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Sikh Review |
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The month of March will be remembered because we moved from Adelaide to Melbourne. I shall keep Adelaide as a base as all our recordings are done here and 'my' community, of which I have been a part for over 23 years and which I have seen grow, is in Adelaide. My two younger (of three) daughters were born in Adelaide. In that time we established the Sikh Society of South Australia in 1982 and the first Adelaide gurdwara. Now our second gurdwara, which supersedes the first building is in the pipeline. I like to believe that I will still call Adelaide home for a long time yet, but physically, as a family, we are going to move to Melbourne. So, besides some travel between Adelaide and Melbourne, we are not doing any touring this month, till the last few days when we set out to USA for our first full tour of this year. I am also working on the recording of our Asa Dhi Var. I shall instead write on some issues of interest as they crop up. Firstly, the response to these columns is rising which means more and more are reading them! I welcome constructive suggestions and criticisms. For example ... |
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DOMES ON PARKLEA GURDWARA, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA |
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I received a number of emails on this issue which I raised as to the frivolity of spending money in putting domes on the building. I have obviously not been observant enough to notice that the gurdwara building has no domes whatsoever! |
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Prabhjot Singh of Sydney writes ... This is where I would disagree with you about the Domes. While the medical services, educational facilities, senior citizens resources are very very important, the domes also play an important part.The Sikh nation is not a poor nation. We can afford all that we need and more. What is missing is the coordination and experience to work collectively on the world stage.I say this because I have been in dialogue with the management of ASA Parklea Gurudawara. I also know the debate The domes had caused in the council and the fact that the Gurudawara will now (after the domes are in place) be Promoted internationally by the Governments. It really does launch us onto a whole new platform..... |
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DESTRUCTION OF OUR HERITAGE IN INDIA. |
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I have had very strong support on my views of the SGPC and our 'sant-babas' who are jointly tearing down our heritage buildings to put up marble gurdwaras. This included a very strong email from the Chairman of Minorities Commission and Federal MP, Sardar Tarlochan Singh Ji which is included in our website www.sikhpoint/dyasingh. I hope more and more pressure can be put on the SGPC and especially their 'sangmalmal sant-babas' from ceasing this wanton destruction of our heritage and history. |
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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOUR 'LAVAN' IN A SIKH MARRIAGE CEREMONY |
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We expect to be performing 'lavan' and kirtan at a number of Sikh Wedding ceremonies (Anand Karaj's) on our tours this year. I was requested to do a short write-up on the significance of the 'lavan'. I have decided to reproduce it here. 'Lavan' means circumambulation. 'Anand Karaj' (Sikh Wedding Ceremony) means ceremony of bliss. The couple walk clockwise, four times, around the Guru Granth Sahib while four specified hymns are sung. I was asked on my views of the significance of these four 'laps' which is the main, and most significant part of the Sikh marriage ceremony. Though there are a variety of views on the significance of these four 'rounds, let me give you my views gleaned from my 'peers' and elders, and my own modest understanding, but placed in a 21st. century context. The first three 'rounds celebrate the three elements which go towards making up our 'being', namely body, mind and soul. The fourth and last circumambulation signifies ultimate union with God, the true 'anand' (bliss) very human being. The first round signifies the physical and materialistic aspects of married life - physical attraction between man and wife which leads to the birth of offsprings; working hard to earn a living and acquiring the trappings of a comfortable life - a good house, car, and so on. The second 'round' signifies the method of living. To bring Sikhi, 'gurmatt'and 'gurbani' into the house. Are husband and wife, and later mum and dad spending time in doing Nitnam, listening to kirtan, doing self-research into Sikhi and also going to gurdwara regularly to do sewa and joining in the service? Is there 'Babay-dha-Parkash in the house? If such an environment is maintained in the household then that will create a conducive environment for the children and those visiting, to be drawn towards Sikhi. If the household is one where the most prominent feature in the house is the 'bar', alcohol is served, noisy parties are held every other day; there is violence between mum and dad, then the children will grow up with bad habits. But, if happy and spiritually uplifting environment is created from the outset and a concerted effort is made to maintain that environment by both husband and wife, then there are greater chances of happiness within the home, and well brought up children. So, this circumambulation signifies the mental attitude and discipline necessary for the Sikhi path. The third 'round', signifies the 'soul', when both husband and wife discover that they might have two bodies but share one soul within their two bodies - 'aik jyot doe moorti' because they have created the right spiritual environment and discipline leading towards a state of realising 'detachment' from the first two elements. The bodies start to age and the lure of more materialism dims as one finds contentment in gurbani. Also, the ability to 'let go'. To feel that one has done ones duty towards ones offsprings and that they, the offsprings must now find their own wings - find the right spouses for themselves and hopefully begin 'grahast marg' (the married path of a householder as preferred in Sikhism) on the right footings. But, hether the offsprings are appearing to do the right thing or not, one must ave the ability to 'let go'. Letting the offsprings deal with their lives.Also remembering that these days parents do not depend on their offsprings in old age and, to have the ability to accept that! The fourth and final circumambulation signifies the ultimate marriage as decreed in Sikhism. Two bodies, but one spirit, which then finds blissful union with God. 'Dhan pir eh n aakhian, behen aikethay hoe, aik jyot doe moorti, dhan pir kehiyai soe' - Just because they (husband and wife) sit together does not make them a couple, BUT, one soul in two bodies, now that is a true couple! So, truly, a Sikh marriage ceremony, the Anand Karaj (ceremony of bliss),represents the wholistic Sikh view of moving through body, mind and soul to reach union with God, not as a single person, but as a married couple and going through the agony and ecstasy of raising a family. March 12: Balvinder Singh (Belay) has arrived from Malaysia to make his vocal and spiritual contribution to the Asa Dhi Var which we are recording.'Belay' is one of the most promising young 'kirtenias' in Malaysia and also a good 'wakil' (lawyer). He has accompanied me often in kirtan in Malaysia. Two other Sikh 'youth', Harcharanjit (Raja) Singh and Harminderpal Singh have both already contributed towards this Asa Dhi Var recording. March18. Received news that we have been featured on front page of 'Times of India' newspaper (attached)! There is a flood of emails in from around the globe. It is great to be recognised at last at my roots! I am glad it says 'Mystical Sardar'. I think 'Sardari' should be promoted amongst Sikh youth of today - leading to pride and a sense of belonging to the Sikh fraternity, with a 'dastar' on the head and 'saabat surat'! March 20,Sunday. We have finally packed and cleaned out our 'home' of 24 years in Adelaide, for tenants to move in and for our migration to Melbourne. The removalists have left yesterday with the bulk of our household items. We call the final ardaas, Baba-Ji-dhi-sevari (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) is comfortably secured for the journey to Melbourne and we leave at 1pm. We arrived safely at 10pm. in Melbourne. We had to fork out bheta' too as Harsel got pulled up for speeding - (Au$120.00). Monday - I am back in Adelaide!! Yes, as a visitor this time to spend one more day in the studio before Easter. We have discovered a good 'dilruba' musician and I wish to complement the Asa Dhi Var recording with this lovely Punjabi string instrument. So, in studio with Quentin and this young man - Josh Bennett. The recording went well. Hope to take him on tour into the ear future... 24-27March: Easter (2005) Weekend : One great weekend in the 'Riverland' region of South Australia, at the Annual Australasian Sikh Games. Since their inception in 1988, as part of the opening ceremony of our gurdwara in Adelaide, I have not been able to attend these games as they are normally close to Vesakhi and I am normally on tour somewhere in the world during those days. This year Easter is almost four weeks before Vesakhi, so I was able to attend. Also a chance to spend a few days with my mother Bebe Ji and brother, Councillor Baldev Singh, who reside in the Riverland. My pride and joy was to see all three of my daughters playing soccer for the Victorian girls side. Since Chadha's 'Bend it like Beckham' a great many Sikh girls have taken to soccer. My three have always been interested in soccer. They had a ball and I had a great time telling them of my glorious sporting days of yesteryear, and watching them play. I urge Sikh parents to encourage their offsprings to go out and play sports and ... also get nvolved in music. Both are great tools for personal growth. I can say with pride that I have been blessed with three girls who participate both in port and in music. This makes them well rounded human beings. I must comment that, like the Gurdwara Cup, (a national inter-state 'Sikh'field hockey tournament in Malaysia over the ast 50 years r so), the Australasian Sikh Games have fallen into ill-repute because the only thing 'Sikh' about the games is the name. Participants on the whole claiming to be 'of Sikh background' have very few characteristics of Sikhism. Of course, there are attempts - an ardaas is done for the Opening ceremony plus 'Deh Shiva' thrown in for good measure. Even food, in the name of 'langgar' is served. But then, besides the fact that some participants do speak Punjabi there is nothing more 'Sikh' about these games. Alcohol flows like water for good measure. In fact it was rumoured in these games this year in the Riverland that, because only one girls netball team turned up, they were given a 'free tab' at one of the bars open to them whereby they duly drank Aus$1200 worth of alcohol within one night. That, for a Sikh girls' netball team is quite a great amount of liquor, as liquor is not very expensive in Australia. Nevertheless, 'Sikh' boys and girls do get together and have a good time and if not any other point to these games, at least youth of the community do meet and form their networks. But, O how much more valuable these get-togethers could be, if only 'Sikhism' is made the main theme, not in a religious sense, but from a spiritual upliftment point of view and also fostering the wholistic way of life it is. Easter Monday 28th. Back in Melbourne to prepare for our first tour this year. We leave on Wednesday 30March. * Press Release: WSC-AR Urges UNESCO to Drop Consideration of Siri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar for World Heritage Status. This is an interesting subject - on the one hand we need international status for our spiritual hub, yet, this statement by the World Sikh Council,that Darbar Sahib should be treated like the Vatican and the Ka'aba carries merit. Hopefully the legal eagles amongst our worldwide community can work this out. On a similar note, hopefully, Darbar Sahib will be listed as a present day 'seven wonders of the world', because it is unique. 31st. We are in LA after 13 hours from Sydney. Our good friend Bicky Singh was on hand to pick us up and take us to Orange County - his residence where we shall be staying for our stay in southern California. More in April... we are at the LA Convention Center on 3April (invitation of our American Sikh Dharma brothers and sisters), and at the Smithsonian Institute 17April (SALDEF, formerly SMART) for VESAKHI 2005. Details are available from sikhpoint.com, sikhnet.com or our own new site dyasingh.com.au. |
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Dya Singh |
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