BY KEWAL KAUR KHALSA
LOS ANGELES, CA - The annual Kirtan Darbar and Nagar Kirtan Baisakhi celebration was celebrated with high spirits by an estimated 15,000 devotees at the Convention Center here on April 14. The event attracted devotees from all parts of California, the U.S., as well as Mexico and India. This year marks the 550th Anniversary...
LOS ANGELES, CA - The annual Kirtan Darbar and Nagar Kirtan Baisakhi celebration was celebrated with high spirits by an estimated 15,000 devotees at the Convention Center here on April 14. The event attracted devotees from all parts of California, the U.S., as well as Mexico and India. This year marks the 550th Anniversary...
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of the Birth of the founder of Sikh Dharma, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The day began at 3:30 am at Guru Ram Das Ashram in West Los Angeles where about 30 youth and adults of Bhai Avtar Singh Kirtan Taksal Jatha under the direction of Bhai Surinder Singh Ji recited 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 Sahib arrived at 7am to begin the kirtan.
The exquisite decorations for the Darbar Hall were designed by Seva Kaur Khalsa.
The day’s main Kirtan program began early in the morning and included many songs written in praise of Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa. More than 40 women’s, children’s and Ragi Jathas performed throughout the program from all over Southern California.
Dara Singh Sidhu from Fresno gave an inspiring talk about the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The final five Ragi Jathas consisting of Bhai Jaswant Singh, Bhai Ragbir Singh, Bhai Varinder Singh, Bhai Sudeep Singh and Professor Ranjit Singh all sang together with beautiful devotion.
The Chardi Kala Jatha of Miri Piri Academy played a rousing rendition of “Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Kaas”.
The Guru Ram Das Ashram Kirtan Jatha played the closing Kirtan which included “Anand Sahib” and “Song of the Khalsa” before Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was escorted outdoors for the beginning of the resplendent Nagar Kirtan.
The program was emceed by Kirtan-Singh Khalsa, of Guru Ram Das Ashram, along with Har Dev Singh Khalsa from the San Diego Sat Sangat.
Congresswoman of the 27th District, Judy Chu, attended the program for the eighteenth year in a row.
She commended the Sikh community on working to create peace and equality among the diversity of the nation’s communities especially through the Langar Seva that is done in Gurdwaras around the country.
Also in attendance was the Los Angeles Chief of Police, Michel Moore, who spoke about the commitment of the LAPD to protect the Sikh community of Los Angeles against bias and hate crimes. He said that he really appreciated the Sikh community for their love of God and willingness to serve all.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu spoke about having been born in Amritsar, his pride in being a Sikh, and serving as a Mayor of one of the major cities in the country. Fernando Delgado, Representative for L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, presented a proclamation to the Sikh community on behalf of and signed by all five Supervisors of L.A. County. Mayor Eric Garcetti also issued a proclamation, via his representative Dilpreet Kaur Sidhu, to the Sikh community congratulating them on the occasion of Baisakhi. John Alford, representative of Congressman Brad Sherman, presented an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building to Sardar Roop Singh, Secretary of SGPC who spoke about the unity of the Khalsa Panth.
Head Granthi of the Bangala Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi, Giani Ranjit Singh, was also present, and highlighted the great contributions to the Panth by the Siri Singh Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji.
Special Saropa presentations (prayer shawls) were presented on behalf of the Sikh Community of Southern California to several distinguished individuals.
Nazar Singh Khooner from Bakersfield was acknowledged for his seva in conducting the annual Bakersfield Baiskahi Peace Parade and the 50,000 meals served over the course of 30 days to those economically challenged.
Guru’s Langar was provided throughout the day and was organized by Amarjeet Singh of the Hollywood Sikh Temple and prepared by Bhai Chattar Singh Ji of Bakersfield and dozens of sevadars. Nearly two dozen of the Langar cooks and sevadars received Spirit of Baisakhi awards.
Other recipients of Spirit of Basaikhi awards included Bhai Sahiba Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa; Siri Sikdar Sahiba Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa; Dr. Asma Qadri, Professor at Punjab University of Lahore, who established a Department of Guru Nanak Studies and DukhNiwaran Kaur Khalsa for her work in fostering important dialogues on diversity and inclusion.
Preparation for the Nagar Kirtan took place at Khalsa Care Foundation for the entire week preceding the event. The specially-designed Guru’s float was the main attraction and took dozens of volunteers to create under the direction of Joginder Singh Sidhu . The nearly two-mile parade route started and ended at the Convention Center. Thousands of Sikhs in brilliant colors, and full of Chardi Kala, walked the entire route singing and chanting God’s name. The Bhai Khaneya Seva Dal provided a sumptuous langar for after the Nagar Kirtan.
Hundreds of volunteers are involved for months in advance in making the day special. The set-up and decorations seva was led by Dr. Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa, Tej Mohan Singh, and Jai Pal Singh Khalsa.
The exquisite decorations for the Darbar Hall were designed by Seva Kaur Khalsa.
The day’s main Kirtan program began early in the morning and included many songs written in praise of Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa. More than 40 women’s, children’s and Ragi Jathas performed throughout the program from all over Southern California.
Dara Singh Sidhu from Fresno gave an inspiring talk about the four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The final five Ragi Jathas consisting of Bhai Jaswant Singh, Bhai Ragbir Singh, Bhai Varinder Singh, Bhai Sudeep Singh and Professor Ranjit Singh all sang together with beautiful devotion.
The Chardi Kala Jatha of Miri Piri Academy played a rousing rendition of “Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Kaas”.
The Guru Ram Das Ashram Kirtan Jatha played the closing Kirtan which included “Anand Sahib” and “Song of the Khalsa” before Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was escorted outdoors for the beginning of the resplendent Nagar Kirtan.
The program was emceed by Kirtan-Singh Khalsa, of Guru Ram Das Ashram, along with Har Dev Singh Khalsa from the San Diego Sat Sangat.
Congresswoman of the 27th District, Judy Chu, attended the program for the eighteenth year in a row.
She commended the Sikh community on working to create peace and equality among the diversity of the nation’s communities especially through the Langar Seva that is done in Gurdwaras around the country.
Also in attendance was the Los Angeles Chief of Police, Michel Moore, who spoke about the commitment of the LAPD to protect the Sikh community of Los Angeles against bias and hate crimes. He said that he really appreciated the Sikh community for their love of God and willingness to serve all.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu spoke about having been born in Amritsar, his pride in being a Sikh, and serving as a Mayor of one of the major cities in the country. Fernando Delgado, Representative for L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, presented a proclamation to the Sikh community on behalf of and signed by all five Supervisors of L.A. County. Mayor Eric Garcetti also issued a proclamation, via his representative Dilpreet Kaur Sidhu, to the Sikh community congratulating them on the occasion of Baisakhi. John Alford, representative of Congressman Brad Sherman, presented an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building to Sardar Roop Singh, Secretary of SGPC who spoke about the unity of the Khalsa Panth.
Head Granthi of the Bangala Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi, Giani Ranjit Singh, was also present, and highlighted the great contributions to the Panth by the Siri Singh Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji.
Special Saropa presentations (prayer shawls) were presented on behalf of the Sikh Community of Southern California to several distinguished individuals.
Nazar Singh Khooner from Bakersfield was acknowledged for his seva in conducting the annual Bakersfield Baiskahi Peace Parade and the 50,000 meals served over the course of 30 days to those economically challenged.
Guru’s Langar was provided throughout the day and was organized by Amarjeet Singh of the Hollywood Sikh Temple and prepared by Bhai Chattar Singh Ji of Bakersfield and dozens of sevadars. Nearly two dozen of the Langar cooks and sevadars received Spirit of Baisakhi awards.
Other recipients of Spirit of Basaikhi awards included Bhai Sahiba Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa; Siri Sikdar Sahiba Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa; Dr. Asma Qadri, Professor at Punjab University of Lahore, who established a Department of Guru Nanak Studies and DukhNiwaran Kaur Khalsa for her work in fostering important dialogues on diversity and inclusion.
Preparation for the Nagar Kirtan took place at Khalsa Care Foundation for the entire week preceding the event. The specially-designed Guru’s float was the main attraction and took dozens of volunteers to create under the direction of Joginder Singh Sidhu . The nearly two-mile parade route started and ended at the Convention Center. Thousands of Sikhs in brilliant colors, and full of Chardi Kala, walked the entire route singing and chanting God’s name. The Bhai Khaneya Seva Dal provided a sumptuous langar for after the Nagar Kirtan.
Hundreds of volunteers are involved for months in advance in making the day special. The set-up and decorations seva was led by Dr. Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa, Tej Mohan Singh, and Jai Pal Singh Khalsa.
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