The month of July ended with the group members arriving in Manchester. As mentioned we were very generously put up by teenage Sikh billionaire, Reuben Singh of Manchester.

We attended a weekend youth camp session on Friday afternoon leading into a 'diwan' at night.About one hundred and fifty youth and parents enjoyed our gursangeet which was in the form of a 'kalyug-me-kirten perdhana' workshop. There are some very dedicated sewadhars with the interests of youth in their hearts and Sikhi is in 'cherdhi kala' in their 'neck of the woods'! The great thing is that reuben is there as a role model and helps in whatever way he can in between his very busy schedule. One other 'sewadhar' I must mention is Jaswant Singh Bawa who is a pillar for the youth.

We travelled back in a leisurely manner on saturday to Southall as we did not have a programme that day. On Sunday afternoon was our first 'private' program in UK. Teji and Jitti Hunjan requested for a 'kirtan' program at their home in Gerrards Cross. It was a truly blissful afternoon leading into the evening and I believe all had a good uplifting time. We were requested for numerous such private programmes after the kirten.

The general consensus from the 'sangat' was that this was truly a 'sangat' program - something the gurdwaras are losing ground on as they are slowly becoming 'ritual centres' rather than places of 'sangat worship'. Everyone at this programme had come for spiritual nourishment through 'naam simran' and kirtan and some socialising, and no other motive. Towards that end, it was a very successful evening.

Again we had a free week till Friday. Program at Southfield Gurdwara and arguably one of our best programmes as there is a very good sangat there and plenty of selfless sewa being done by all. We also met UK's Justice Mota Singh who is one of the trustees. Programme was organised and sewa done by Kulvinder and Susan Panesar and the whole family was doing sewa. A pleasure doing a programme in Southfield! First half hour was strictly for the youth and we treated it like a workshop. Then one hour of heavenly kirten - we enjoyed the programme very much.

Only UK - Sikh Concert - Leicester, Ramgharia Hall - Saturday 9th. August 2003.

This was a repeat concert of last year but with a different theme. Last year it was a 'Gurbani Journey'. This year it was 'Evolution of Kirtan'. An audience of 400 enjoyed a great evening and we like to thank the Ramgharia community of Leicester for their love and affection.

We did our first programme in Coventry at the Guru Hargobind Gurdwara Sahib and it was warming to see so many youth attending. There is a great deal of stress on youth activities in this gurdwara and may Waheguru Ji bless them with cherdhi Kala to continue with this mission.

We came back to Southall by the evening to do one more private function - this time at the home of Vijay Markanday and family.

sewak,
Dya Singh (Australia)