By Dr. JASWANT SINGH SACHDEV
POMONA, CA – On December 25, several thousand Sikhs - more than in any previous celebration of Darbar-E-Khalsa – thronged the grounds of the LA County Fairplex here. The massive religio-social annual gathering in Southern California, on the day of Christmas, was the brain child of Captain Harbhajan Singh, the founder of the International Institute of Gurmat Studies.
POMONA, CA – On December 25, several thousand Sikhs - more than in any previous celebration of Darbar-E-Khalsa – thronged the grounds of the LA County Fairplex here. The massive religio-social annual gathering in Southern California, on the day of Christmas, was the brain child of Captain Harbhajan Singh, the founder of the International Institute of Gurmat Studies.
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Over three decades ago, he realized that on this holiday most Sikhs, free from daily chores, could be engaged instead of idling it away, in a daylong celebration for the Prakash Utsav of the tenth master Guru Gobind Singh. He brought together Sikh families and SoCal gurdwaras to hold a combined Kirtan Darbar. The religious aspect was combined with the Sikh cultural aspects of seva and langar to create this event which has grown over the years in grandeur and splendor.
Captain Harbhajan Singh, popularly known as Papaji, prepared the grounds so well that the institution he left behind continues to plant and nurture Sikhi Daa Boota among the Sikh youth and adults through this and other events such as youth camps and the annual commemorative golf tournament.
Program 21 raagi jathas as well as 565 children from local gurdwaras sang melodious kirtans mesmerizing the sangat.
Following the Prakash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at 6 am, the Akhand Kirtani Jatha began a blissful seva of Aasaa Di Vaar followed by Hukum, Ardaas and Karaah Prashad Seva. This was followed by a brief kirtan by Raagi Jatha of Bhai Sarabjeet Singh of Stanton Gurdwara Sahib and then by Bhai Malkit Singh of Gurdwara Santa Ana and Bhai Daljit Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Hesperia.
The youth jathas from the various SoCal gurdwaras then took over including two from Gurdwara Buena Park, two from Gurdwara Walnut Sahib and one from Gurdwara Alhambra. One children’s jatha of Sur Shabad Parivar, preceded the adult jatha of the same institution followed by two groups from Baba Farid Academy. The Gaavo Sachi Baani Academy Riverside had two groups, children from Gurdwara Sahib Santa Ana and Khalsa Care Foundation as well by Gurdwara Sahib of Nanak Sadan and Ujjal Didar Singh Memorial Foundation also rendered wonderful melodies. This then led to kirtan by Singh and Kaur Academy, two groups of children from the Valley Sikh Temple and two IIGS Youth Groupj jathas.
The program then moved on to various raagi jathas in the following sequence: Bhai Sahib Bhupinder Singh of Gurdwara Rosemead, Bhai Jatinder Singh Jot of Gurdwara Lankershim, Bhai Sahibs Ajit Singh and Manjit Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Vermont, Bhai Sukhdev Singh of Gurdwara Alhambra, Bhai Sahib Parvinder Singh of Gurdwara Riverside and Bhai Sahib Devinder Singh of Gurdwara Buena Park. The sangat was then blessed with the musical offerings of the members of Guru Ram Dass Ashram.
Showers of beautiful spiritual kirtan continued with Bhai Naib Singh, Bhai Gagandeep Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Nanak Sadan and Bhai Sahib Sukhdev Singh of Gurdwara Walnut. This then led to the world- renowned guest raagi jatha of Bhai Anoop Singh followed by S. Jasdev Singh of IIGS Northern California. Finally two melodious heart-warming shabads were sung by IIGS Jatha itself. A joint performance by five local raagi jathas including those of Professor Ranjit Singh of Bhai Mardana Academy, Bhai Sahib Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji, Bhai Jaswant Singh and Bhai Varinder Singh Bhai Surdeep Singh was the highlight of the day.
Volunteers and Food
The salient sevas of Ardas by S. Ranjit Singh, Chottee Ardas by Sardarni Gurpreet Kaur, Hukum Seva by S. Sarabdayal Singh and emceeing which was shared by Sardarni Prabhneet Kaur, Sardar Harnadar Singh, Sardarni Gurpreet Kaur and Sardar Sarabdayal Singh; and the vote of thanks by Sardar Daljit Singh were all handled smoothly and professionally.
While the religious program was being held indoor, many sangat members were treated outside on a cool, crisp winter day to freshly made breakfast snacks including chole bhature, pakoras, hot jalebis, gol gappas, makki di roti and saag. The food was entirely donated and prepared by local Sikhs and volunteers at the various gurdwaras. The warmth of the sangat added to the enjoyable mela-like atmosphere for which many like wait yearlong to enjoy and participate in. At noon, the Guru Ka Langar, included khadi chawal, sabzi, dal, naan and raita. Sangat members sitting in pangats as well as on benches and lawns enjoyed the atmosphere as the proceedings in the hall were transmitted outside.
Also in the hall were Khalsa Bazaar stalls where business was brisk and informative booths such as Sikh Lens which people could browse through and glean information.
Send-Off
A formal send- off for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in a helicopter, had the entire sangat looking up at the sky after it had walked in procession behind the beat of a Nagaara and the Panj Pyaras as well as a team of Gatka players. It was indeed a sight to behold!
The sea of turbans and dupattas covering every inch of the grounds made one believe that the Sikh Panth of Khalsa as envisioned by Kalgidhar Pita is alive and well. The common sentiment was one of hope that such events will be kept alive so that Sikhs can continue to enjoy this auspicious day, year after year, in the Guru’s presence.
Captain Harbhajan Singh, popularly known as Papaji, prepared the grounds so well that the institution he left behind continues to plant and nurture Sikhi Daa Boota among the Sikh youth and adults through this and other events such as youth camps and the annual commemorative golf tournament.
Program 21 raagi jathas as well as 565 children from local gurdwaras sang melodious kirtans mesmerizing the sangat.
Following the Prakash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at 6 am, the Akhand Kirtani Jatha began a blissful seva of Aasaa Di Vaar followed by Hukum, Ardaas and Karaah Prashad Seva. This was followed by a brief kirtan by Raagi Jatha of Bhai Sarabjeet Singh of Stanton Gurdwara Sahib and then by Bhai Malkit Singh of Gurdwara Santa Ana and Bhai Daljit Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Hesperia.
The youth jathas from the various SoCal gurdwaras then took over including two from Gurdwara Buena Park, two from Gurdwara Walnut Sahib and one from Gurdwara Alhambra. One children’s jatha of Sur Shabad Parivar, preceded the adult jatha of the same institution followed by two groups from Baba Farid Academy. The Gaavo Sachi Baani Academy Riverside had two groups, children from Gurdwara Sahib Santa Ana and Khalsa Care Foundation as well by Gurdwara Sahib of Nanak Sadan and Ujjal Didar Singh Memorial Foundation also rendered wonderful melodies. This then led to kirtan by Singh and Kaur Academy, two groups of children from the Valley Sikh Temple and two IIGS Youth Groupj jathas.
The program then moved on to various raagi jathas in the following sequence: Bhai Sahib Bhupinder Singh of Gurdwara Rosemead, Bhai Jatinder Singh Jot of Gurdwara Lankershim, Bhai Sahibs Ajit Singh and Manjit Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Vermont, Bhai Sukhdev Singh of Gurdwara Alhambra, Bhai Sahib Parvinder Singh of Gurdwara Riverside and Bhai Sahib Devinder Singh of Gurdwara Buena Park. The sangat was then blessed with the musical offerings of the members of Guru Ram Dass Ashram.
Showers of beautiful spiritual kirtan continued with Bhai Naib Singh, Bhai Gagandeep Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Nanak Sadan and Bhai Sahib Sukhdev Singh of Gurdwara Walnut. This then led to the world- renowned guest raagi jatha of Bhai Anoop Singh followed by S. Jasdev Singh of IIGS Northern California. Finally two melodious heart-warming shabads were sung by IIGS Jatha itself. A joint performance by five local raagi jathas including those of Professor Ranjit Singh of Bhai Mardana Academy, Bhai Sahib Bhai Raghbir Singh Ji, Bhai Jaswant Singh and Bhai Varinder Singh Bhai Surdeep Singh was the highlight of the day.
Volunteers and Food
The salient sevas of Ardas by S. Ranjit Singh, Chottee Ardas by Sardarni Gurpreet Kaur, Hukum Seva by S. Sarabdayal Singh and emceeing which was shared by Sardarni Prabhneet Kaur, Sardar Harnadar Singh, Sardarni Gurpreet Kaur and Sardar Sarabdayal Singh; and the vote of thanks by Sardar Daljit Singh were all handled smoothly and professionally.
While the religious program was being held indoor, many sangat members were treated outside on a cool, crisp winter day to freshly made breakfast snacks including chole bhature, pakoras, hot jalebis, gol gappas, makki di roti and saag. The food was entirely donated and prepared by local Sikhs and volunteers at the various gurdwaras. The warmth of the sangat added to the enjoyable mela-like atmosphere for which many like wait yearlong to enjoy and participate in. At noon, the Guru Ka Langar, included khadi chawal, sabzi, dal, naan and raita. Sangat members sitting in pangats as well as on benches and lawns enjoyed the atmosphere as the proceedings in the hall were transmitted outside.
Also in the hall were Khalsa Bazaar stalls where business was brisk and informative booths such as Sikh Lens which people could browse through and glean information.
Send-Off
A formal send- off for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in a helicopter, had the entire sangat looking up at the sky after it had walked in procession behind the beat of a Nagaara and the Panj Pyaras as well as a team of Gatka players. It was indeed a sight to behold!
The sea of turbans and dupattas covering every inch of the grounds made one believe that the Sikh Panth of Khalsa as envisioned by Kalgidhar Pita is alive and well. The common sentiment was one of hope that such events will be kept alive so that Sikhs can continue to enjoy this auspicious day, year after year, in the Guru’s presence.
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