaich, Khalsa Day is a celebration of where she comes from.

“We’re so honoured that we’re allowed to do this here and just show who we are, all the similarities,” she said. “We look different, but when you get to know (each other), all the core principles are the same.

“We believe in humanity and serving each other, so it’s really about getting to know one another. And this is a great way to do that.”

Tharris@postmedia.com

Source- Windsorstar,com

ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਦੇ ਖੇਡ ਉਪਰਾਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਆ ਬੂਰ : ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਚੋਣ

ਬੀਤੇ 9-10 ਮਈ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਖੇਡ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਯੋਗਤਾ ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਦੇ ਤਿਆਗ ਰਾਜ ਸਟੇਡੀਅਮ ਵਿਚ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਯੁਵਾ ਕੋਪਰੇਟਿਵ ਸੋਸਾਇਟੀ (ਐਨ.ਵਾਈ.ਸੀ.ਐਸ) ਦੁਆਰਾ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਗਈ ਸੀ। ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਪੂਰੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੇ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਭਾਗ ਲਿਆ। ਇਸ ਵਿਚ ਉੱਤਰ ਜੋਨ ਵਲੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਭਰ੍ਯਾਲ ਲਹਿਰੀ, ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾਂ ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਿਲ, ਜਿਸਦੀ ਉਮਰ 17 ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਹੈ, ਜੋ 11ਵੀਂ ਕਲਾਸ ਦਾ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲਿਆ । ਸਾਹਿਲ ਨੇ ਉੱਤਰ ਜੋਨ, ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚੋਂ 17 ਮੁੰਡਿਆਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ 100 ਮੀਟਰ ਦੌੜ ਨੂੰ 10.93 ਸੈਕਿੰਡ ਵਿਚ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਸਥਾਨ ਹਾਸਿਲ ਕੀਤਾ।

ਦੱਸਣਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਦੇ ਨਜਦੀਕੀ ਜਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ ਵਿਚ ਉਸਦਾ ਨਿੱਕਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਪਿੰਡ ਹੈ। ਉਸ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਜੀ ਮੰਡੀਕਰਨ ਬੋਰਡ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ ਵਿਚ ਡਰਾਈਵਰ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਮਾਤਾ ਜੀ ਘਰੇਲੂ ਕੰਮ-ਕਾਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਕ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿਚ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਵੀ ਉਹ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਦਾ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਹੋਣ ਨਾਤੇ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮਾਨ ਹਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੀ.ਟੀ.ਆਈ. ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਬਰਿਆਰ ਲਹਿਰੀ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਲ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਖਲਾਈ ਤੇ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਸਦਕਾ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਉਸਦਾ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਅਤੇ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਦਾ ਖਰਚਾ ਉਠਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਜ਼ਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਸਪੀਡ ਸਟਾਰ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਐਥਲੈਟਿਕ ਯੋਗਤਾ ਸਮਰ ਉਲੰਪਿਕ 2020-2024 ਲਈ ਸਾਹਿਲ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਦੇ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਉਪਰਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੂਰ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ।

ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਦੇ ਖੇਡ ਉਪਰਾਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਆ ਬੂਰ : ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਚੋਣ

ਬੀਤੇ 9-10 ਮਈ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਖੇਡ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਯੋਗਤਾ ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਦੇ ਤਿਆਗ ਰਾਜ ਸਟੇਡੀਅਮ ਵਿਚ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਯੁਵਾ ਕੋਪਰੇਟਿਵ ਸੋਸਾਇਟੀ (ਐਨ.ਵਾਈ.ਸੀ.ਐਸ) ਦੁਆਰਾ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਗਈ ਸੀ। ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਪੂਰੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੇ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਭਾਗ ਲਿਆ। ਇਸ ਵਿਚ ਉੱਤਰ ਜੋਨ ਵਲੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਭਰ੍ਯਾਲ ਲਹਿਰੀ, ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾਂ ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਿਲ, ਜਿਸਦੀ ਉਮਰ 17 ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਹੈ, ਜੋ 11ਵੀਂ ਕਲਾਸ ਦਾ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲਿਆ । ਸਾਹਿਲ ਨੇ ਉੱਤਰ ਜੋਨ, ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚੋਂ 17 ਮੁੰਡਿਆਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ 100 ਮੀਟਰ ਦੌੜ ਨੂੰ 10.93 ਸੈਕਿੰਡ ਵਿਚ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਸਥਾਨ ਹਾਸਿਲ ਕੀਤਾ।

ਦੱਸਣਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਦੇ ਨਜਦੀਕੀ ਜਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ ਵਿਚ ਉਸਦਾ ਨਿੱਕਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਪਿੰਡ ਹੈ। ਉਸ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਜੀ ਮੰਡੀਕਰਨ ਬੋਰਡ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ ਵਿਚ ਡਰਾਈਵਰ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਮਾਤਾ ਜੀ ਘਰੇਲੂ ਕੰਮ-ਕਾਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਕ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿਚ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਵੀ ਉਹ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਦਾ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਹੋਣ ਨਾਤੇ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮਾਨ ਹਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੀ.ਟੀ.ਆਈ. ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਬਰਿਆਰ ਲਹਿਰੀ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਲ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਖਲਾਈ ਤੇ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਸਦਕਾ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਉਸਦਾ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਅਤੇ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਦਾ ਖਰਚਾ ਉਠਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਜ਼ਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਸਪੀਡ ਸਟਾਰ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਐਥਲੈਟਿਕ ਯੋਗਤਾ ਸਮਰ ਉਲੰਪਿਕ 2020-2024 ਲਈ ਸਾਹਿਲ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਦੇ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਉਪਰਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੂਰ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ।