First weekend in July - we are at the Yeppoon Music Festival which is half an hour by road north along the coast from Rockhampton, central Queensland. Rockhampton 'almost' became the capital of Queensland. Now it is only about 70,000 population. Ideal temperate/tropical climate. It was about 24 degrees centigrade with about 16 degrees at night - not forgetting this is winter for us. The region is booming with finds of rich deposits of various minerals and also intense agricultural research. Plenty of Indian agricultural research graduates and students here.

About one-third of the Indian graduates and students are of Sikh background. I did not think I would see a single Indian, let alone a Sikh here!

5 July. Visited by a gentleman from Patiala - a psychiatric surgeon who has also worked in Malaysia formerly. He reminded me of our Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. He has been a fan for many many years and told of an amusing episode when our shabads were turned down by the local radio station there. He was told that they do not relay any shabads not sung in raags. He said he was bemused because of their narrow-mindedness. He said there were probably more pirated cassettes and cd's of our renditions compared to any other ragi BUT, the radio station is controlled by the so-called 'shudh raag kirtan' types. The shabad too, was 'Mitr pyare nu' - which is not from the SGGS and not attached to a raag, but that did not sway them!

East Australian Tour : 10-19July.

Parvyn and I drove from Melbourne to Sydney. Stayed overnight with friends Ajmer Singh Gill. Picked up Keith, Tuesday morning and headed for Coffs Harbour for our first concert - Orara Valley Hall - about 10 km. inland from Coffs. Mainly Vietnam War veterans and alternative life-stylists with small farmlets in this beautiful region. Indian dinner provided by good Woolgoolga friend - Jorawar (John) Singh. A wonderful laid back evening within a small but enthusiastic audience. Stayed with Jorawar and family in Woolgoolga.

Wednesday - Armidale concert. We are well received here. It is a University town and we performed at the Cattlemens' Cafe. One Sikh girl from Chandigarh doing her Masters in Psychology. Always great to perform here. Travelled after concert north to Tamworth, hometown of our violinist Andrew Clermont. Stayed two nights with old friends Bev and Tony who have built their own mud-brick house in the bush. Peace and tranquility - with kookaburras, magpies and cockatoos screeching a medley mixed in with some ever dutiful cockerels ushering in the dawn.

Friday - travelled to Dorrigo on the 'ridge' between Armidale and Coffs Harbour in rain and mist for a small but well received concert. Their hall, though with elevated seating, sits only 100. Jorawar joined us with his curries, rice, cha and samosas. Another great spiritually musical evening. Stayed the night with Jorawar in Woolgoolga.

Then begun a fairly hectic 30 odd hours...

Saturday. We set off just after noon for Wauchope which is a good three hours drive south of Woolgoolga along the Pacific Highway for the Saturday concert. Finished the concert and headed back for Woolgoolga (Jorawar's place) - reaching at about 2am. Left his house at 5.00am to travel north to Brisbane (five hours) for a sound check at 10.30am in Holland Park in Brisbane to head the Brisbane Arts Festival open-air 'Scheherezade' Concert. We did two slots, the opening and closing act and then headed straight to the Gurdwara Sahib for kirtan from 6.30 to 8pm. on the Sunday night. We slept well that night at hosts Dr. Kewal (and Mrs. Kuldeep) Singh!

Brisbane Gurdwara revisited after 8 years!

We go to Brisbane very often but have not done kirtan at the gurdwara since 1998 due mainly to its internal problems. Due to the efforts of a few, especially Dr. and Mrs. Kewal Singh we were able to pay our respects with kirtan at the Gurdwara Sahib to a sizeable and appreciative sangat.

THE LANGGAR FACTOR

Brisbane gurdwara is unfortunately divided between two factions (like most major gurdwaras!) - the 'mej-kursian' faction (those who believe langgar can be eaten sitting on tables and chairs) and the 'pangat-on-floor' faction (those who believe that langgar should be eaten seated in rows on the floor or carpet cross-legged). So, if one faction turns up the other keeps away. Our program was organised by the 'mej-kursian' faction, so the 'pangat-on-the- floor' faction kept away or came and refused to partake of langgar, noticeably, the gentleman operating the overhead gurbani projector. As soon as kirtan was over, he unplugged his equipment, stuck it under his arm and was out of the gurdwara like a shot! Dhan Sikhi!

Nevertheless, the 'up' side of the program was attendence by many youth - even from the opposition faction! The reception from the committee members who were present was very warm and we held a brief dialogue after langgar. We look forward to doing more kirtan programs here in the future and possibly attracting more youth and tailoring more programs specifically for them ... and those young at heart! I have known the new Bhai Sahib (granthi) here, from Malaysia. He used to be Granthi Sahib in Kulim (north Malaya) a few years ago and used to travel by bicycle as far as Penang (30-40km away!) to teach kirtan. Good man! - If only the Brisbane sangat can utilise him. Some children are already starting to learn kirtan from him.

A much publicised tourist attraction lies closed most of the time!

We left Brisbane on Monday after an ABC interview with Radio National Journalist Rachel Koehn on Nitnam and Guru Granth Sahib. We left at about 3pm. and arrived in Woolgoolga by nightfall.

Woolgoolga gurdwara lies locked except for a one hour slot at 5am for 'parkash' and amrit-vela nitnam and at 6-7pm for Rehras and Samapti, besides Sunday morning service. The Granthi Sahib feels that is all his duties are - for which he collects his pay-check. That also appears to be OK with the committee. A glance at their 'visitors book' suggests that devotees - both Sikh and non-Sikh from far and wide return disappointed because it lies locked during the day. Sometimes devotees leave their offerings including money at the doorstep. Strange state of affairs as the gurdwara is considered a tourist attraction and publicised as such.

Back in wintry Melbourne on Wednesday 19th. after warm sunshine and a very fulfilling short tour of seven concerts and one gurdwara program and 5000 km. by road!!!

Akhand Path

27-29th. We decided to carry out an Akhand Path service at oldest daughter Jamel's new abode in Mulgrave, Melbourne. I have found two new friends in Melbourne (I am new here) who tolerate my oddball-Sikh behaviour and who genuinely love joining in on Asa Di Var whenever I have the opportunity of doing it. They promised to organise it and carry it out with minimum of fuss and especially over-oppressive 'maryadha'. We started at about 4am. on the Thursday morning and the 'reading' was completed by 5am on the Saturday morning followed by Asa Di Var and the mandatory 'perothay and cha'. Whatever its merits (and for some, demerits), it was one of the best 'parties' I have ever had for a long time! I was stand-in 'pathi' jumping in as and when I felt I was relieving a 'reader'. The family had a ball doing sewa of 'pathis' and cooking and having guests passing through. All 'pathis' were non-professional and came to reap the benefits of continuous 'path' and simran. My daughters took turns to be attendant 'sewadhars' to the 'pathis' and occasional chaur sewa. No, we did not put bottles of water under the 'menji sahib' to 'collect' amrit, nor did we organise a 'havan' or 'diva' or specifically go out to buy half coconuts as offerings. We just wanted the full benefit of 'path' pervading our humble abode and our beings.

The children had a ball having plenty to eat; even pinching sweeties from the plate lying beside the 'pathis' full of 'mishri, saugi (sultanas), sugar coated nuts, etc'; having minimum supervision, as adults were involved elsewhere, and 'camping' for the nights in the lounge in front of 'baba ji' - sleeping when they liked and playing when they liked.

My most profound moment was when both my grandchildren decided to test Grandpa's patience by coming up and sitting by me as I did 'path' when 'everyone' else was involved elswhere. They stuck their heads under my arms, played with the chaur, removed my 'reading scarfe around my neck and did everything possible to distract me except making noise or being overly disruptive. My daughter caught a glimpse and instead of stopping them decided to take some pictures as grandpa struggled to continue! Bless them. May Waheguru keep them in Sikhi.

Some (especially non-Sikh) friends stayed late into the nights to experience the conducive atmosphere for simran induced by continuous path. I cannot thank my new friends and my family enough for these wonderful moments. God-willing we shall do it again soon! The 'reading' was completed by 5am. followed immediately by Asa Di Var. It was all over by 7.30am.

Though exhausted we felt that we had gained something valuable and if nothing else, all resolved to take their personal 'naam simran' and Nitnam a little more seriously. Doing it over two working days worked very well as friends' wives were able to manage the path during the day and we all took turns at night. Most importantly we were finished by Saturday morning by 8am. and had the whole weekend to ourselves to recover and savour the after-effects. I strongly recommend this service to all as it leaves behind a lingering sense of well being and harmony amongst family members and a closeness to our 'Guru'.

KAMBDHI KALAAI

My daughters brought over a movie made by a young Sikh girl, Ish Amitoj Kaur, from New York. Over the years I have lost interest in 'Indian' movies but decided to see this with the family and some friends who turned up. My daughters told me that I would find it of interest as I am always on the lookout for new and fresh ideas to be introduced at youth camps I attend... and I was pleasantly surprise. So much so, I have made visitors see it on a few more occasions - expecially youth!

Ish Amitoj Kaur has touched on a fair number of topics in a very short time (one hour duration). One gets glimpses of such issues like inter-racial marriages, trimming of beards and cutting of hair, Sikhs being the butts of jokes - by themselves and others especially Bollywood, the 1984 genocide of Sikhs, identity, family values etc. I strongly recommend this movie to all Sikhs and also its use in youth camps and seminars as a discussion point for various issues close to our hearts. I congratulate young Ish for a wonderful one hour of cinema and look forward to her future movies.

Till next month...

Cherdhi Kala