Muslim hooligans take over Sikh shrine

The Malaysia sun reports that Muslim hooligans have taken over a Sikh shrine.

http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/303b19022816233b/id/275103/cs/1/

Muslim hooligans take over Sikh's Lahore's Bhai Taro Singh Jee temple in Lahore
Malaysia Sun
Monday 20th August, 2007
(ANI)

Lahore, Aug 20 : The ownership of Bhai Taro Singh Jee temple in Lahore's Naulakha Bazaar has become the centre of a confrontation between the Sikhs and a Muslim hooligan group, which has allegedly taken over the temple's ownership.

The Sikh community has alleged that local Muslim hooligans, who are getting support of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), have taken control over the temple and have debarred them from entering inside it.

Representatives of the Sikh community said that the hooligans had stopped them from entering the premises for the past two months.

Muslims first prayed for saint, Pir Shah Kaku, and then started offering Asr and Maghrib prayers and started holding Quranic mehfils at the temple, the Sikh groups said.

According to Daily Times, Sikhs' religious symbols has been removed from the temple and Islamic slogans of 'Ya Allah' and 'Ya Rehmatul Alimeen' had replaced them. A plaque giving details of the pir's identity had also been put up on one of the walls.

The daily also spoke to the leader of the occupants of the temple, Sohail Butt, who said that they have taken the step (to occupy the temple) in their personal capacity "for the welfare of the Muslims community."

He admitted that the former guard of the temple had seen a dream where Pir Shah Kaku "had urged him to keep the Sikhs away from the temple".

He added that they are trying to ascertain the pir's date of death, and "once done we will hold a yearly urs in celebration."

Meanwhile, Sikh groups said that they were protesting against hooligans' activities and have urged the ETPB, but to no avail.

"After the temple's dome was painted green, the committee wrote to the then ETPB additional secretary Izharul Hassan against the violation of the temple's sanctity, said Dr. Mampal Singh.

He alleged that hooligans had claimed the shrine for themselves and that the ETPB had told the committee it would resolve the issue within a month.

"They haven't done anything yet and the hooligans are tightening their grip on our worship place,' he added.

However, EPTB refutes allegations levelled by Sikh groups.

ETPB chairman Lt Gen (r) Zulfiqar Ali Khan told the daily that the trustee is in charge of the temple and Muslims go there to pray for the saint, while Sikhs go there for their worship.

"There is no plaque of the saint or other plaques inscribed with Islamic slogans inside the temple. Vested quarters are trying to put a negative touch to the issue, but ETPB won't allow them to do so," he said, adding that they are trying to maintain a status quo.

The locals in the area have disputed the claims of the hooligans stating it is not authentic.

"They want to make money from the devotees and in this process have violated the sanctity of Sikhs worship place," a local said.

4 year old Sikh to convert to Roman Catholic for school admission

The Daily Mail is writing about Sikh parents willing to convert their four year old girl into Roman Catholic.


Sikh girl will convert for a place at Catholic school
By PAUL SIMS - More by this author » Last updated at 23:18pm on 19th August 2007

Comments Comments (15)
The parents of a Sikh girl want to convert her to Roman Catholicism to win a place at the school of their choice.

Baljit and Bal Singh say they will change their four-year-old daughter's religion if it means she can attend their favoured school next month.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=476449&in_page_id=1770

Sikh faces turban ban in Irish reserve force

Independent reports that
A SIKH member of the Garda Reserve is banned from wearing his ceremonial headdress, the turban.
Integration Minister Conor Lenihan last night backed up the Garda Siochana ruling, saying immigrants to this country must accept our culture.

read full article here. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/sikh-member-of-the-reserve-is-banned-from-wearing-turban-1057548.html

Sikh spirit in a multicultural army

Sikh spirit in a multicultural army
writes Daniel Hannan in response to the move to have a Sikh regiment in the British army

You couldn’t ask for more loyal, more patriotic or more soldierly immigrants than the Sikhs. How encouraging, then, that a number of community leaders should have floated the idea of recruiting a British Sikh regiment.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/politics/danielhannan/june07/sikhspirit.htm

No to Sikh regiment in British army

Sikh regiment dumped over 'racism' fears
By Sean Rayment, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:35am BST 24/06/2007

Defence chiefs have abandoned plans to raise a regiment of British Sikhs amid fears that the move would be branded racist.

The Indian Army's Sikh Regiment: Sikh regiment dumped over 'racism' fears
The Indian Army's Sikh Regiment, which was formed in 1846

The proposal to create the regiment, reminiscent of those that fought for Britain in the two world wars, was dropped by the Ministry of Defence after discussions with the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/24/nsikh124.xml

Sikh elected as mayor in US

This ‘Harry’ Stands Out From the Crowd
LAUREL HOLLOW, N.Y., July 28 — Harvinder Anand, the new mayor of this Long Island village of multimillion-dollar homes, private beaches and yachtsmen, is, like many other residents, a successful business executive, a boater and a connoisseur of world travel. His Sikh turban and beard drew double takes when he moved to the community about 10 years ago, but it does not get many anymore. At least not among the locals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/nyregion/01mayor.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

First Sikh warden in Pakistan

Daily Times reports on the first Sikh warden in Pakistan.
Read the entire article here. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C04%5C27%5Cstory_27-4-2007_pg13_6

Sikh traffic warden becomes celebrity

By Faizan Bangash

LAHORE: “Since yesterday, I have been hearing different greetings, such as sat sari kaal, jo bolay so nihal and ballay ballay from car and bus drivers, motorcyclists and children. Lahoris are really very loving people and these are unforgettable moments for me,” remarked Dr Gulab Singh, the first-ever Sikh to be appointed traffic police warden in Pakistan, in an exclusive interview with Daily Times.

Gulab, the 25-year-old Sikh traffic warden, who hails from Nankana Sahib and now lives in Defence Housing Authority, said that joining the force as a sub-inspector was a dream come true for him. Pledging to do his duty wholeheartedly, he said that the loving welcome he had received from the public had added to his joy. He said he had joined his duty station on Wednesday, and by the second day, dozens of children had forced their parents to stop the car so that they could meet him. Singh is deputed on Alif Laam Meem Chowk on Aziz Bhatti Road in Cantt.

Gulab said he was born in Nankana district in January 1982. His father, Manna Singh, is a farmer and a father of seven—five boys and two girls. Gulab is the youngest of the siblings. Gulab completed his matriculation in Nankana district, graudation in Lahore and then received a doctorate in homeopathy from Bahawalpur. Gulab said he also operated a homeopathic clinic, which he might have to shut down because of his new and demanding posting.

Gulab said he applied for the sub-inspector post when announcements inviting applications appeared in newspapers, but did not tell his family. He informed them only after he was appointed, which translated into a delightful surprise for them, he added. Commenting on his training process, Gulab said, “The attitude of my fellow trainees and officers was very good towards me. Nobody ever forced me to do anything against my religious beliefs.” He said he had no problems wearing his kara (bangle), or keeping his kirpan (dagger) on him. He added that, as he was a vegetarian, green meals were arranged for him in the mess during the training period. “I am very grateful to my officers for this gesture,” Gulab said.

Gulab is multilingual and has command over Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Seraiki, and Sindhi. He added, “I can also speak English, but not very fluently.” Gulab also said that he was fond of Punjabi bhangra music and that his favourite singers are Abrar-ul-Haq, Harbajhan Maan and Waris Baig. In terms of the future, Gulab said, “I will do my duty honestly, work like a true and dutiful citizen, and dream of a corruption-free atmosphere.”

Indian president praises Sikh saint for cleaning river by sewa

the Indian president, on a visit to Greece has praised a sikh saint for cleaning an entire river with sewa (voluntary service).

Kalam hails Sikh priest’s work

ATHENS: In distant Greece, President A P J Abdul Kalam praised the work of a Sikh priest in Punjab who had cleaned up a “polluted and choked” local river to illustrate how the art of “giving” by individuals and nations could promote happiness around the world.
Kalam, who was speaking to the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, a leading think-tank, has been interspersing all his lectures here, as well as earlier ones at Strasbourg, with messages from Indian saints and philosophers.
On the “great societal mission of giving”, Kalam spoke about the “marvellous development” taking place in Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab.
The president said when he went there last year, he was delighted to see the rejuvenated Kali Bein, where Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak had received enlightenment and which over the years had become a weed-choked drain. It is now clean due to the efforts of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, a priest in a local gurdwara.
“Babaji had organised people’s participation in stopping the massive flow of sewage into the Kala Bein and cleaned the 160km-long polluted and choked rivulet within the last five years by deploying, on an average, 3,000 kar sewaks (volunteer pilgrims) per day.
“Today, one can feel the flow of fresh water in this rivulet released from the Tarkina Barrage by the government,” Kalam recounted to his highbrow audience here on Thursday evening.
He said the revival of the rivulet had recharged the water table as hand pumps that had become dry for the past four decades were now pumping out water. And speedboats had begun running on the river, and the 3km stretch had become a beautiful site with bathing ghats, trees and orchards on its banks and well laid out roads running parallel to the
waterway.
“I also saw the great happiness of giving on the faces of volunteers who had physically participated in this task. This is a great example of giving and the happiness arising out of giving,” the president said, saying the parable also applied to nations who had the responsibility of promoting peace and prosperity by
“giving”.
The subject of the president’s address at the think-tank was the “Dynamics of Peace and Prosperity”. Although the subject was meant to be for strategic thinkers, the president, as usual, spoke in his deep philosophical vein, comparing the “knowledge centres” of the civilisations of Greece and India with wisdom from Indian thinkers and gurus. – IANS

Gurdwara Sahib in Singapore - World capitals

The Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road is located at Silat Road, now renamed Jalan Bukit Merah. It is the first-ever Sikh gurdwara to be built in Singapore.
The gurdwara has an old history having been completed in 1924. It was reopened in Ocober 1995.
Among other things, it has the largest palki sahib and the largest dome on a gurdwara outside India.
Further information and images are available here. http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_402_2004-12-14.html

Via Rail allows Sikh kirpan; World Sikh Organization welcomes decision

The World Sikh Organization is pleased with VIA Rail's agreement to finally permit devout Sikh passengers to travel while keeping their articles of faith intact. The changes in policy made by VIA Rail and instituted on January 12, 2007, recognize the significance of the Sikh code of conduct mandated for all practicing Sikhs.
WSO President Gurpreet Singh Bal today expressed respect and admiration
for Balpreet Singh, a 26 year old Ottawa law student who was removed from two
VIA trains in 2005: "We offer Balpreet our heartiest congratulations for his
perseverance to ensure that all Canadians are afforded the same protection to
freely practice their faith. His calm, dignified, purposeful citizenship is an
example to us all. Balpreet's success will be felt by all people of faith."
All initiated (Amritdhari) Sikhs are required, by religious mandate, to
maintain five articles of faith upon their person at all times, as part of a
disciplined lifestyle of devoted religious practice. The kirpan, as one of the
5 articles of faith, represents spiritual power. It reminds the wearer of
her/his mortality, and the corresponding obligation to always stand up against
injustice. A Sikh is prohibited from using the kirpan in any aggressive
manner. "Sikhs honour a specific code of conduct because our purpose is to
serve humanity. Our visibly distinctive attire is one way the public can
easily identify someone who values peace, justice, and security. It is
extremely important for Canadians, in today's fearful world environment, to
recognize a kindred spirit when they see a Sikh," said Ajit Singh Sahota,
Director of Administration.
The WSO is pleased that both VIA Rail and Balpreet Singh worked together
to resolve this issue. "Perhaps this will inspire more corporations, public
and private, to review their own practices, and become proactive in their
approach to accommodating Canadian customers of diverse religious backgrounds.
By engaging in a constructive dialogue with communities who are negatively
affected by arbitrary safety and security policies, we can prevent future
misunderstandings, and work cooperatively to achieve the same goals." Said
Anne Lowthian, Executive Director.

Vaisakhi in Malaysia

East Malaysian newspaper the "Daily Express" reports on Vaisakhi celebrations.

Sikh New Year to be celebrated in big way
Kota Kinabalu: Vasakhi is a Sikh New Year, the birthday of Khalsa Panth (Order of the Pure) and a day of baptism, all rolled into one.
Sikhs in Sabah will celebrate the auspicious occasion on April 14 in a big way, said Darshan Singh, assistant secretary of Kinabalu Singh Sabha. But the celebration had actually begun...read full story....http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=49063

New Gurdwara Sahib at Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake in Virginia gets a new gurdwara sahib.
read here....

Region's first Sikh house of worship opens in Chesapeake
By JANETTE RODRIGUES, The Virginian-Pilot

CHESAPEAKE - A woman dressed in a tunic and flowing pants slipped off her shoes after she entered a Sikh house of worship just off Great Bridge Boulevard.
She washed her hands, pulled up the scarf draped across her shoulder so it covered her hair and walked into the prayer room, where a reader sitting on a raised platform chanted scripture from the Sikh holy book. She bowed her head to the floor before sitting cross-legged on it......http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=122876&ran=75411

Vaisakhi parade coverage in British media

The British media has been covering the Vaisakhi day parade. Here are some links


Sikhs get ready for a new year festival
SIKHS from across the city are set to gather together to mark one of the key dates in their calendar with a vibrant dinner and dance.
Vaisakhi holds deep significance for the community. As well as celebrating the New Year, it also commemorates the birth of the religion. read full article here....http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news?articleid=2719021

Chief saves city parade
Oxford's Sikh community are celebrating after tomorrow's religious celebrations were given the last-minute go-ahead, thanks to the city's police chief...read full article...http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1345842.0.chief_saves_city_parade.php

Sikhs gather to mark Vaisakhi Day
By Chris Briddon
Worshippers at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh celebrated Vaisakhi Day on Saturday with religious services and singing of Shabads (Sikh holy hymns) by minstrels througout the day....read full article ....http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/display.var.1344394.0.0.php

Drums come out for Sikh festival
By Carl Brown
SIKHS from across east London celebrated the festival of Vaisakhi in Waltham Forest at the weekend. People descended on the Sikh temple, or Gurdwara, in Francis Road, Leyton, for seven days of celebrations last week.....read full story.....http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1340721.mostviewed.drums_come_out_for_sikh_festival.php

Thousands celebrate Sikh festival in Redbridge
By Megan Reynolds
THOUSANDS of Sikh's from celebrated one of the most important religious festivals of the year at Redbridge's Gurdwara Karamsar on Saturday....read full article here...http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/display.var.1331619.0.0.php

Southampton welcomes in the Sikh New Year
By Ushma Mistry

THOUSANDS of Sikhs will join the traditional procession through the streets of Southampton this weekend as they celebrate their new year.
The festival of Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year, will be celebrated in Southampton on Sunday with a number of events.
The festivities will begin at the Civic Centre at 9.30am with the Raising of the Nishan Sahib, the traditional flag-raising ceremony....read full story....http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/display.var.1325931.0.southampton_welcomes_in_the_sikh_new_year.php

Sikh festival of Vaisakhi
By Alison White
THOUSANDS of people are expected to parade through Gravesend town centre today to celebrate the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.The procession, called a Nagar Kirtan, will begin at 11.30am today.Around 5,000 people at expected to join in....read full story...http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1320171.0.sikh_festival_of_vaisakhi.php

Finnish translation of Japji Sahib

We came across this amazing work on Sikh Spectrum.
Minna Hapuoja has translated japji Sahib into Finnish, her own language.
http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112005/finnish.htm

The translation can be found here.. http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112005/japji/page1.htm

Gurdwara in Tehra, Iran - world capitals

We do not have a video here, so we are posting a photograph taken during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on April 12, 2001. The External Affairs Minister Shri Jaswant Singh and the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Omar Abdullah are also seen.

Gurdwara in Singapore - world capitals

Kirtan at Gurdwara Sahib in Singapore (Katong)


Another kirtan recital at Gurdwara Katong, Singapore

Gurdwara Sahib in Kabul, Afghanistan - world capitals

Here is kirtan recital at Gurdwara Sahib in Kabul, Afghanistan


And here is a celebration to mark the Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.

Gurdwara in Moscow - world capitals

There is a gurdwara, Sikh place of worship, in Moscow as well and according to the video in YouTube, it is called Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar.


This is the second post on the gurdwara in Moscow, and some people are not happy at placing the holy book in the suitcase.


The third and final video:

Gurdwara Sahib in Bangkok, Thailand (World capitals)

Here is the second in the series of Gurdwaras, Sikh place of worship, around the world. The gurdwara videos are in Bangkok in Thailand.