BY DEVIKA C. MEHTA
LOS ANGELES, CA - While the rest of the world celebrated New Year a little over four months ago, the Sikh community in the Southland came together to mark the onset of the new year by celebrating Baisakhi at the Convention Center here on April 9. A sea of turbans and huge crowds of devotees from all parts of California,
LOS ANGELES, CA - While the rest of the world celebrated New Year a little over four months ago, the Sikh community in the Southland came together to mark the onset of the new year by celebrating Baisakhi at the Convention Center here on April 9. A sea of turbans and huge crowds of devotees from all parts of California,
the US as well as Mexico and India came together in a beautiful, spirited, peaceful celebration of Baisakhi, which also commemorated the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh recently celebrated in Patna Sahib in India.
The event which was organized by the annual Kirtan Darbar and Nagar Kirtan, witnessed nearly 15000 devotees enthusiastically involved in prayers, a mile-long procession, and turning up in huge numbers at the raising ceremony of the Nishan Sahib flag during the parade. The day began very early at Guru Ram Das Ashram in West Los Angeles, where dozens of Khalsas gathered to listen to Professor Ranjit Singh recite the “Asa di Var”. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was then escorted by motorcycle police in a grand procession, with Khalsa flags flying, all the way to the Convention Center, where Guru Granth Sahib arrived at 7:00 am to begin the Kirtan Darbar.
The program was emceed by Kirtan-Singh Khalsa, of Guru Ram Das Ashram along with Hardev Singh Khalsa, Ravinder Singh, Hardalip Singh and Bir Ishwar Singh. Several Federal, State and County dignitaries attended and received and gave presentations at the program. Those that received special awards from the Sikh Community of Southern California included U.S. Congresswoman of the 27th District Judy Chu, who attended the program for the seventeenth year in a row. She spoke poignantly highlighting her work in support of the Sikh community. Congressman Brad Sherman, wearing a turban, also expressed his support and appreciation of the Panth. Field Representative Jacqueline Hamilton representing US Congresswoman Karen Bass of 37th District also attended the event.
The ‘Spirit of Baisakhi Awards’ and saropas (prayer shawls) were presented on behalf of the Sikh Community of Southern California to several distinguished individuals and organizations for their examples of leadership. Those included Chu, Sherman, Bass (accepted by Hamilton), Siri Sikdar Sahiba Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa, Amarjit Singh of Vermont Gurdwara for Langar Seva and Nirinjan Kaur who is a Professor of Sikh and Jain Studies at Loyola Marymount University. The managing directors of the Guru Nanak Sikh Center in Buena Park were presented saropas along with Dr. Piara Singh for his lifelong service to the community.
Another highlight of the day was the children and youth Kirtan presentations which were both high-spirited and exquisitely performed. The Khalsa Care Foundation, Kaur & Singh Academy, Buena Park Punjabi School, Walnut Gurdwara Kirtan Group, Sur Sangam Sangeet of Corona, Nanak Sadan Gurmat Academy, Ujjal Didar Singh Memorial Foundation, Valley Sikh Temple Punjabi School, Sur Shabad Parivaar of Bhai Mardana Institute, Guru Nanak’s Children’s Academy of the Sikh Center of Orange County, Gurdwara Gurbani Darbar of Ventura, Guru Ram Das Ashram Khalsa Youth Group and the Baba Fareed Sangeet Academy all participated. Additionally, Bibiyan Da Jathas performed Shabads including Sur Shabad Parivaar and Bibi Kamalpreet Kaur and Balbir Kaur.
Twenty two distinguished Ragis performed Kirtan from Gurdwaras in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside County, Lancaster, San Jose and Fresno. Dhadhi Jatha Kuljit Singh Dilbar from Nawanshahr, India also performed.
The scenes from inside the Convention Center were mesmerizing. Decorations for the Kirtan program by Seva Kaur Khalsa featured an exquisite backdrop of various photos of the Takhat at Pathna Sahib, India where Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born; the prayer hall was filled with divine music and the langar prepared at Hollywood Sikh Temple served delicious meals to people of all communities.
A bazaar was organized outside the main concourse hall where many booths were set up by various vendors selling Sikh art, books, clothing and promoting services for support of worthy causes.
Towards the end, the final five Ragi Jathas consisting of Bhai Raghbir Singh (Walnut Gurdwara), Bhai Jaswant Singh (New Riverside Gurdwara), Bhai Varinder Singh (Khalsa Care Foundation), Bhai Khem Singh (Hesperia Gurdwara) and Bhai Surdeep Singh (nephew of Sant Anoop Singh) all sang together with beautiful devotion. The Guru Ram Das Ashram Kirtan Jatha played the closing Kirtan as Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was escorted outdoors for the beginning of the resplendent Nagar Kirtan.
Later in the afternoon, the procession went around downtown Los Angeles for a two-mile parade where Guru Sahib’s ‘Golden Temple’ float designed by Joginder Singh Sidhu highlighted Sikh culture, tradition and lifestyles.
Hundreds of volunteers were involved for months in advance, to make the day special for all.
The event which was organized by the annual Kirtan Darbar and Nagar Kirtan, witnessed nearly 15000 devotees enthusiastically involved in prayers, a mile-long procession, and turning up in huge numbers at the raising ceremony of the Nishan Sahib flag during the parade. The day began very early at Guru Ram Das Ashram in West Los Angeles, where dozens of Khalsas gathered to listen to Professor Ranjit Singh recite the “Asa di Var”. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was then escorted by motorcycle police in a grand procession, with Khalsa flags flying, all the way to the Convention Center, where Guru Granth Sahib arrived at 7:00 am to begin the Kirtan Darbar.
The program was emceed by Kirtan-Singh Khalsa, of Guru Ram Das Ashram along with Hardev Singh Khalsa, Ravinder Singh, Hardalip Singh and Bir Ishwar Singh. Several Federal, State and County dignitaries attended and received and gave presentations at the program. Those that received special awards from the Sikh Community of Southern California included U.S. Congresswoman of the 27th District Judy Chu, who attended the program for the seventeenth year in a row. She spoke poignantly highlighting her work in support of the Sikh community. Congressman Brad Sherman, wearing a turban, also expressed his support and appreciation of the Panth. Field Representative Jacqueline Hamilton representing US Congresswoman Karen Bass of 37th District also attended the event.
The ‘Spirit of Baisakhi Awards’ and saropas (prayer shawls) were presented on behalf of the Sikh Community of Southern California to several distinguished individuals and organizations for their examples of leadership. Those included Chu, Sherman, Bass (accepted by Hamilton), Siri Sikdar Sahiba Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa, Amarjit Singh of Vermont Gurdwara for Langar Seva and Nirinjan Kaur who is a Professor of Sikh and Jain Studies at Loyola Marymount University. The managing directors of the Guru Nanak Sikh Center in Buena Park were presented saropas along with Dr. Piara Singh for his lifelong service to the community.
Another highlight of the day was the children and youth Kirtan presentations which were both high-spirited and exquisitely performed. The Khalsa Care Foundation, Kaur & Singh Academy, Buena Park Punjabi School, Walnut Gurdwara Kirtan Group, Sur Sangam Sangeet of Corona, Nanak Sadan Gurmat Academy, Ujjal Didar Singh Memorial Foundation, Valley Sikh Temple Punjabi School, Sur Shabad Parivaar of Bhai Mardana Institute, Guru Nanak’s Children’s Academy of the Sikh Center of Orange County, Gurdwara Gurbani Darbar of Ventura, Guru Ram Das Ashram Khalsa Youth Group and the Baba Fareed Sangeet Academy all participated. Additionally, Bibiyan Da Jathas performed Shabads including Sur Shabad Parivaar and Bibi Kamalpreet Kaur and Balbir Kaur.
Twenty two distinguished Ragis performed Kirtan from Gurdwaras in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside County, Lancaster, San Jose and Fresno. Dhadhi Jatha Kuljit Singh Dilbar from Nawanshahr, India also performed.
The scenes from inside the Convention Center were mesmerizing. Decorations for the Kirtan program by Seva Kaur Khalsa featured an exquisite backdrop of various photos of the Takhat at Pathna Sahib, India where Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born; the prayer hall was filled with divine music and the langar prepared at Hollywood Sikh Temple served delicious meals to people of all communities.
A bazaar was organized outside the main concourse hall where many booths were set up by various vendors selling Sikh art, books, clothing and promoting services for support of worthy causes.
Towards the end, the final five Ragi Jathas consisting of Bhai Raghbir Singh (Walnut Gurdwara), Bhai Jaswant Singh (New Riverside Gurdwara), Bhai Varinder Singh (Khalsa Care Foundation), Bhai Khem Singh (Hesperia Gurdwara) and Bhai Surdeep Singh (nephew of Sant Anoop Singh) all sang together with beautiful devotion. The Guru Ram Das Ashram Kirtan Jatha played the closing Kirtan as Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was escorted outdoors for the beginning of the resplendent Nagar Kirtan.
Later in the afternoon, the procession went around downtown Los Angeles for a two-mile parade where Guru Sahib’s ‘Golden Temple’ float designed by Joginder Singh Sidhu highlighted Sikh culture, tradition and lifestyles.
Hundreds of volunteers were involved for months in advance, to make the day special for all.