News & Update

It is said that devotion has no limits, and a city-based Sikh devotee has certainly proved it by preparing a hand-written Holy Guru Granth Sahib, which is 6-feet long and 90 kg in weight.

It is a copy of ‘Adi Granth’ written by Harvinder Pal Singh, a resident of Kaushal Puri, Kanpur, it is made of German-made paper that can last for around 400 years. The `Granth Sahib’ will be placed at Golden Temple, Amritsar-Punjab.

The Saroop has been hand written by Harvinder Singh. The Pen was specially imported from USA to write a Holy Guru Granth Sahib, It took him 3 years to complete the entire saroop. The specialty of the pen is that its writing gives an impression of print.

Six people are required to handle the Guru Granth Sahib, while 3 people are needed to turn its pages, which are quite large in size. The `Granth Sahib’, before being taken to Golden Temple in Amritsar, was kept in Ranjit Nagar Gurudwara in the city for some time”, Bhalla said.

Harvinder Singh also wrote 2 other copies of Guru Granth Sahib in the past. One copy of the `Granth Sahib’ is in Paonta Sahib Gurudwara, Dehradun while other one is in a Punjab Gurdwara.

~ Source: TOI

A few brave hearts alone cannot save people from death without a divine intervention, according to a Dubai resident who was instrumental in saving six people from a burning plane in Canada.

Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal is humble enough to attribute his bravery to a miraculous intervention appeared in the form of a heavy wind when the small plane crashed on a busy highway in Richmond in British Columbia on October 27, 2011.

“I was at a loss along with scores of others when we saw the plane in flames a few yards away and a heavy wind was intensifying the flames. Then plane’s door was opened and two passengers jumped out of the flames. They were able to do so because the wind was in opposite direction of the door, keeping the flames away from the door,” Dhaliwal told Gulf News.

“Had the wind was blowing along the door’s direction, the two passengers would have never come out and we would never get the courage to approach the burning plane,” said the 32-year-old Indian IT Specialist in Aviation sector, who was on a business trip to Canada when the incident occurred.
Ignoring the intense heat and dense smoke enveloping the aircraft, he and other rescuers entered the plane several times to help pull the injured passengers out.

He was surprised to receive a call after a few months from a Canadian Government official, saying he was nominated for a bravery award. He was again surprised when he was invited to visit Canada to receive the award late in 2012. Six other rescuers were also awarded for their courage in the incident. But Dhaliwal could not visit Canada then, being busy with his works in India. He moved to Dubai in June 2014.

When Arif Z Lalani, the Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, came to know Dhaliwal was living in Dubai, he organized Presentation Ceremony of the Canadian Decoration for Bravery on Saturday at the ambassador’s residence on Saturday (May 2). Lalani presented the award on behalf of David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.

Decorations for Bravery recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or protect another. The Decorations were created by Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. The governor general personally presents the Decorations in ceremonies held at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, or at La Citadelle, in Québec City. They consist of the Cross of Valor, the Star of Courage and the Medal of Bravery.

Lalani said: “ Mr Dhaliwal is a hero. He reflects the essence of the Canadian Governor General’s medal for bravery – helping others simply because they need help and you can offer it. It is a great honour to present the medal to Mr Dhaliwal in the UAE where he lives and works.

Dhaliwal’s humbleness further attributes his bravery to his attire. “Being a Sikh, my turban might have helped others easily recognise me among other rescuers,” he told Gulf News. There were many others who also risked their life along with others, he said. Dhaliwal is working with Flydubai now and his wife Kamalpreet Kaur is a school teacher. The couple has a four-year-old son Nirvaan Singh.

He has not been carried away by the award and ensuing flame. “Anyone trying to rescue others must ensure their own safety first. I did it because four other friends were also with me. I may do the same. But when we do so, we should take care of our safety too!” Dhaliwal said.

~ Source: Gulf News

Thousands took part in a colourful procession through Manchester’s streets to mark the annual Sikh celebration Nagar Kirtan.

Meaning ‘singing hymns in the street’, it sees lavishly-decorated lorries and people on foot make their way from one temple to another as a way of sharing their faith.

This year the procession began at the Dasmesh Sikh Temple in Cheetham Hill, making its way down Cheetham Hill Road, crossing to Bury New Road and into the city centre along Deansgate

The parade then stopped outside the Town Hall where free food was distributed, with dignitaries including police chief Sir Peter Fahy taking part.

It then continued down Princess Street and Oxford Road before travelling through Hulme and Moss Side, finishing at the Sri Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara on Upper Chorlton Road in Whalley Range.

With around 5,000 participants estimated to be taking part, some made their way barefoot, sweeping the road as a sign of respect to the holy book, carried on the main float.

Many also wore orange – the traditional colour of the five most learned Sikhs, represented by five people leading the parade.

~ Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Two leading Sikh organisations are sending food packets for the earthquake victims in Nepal and will continue to do so till normalcy returns. Flagging off a fleet of three trucks carrying relief material and packaged food from ‘langar’ at the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, many Sikh organizations are also appealed to join hands for support.

As reported they would send 25,000 food packets every day to Nepal.

“We will continue to send food packets as long as these are needed in Nepal by the earthquake victims,” said GK. The food packets would contain four to five chapatis, dry vegetable cooked in ‘desi ghee’ and pickle wraped in silver foil, said GK. A team of DSGMC had flown to Nepal to oversee the arrangements for preparation and to serve langar while cooks along with required man force and machinery would prepare fresh food over there.

As per the arrangements envisioned, fresh langar would be prepared for more than 10,000 victims daily. Langars are currently being served in Kathmandu, which will be replicated in other affected areas later.

Nepal Victims would surely find solace from the warm gesture by Sikhs!

Dhan Sikhi! Dhan Khalsa!

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Sewa is not confined to the premises of Gurdwara. It’s rather a reflection of the dedication of your soul to the principles of Sikhism!

“Sarbat Da Bhala ” Langar project of United Sikh Mission to feed the needy in Govt Hospitals, Slums and Garbage Areas where kids eats from garbage.

In association with ANAS TRUST TEAM blessed with the Weekly Sewa on every Saturday at 12-1pm Pictures of Langar at Deen Dayal Hospital New Delhi depict their true spirit of selfless service to mankind. After 150 Juggis burnt in Hari Nagar this sewa emerged as a real blessing for them.

Appeal to Sadh Sangat Ji to join us in this Project. Contact: 9871126257, 9818843056

Hats off to these Noble Souls! Dhan Sikhi! Dhan Khalsa!

~ Tapasleen Kaur

Brave efforts by Gurtej Singh rescued of a visually impaired man after he fell on train tracks of a subway in Boston, Mass.

The time was around 10 a.m. Friday when the man didn’t notice warning signs on the track and fell on the subway tracks of Park Street MBTA.

The man started scream for help and soon after the Sikh jumped onto the tracks to lift him out of dangers way.
“I heard a scream and when I looked up I saw someone tumbling onto the tracks,” Gurteg Singh said. “He’s blind so there’s no way he could see his footing or step up to try to pull himself.”

The Sikh demonstrated what Sikhs live for which is helping others in need. “I think that many of us are human beings and we care about each other. If you look at it people are willing to jump in and risk their own safety to help others who fall and injure themselves,” Harry Skeffington said. Gurtej told reporters that he didn’t think twice to help as his religion teaches him to help others.

“In the moment fight-flight sort of kicked in so I jumped in to push him up, try to give him leverage and help the people on the platform pull him up,” he said. The man was taken to the hospital and released after evaluation.

Bravery & Willpower to help others describe the true quality of a Guru’s Sikh!

~Source:

Guru Amardas was born in the Bhalla family to father Tejbhan and mother Sulakhani in village Basarke, near Amritsar on May 5, 1479. He was married to Mansa Devi (also known as Ram Kaur), daughter of Devi Chand Behal. The couple had four children – two sons, Mohri and Mohan; and two daughters, Dani and Bhani.

Every year Baba Amardas used to go for pilgrimage to Haridwar, which is a holy place for the Hindus, located on the banks of the river Ganges in North India. Once, while returning from the pilgrimage, Baba Amardas rested at an inn, which was owned by a Brahmin, who was also a renowned palmist and astrologer. At night, Baba Amardas was sleeping in such a posture that his head and feet were visible. The Brahmin could tell the future of a person by reading lines on the feet and hands. He chanced to see the feet of Baba Amardas, which were embedded with Padam Rekha – luckiest line on the feet – which denotes that such persons are supreme. Padam Rekha is embedded either on the feet of the Prophets, divine persons or the very renowned kings.

Next morning, before departure, when Baba Amardas offered money for the night stay in the inn, the owner being a knowledgeable palmist pronounced that the Baba would become either a highly divine person or a renowned king. Then, he would get all the bounties from him. Hearing this, tears rolled down the eyes of Baba Amardas. He wondered that for realising the divine within, he had been visiting Haridwar regularly for twenty years but still could not perceive the divine Truth. The Brahmin palmist was so sure of his palmistry knowledge that he emphatically predicted that he was bound to become a divine person and then he would come to him for seeking the divine bounties.

Wretched is he, who has no Guru (the divine guide): Baba Amardas was a Vaishnavite and used to go on a pilgrimage to Haridwar every year, but even after many visits to the holy place, he had not yet found the bliss of self-realisation. Once, an ascetic (Brahmachari, who observes celibacy) was attracted by the divine virtues of Baba Amardas. He accompanied him to his village Basarke. As the food was being served, the Brahmachari casually enquired from Amardas who was his Guru? Baba Amardas humbly submitted that he was still in search of one. The Brahmachari became upset and angry. He would not partake of the food from a person, who had no Guru for getting instructions to tread the divine Path and left the house in a huff after cursing the Baba. This incident shook the conscience of

Baba Amardas, who vigorously started searching for the Guru from that very day.

Meeting the Guru: One early morning, Baba Amardas heard Bibi Amro recite the divine Hymns. Bibi Amro, Guru Angad Dev‟s daughter was recently married to Baba Amardas‟s nephew. These Hymns touched his conscious and he developed an immense urge to become a disciple of the Guru, who had composed these verses. He asked Bibi Amro, “Whose Hymns are you reciting?” She humbly replied, “My Divine father, who is now second Guru Nanak Dev, has imbibed all these hymns from His Mentor.” He expressed a wish to meet the Guru. Bibi Amro took Baba Amardas to Guru Angad Dev. A glimpse of the Guru made Baba Amardas his devout disciple. Setting aside the worldly conventions of the society, he presented himself in the service of Guru Angad Dev‟s door-step; in other words, at the door-step of the father-in-law of his brother‟s son and rendered utmost divine service to the Divine Master. Baba Amardas was at that time about sixty-two years old while Guru Angad Dev was only about thirty-six. Just after midnight every day, he would walk about ten kilometres to the river Beas for his bath and then fetch a pitcher of water for His Mentor‟s bath in the ambrosial hour. Throughout the day, he worked tirelessly in various services of Langar.

Guruship: On 25 March, 1552, Baba Amardas was bestowed the Guruship at Khadur Sahib by his Divine Master Guru Angad Dev, who followed all the rituals, as Guru Nanak Dev did for Him. (Guru Angad Dev‟s life story has already been given in the previous chapter.)

~ Extract from Sikh Faith Book
~ Written by Iqbal Singh Ji(Baba)