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Weeklong celebrations of Guru Nanak
Purab with piety
and devotion
Satnam Singh Khalsa
 FREMONT:
The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Sahib was observed with a string
of Akhand Path Sahibs at the Fremont Gurdwara Sahib which witnessed
the participation of young and old, men, women and children in large
numbers.
Upon the
completion of Akhand Paths, there was Kirtan Darbar in which Bhai
Manjit Singh Pathankotwale, Bhai Gurcharan Singh Darbar Sahib wale,
Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Darbar Sahib wale, Bhai Attar Singh former
Hazuri Raagi Darbar Sahib, Bhai Gurpreet Singh former Hazuri Raagi
Darbar Sahib, Bhai Dilbagh Singh Hazuri Raagi Gurdwara Fremont
participated. There was Katha by famous Kathawachak Bhai Jagtar
Singh.
All the members
of the Fremont Gurdwara Board including Bhai Balbir Singh Gakhal,
Bhai Harjot Singh Khalsa, Jaswinder Singh Jandi, Harjinder Singh
Waraich, Bikramjit Singh, Hardev Singh Pehalwan, Gurtej Singh
Olympian, Satnam Singh Khalsa, Jaswinder Singh Gill, Rajdeep Singh
Pannu, Bhai Dilbagh Singh and Bhai Jagdev Singh served through the
night to complete all the tasks for the Bhog of Akhand Paths.
In the serene
atmosphere of the Gurdwara, the Chola of Nishan Sahib was also
changed with devotion and enthusiasm by the young and old. Amidst
Jaikaras, the Nishan Sahib was given due honours after its Chola had
been changed.
In a unique
development, the first of its kind in many years, flowers were being
showered by a helicopter hovering over the Gurdwara precincts. The
entire area was swarmed with a sea of the devout chanting Satnam
Waheguru –some loudly and some whispering for self-hearing.
After the Akhand
Path Bhog, Bhai Jagdev Singh Dam dami Taksal was honoured for his
relentless and untiring Sewa. The young children who participated in
doing Gurbani Paath were honoured with a Siropa and 51 dollars as
prize money. All families who did Akhand Path were also honoured
with Saropa in the presence of Panj Piaras.
Outside the
Gurdwara Sahib, the Gatka team was displaying its proficiency in the
martial arts and the Dhol of Lal Singh Bhatti was adding to the fun
quotient of the function.
 Members
of the Sangat were highly appreciative of the initiatives taken up
by the new management committee of the Gurdwara Fremont in the last
eight months. Manjit Singh from
Sacramento said,
“I feel that by seeing the piety and sewa of the Sangat, I have
experienced the presence of Guru Sahib bestowing his Grace on the
Sikhs.” Kulwinder Singh Josh from Stockton said that “such functions
bring the young closer to their tradition and philosophy’.
Harbans Singh
Dhillon was full praise of the Tercentenary celebrations and said
that this was the way to let the world know about the uniqueness of
Guru Granth Sahib.
Speaking to
World Sikh News, the president of Gurdwara Fremont, Harjot Singh
Khalsa said that “our mission is Sewa and Gurmat Parchar.” “During
our two year team, it is our endeavour to free the Gurdwara Sahib of
all debts and rededicate all Gurdwara activity towards religious
activity alone.”
Not to be left
behind the Langar Sewadars recreated the Anandpur Mela scene by
providing a variety of Langars to suit every taste.
In order to
avoid any confrontation with the Fremont Police, which is not too
friendly and cooperative with the Gurdwara authorities as are the
police from other towns such as San Jose, Milpitas and Union City,
there were Sewadars who provided bus and other services to
chanellise the transport through buses and cars. As on other
occasions, even at this Gurpurab, the Fremont police was seen
needlessly issuing tickets for traffic offenses even when some of
the Sangat was not at fault.
19 November
2008
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