Highlights

The Bi-monthly Newsletter of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

This is the 19th article in the series Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas (Who is a Khalsa?), started in Apr 2008. In our previous articles, we discussed some of the virtues of the Khalsa. In this article we will discuss a few more virtues of the Khalsa.

Issue No : 48

Aug/Sept 2011

A Sikh never tells lies, cheats or displays dishonesty in any form Jaswant Singh
The tendency of the ordinary mind is to hesitate to follow the truthful path and instead lean towards false and corrupt ways. Indulging in vices, it gathers greed and sin. Lies and sin have an obvious relationship with each other. So where there is falsehood, there is sin. How can those who fabricate be called pure? Those, who have deceit, corruption and dishonesty within can never find satisfaction and peace in their lives. The true Lord casts them out like lepers. The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Sahib pronounces that the one who recites the scriptures but still tells lies should be called faithless. Describing such a person, our third Prophet, Guru Amardas states: The man of false mind practises falsehood. He runs after temptation but pretends to be a follower of religious path. Deluded by doubt, he visits all the sacred shrines of pilgrimage. But, how can such a person attain deliverance? Only he, who practises truth in life, finds emancipation. He, who tells lies with his tongue and tries to deceive others, is a Manmukh and ignorant about the spiritual realm. The Creator dwells within everyone. He sees and knows all of ones actions. Practising deception, how can one please Him? A Sikh never tells lies. He never cheats, robs, or displays dishonesty in any form. He is aware of his Gurus word that no one gives shelter to a swindler. How can a thief's actions be good? Likewise, a Sikh always keeps his word of commitment. One who gives his word, but then backs out is called false in Gurbani. He is hollow within and all he says is bogus. Sooner or later his falsehood brings pain for him. Baba Fareed also reminds that once we realize we are to die someday, leaving every thing behind in this world and never to return again, why do we ruin ourselves by clinging to falsehood? One should always speak the truth and never tell lies. The disciple ought to travel the route, pointed out by the Guru. So, a Sikh always keeps himself away from these bad habits. He acts according to the instructions of the Guru. This is the true way of living of a Sikh.

Inside this issue

2.

- MP Indranee Rajah Visit

- Childrens Party - Mighty Khalsa Dates

3. - BMS Anniversary -Online Punjabi Dictionary - Global Gurdwara Directory 4. - Sikh Community Mentorship Prog - Upcoming Sikhi Programs 5. - Turban Thursday - Punjabi Musical Instruments 6. - Marina Bay Skypark - World Environment - Upcoming programs at SRST/ CST 7 - IRCC Visit - CST Palki - Renovation of CST Kitchen 8. - Documentary film of Sikh Martyrs - Sikh Centre On Going Courses - Book of the Month

Objectives:

To promote Sikh heritage. To meet the needs of the Sikh Community. To organise and promote the learning of Gurbani and Kirtan. To lead the Sangat to become and remain Amritdhari Sikhs. To propagate Sikhism by providing quality religious services. To inculcate the practice of the Sikh way of life.

References:
1 JUT ivkwir jwgY ihq cIqu ] pUMjI pwp loB kI kIqu ] (153) 2 jhw JUTu qh pwpu ] (1372) 3 ijn AMdir kptu ivkwru JUTu Eie Awpy scY viK kFy jjmwly ] (304) 4 pwTu pVY muiK JUTo bolY ingury kI miq EhY ] (1013) 5 mn kw JUTw JUTu kmwvY ] mwieAw no iPrY qpw sdwvY ] Brmy BUlw siB qIrQ ghY ] Ehu qpw kYsy prm giq lhY ] gur prswdI ko scu kmwvY ] nwnk so qpw moKMqru pwvY ]1] (948) 6 kpit kIqY hir purKu n BIjY inq vyKY suxY suBwie ] AMqir kptu mnmuK AigAwnI rsnw JUTu bolwie ] (512) 7 cor kI hwmw Bry n koie ] coru kIAw cMgw ikau hoie ]1] (662) 8 bcnu kry qY iKsik jwie boly sBu kcw ] AMdrhu QoQw kUiVAwru kUVI sB Kcw ] jmdUqI hY hyirAw duK hI mih pcw ] (1099) 9 jy jwxw mir jweIAY Guim n AweIAY ] JUTI dunIAw lig n Awpu v\weIAY ]2] bolIAY scu Drmu JUTu n bolIAY ] jo guru dsY vwt murIdw jolIAY ]3] (488)

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

MP Indranee Rajah visits SRST

MP Indranee Rajah visited the Silat Road Gurdwara at 4.00pm on 9 July 2011. She came dressed in a Punjabi suit and was accompanied by the Tanjong Pagar Residents Committee Members. The objective of the visit was to familiarise herself with our activities as she is the new MP covering our area. Members of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board received her at the Sikh Centre. Mr. Gurcharan Singh gave her a short presentation about the Sikh Religion, how the Sikhs arrived in Singapore, and the other Sikh Institutions in Singapore. Mr Gurdip Singh Usma then discussed the challenges faced by CSGB with respect to Sikhs in Singapore, Sikh Foreign Workers and S-Pass Quotas. Ms Rajah understood and appreciated our challenges and promised to assist, where possible. After the presentation, the visitors were given a tour of the 7-storey Sikh Centre facilities, Silat Road Gurdwara and the Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial. The visit ended with a cup of Cha in the langgar hall.

Children's party
In conjunction with the Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji Barsi celebrations, the Care & Share Group organized a Children's Party at 6.30pm on Saturday, 9 July 2011 in the Sikh Centre Auditorium. The party aimed at acquainting children and youth with our rich history of traditions and culture. The Sikh Centre rendered its unstinting support and the party was a great success. It concluded with a generous spread of food and drinks for the kids to tickle their taste buds after delving into much informative Sikh History.

MIGHTY KHALSA
Mighty Khalsa is held every alternate Sunday from 10.00 am to 12.00pm in the Mini Darbar hall at the Sikh Centre

DATES

14 August 28 August 11 September 25 September 9 October 23 October 6 November 20 November

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji Anniversary Celebrations

The Sikh community in Singapore gathered together to participate in the week-long Barsi celebrations of Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji. The programme commenced on 3 July 2011 and was hosted by SRST. The enthusiastic participation of our Sadh-Sangat was most encouraging. There was an exposition of Kirtan by three different Jathas which had the audience captivated and enthralled. It was indeed a rare sight to have nine ragis recite the Gurbani shabads concurrently .The congregation listened to the shabad-kirtan with rapt attention. The seven day celebrations comprised many programs from morning till night. It was certainly heartening and encouraging to witness a deep sense of feeling and pride in Sikhism amongst the Sikhs of today who stand united and undaunted and keen to carry forward the tradition.

Online English-Punjabi Dictionary

In June 2011, the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr Jaspal Singh, unveiled the first-of-itskind "Online English-Punjabi Dictionary", prepared by the University's Department of Linguistics and Punjabi Lexicography. The Vice-Chancellor explained how the new dictionary will cater to the linguistic needs of Punjabis around the world in addition to facilitating a better understanding of the Punjabi language. This dictionary contains around forty thousand head-words which include the vocabulary related to the new knowledge being produced in the fields of science and technology. The CD of this dictionary would be made available very soon. This Dictionary can be accessed from the universitys website at <http://punjabiuniversity.ac.in/dlpl/e2p/#> Please note that you can punch in the words in English, which will then generate their Punjabi/ Gurmukhi Versions.

Global Gurdwara Directory

Going overseas on business or pleasure? ......and you have some spare time on your hands and would like to visit a gurdwara in the city you are visiting. Then browse the biggest database of Gurudwaras around the world at http://www.gurudwara.net/

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Sikh Community Mentorship Program

The Sikh Community Mentorship Program was officially launched at the Singapore Khalsa Association on 16 July 2011. This program was introduced as a result of a Sikh Community retreat that discussed and examined issues facing the Sikh Community in Singapore. One of the challenges identified was how to help our young working professionals realize their true and full potential. The Mentorship program was identified as an ideal platform to guide our young professionals to greater heights by tapping on the wealth of experience and expertise of their seniors. To date, there is a panel of 18 mentors with experience ranging from Finance, IT, Law, Medicine, and Corporate Communications to Education and Military Services. At the event where Mr. Davinder Singh, CEO of Drew and Napier LLC, was a speaker at the Top of the Job series of talks, he also launched the Mentorship Program emphasizing how Mentorship can help the young in our community to become better at what they do. He encouraged the young working professionals to join the program and benefit from the tutelage of their seniors. The message was well received and many young working professionals signed up for the mentorship program. There were also many who offered to be Mentors. The Central Sikh Gurdwara Board has adopted and incorporated this program as part of its Sikh Centre activities and is providing administrative support for the success of this program. We urge you to sign up for this mentorship program by registering your interest at [email protected].

Upcoming Sikhi Courses By Master. Jaswant Singh

Gauri Ki Var M. 4
(An Ode in Gauri Raag by the Fourth Guru)
Date: 1 Oct,2011, Saturday Time: 10.30am 11.30am Venue: Level 4, SC
Learn Punjabi ( Gurmukhi)

Date: 4 Oct 2011, Tuesday Time: 7.15pm - 8.15pm Venue: Level 4, SC

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Turban Thursday
Riverwalk Tandoor was a meeting point for fifteen turbaned Sikhs at 12.30pm on Thursday 7 July 2011. They had responded to the call for Turban Thursday where turbaned Sikh professionals network and have a sumptuous lunch for only $10. Like peacocks strutting their feathers, these Sikhs were smartly attired with matching colourful turbans. This was the best lunch I have ever had, said Manmohan Singh who runs his own business providing GST consulting. Rashminder Singh, a young Sikh professional, who turned up to join the networking session which included a sprinkling of professionals from various fields. Turban Thursday is a monthly networking event for working professional Sikhs and it is conveniently located at Riverwalk Tandoor. The next networking lunch will be held at 12.30pm on 4 August 2011 at the same venue. Do come and join this networking group for a great lunch and even greater company.

Punjabi Musical Instruments

This instrument might only have a single string and three notes, but its sound is recognizable in nearly all modern Punjabi music. There are numerous Punjabi folk singers who compose entire songs with the tumbi and often perform without the aid of any other instrument. From folk music to todays Punjabi music to reggae fusion and American hip hop, the tumbi has carved an indelible niche in classical and world music.

TUMBI

Meaning snakes are a popular prop in competitive bhangra. Made out of robust wood, the sups are a series of equal length flat wooden pieces held together with metal nuts and bolts. The sups have handles on either side which allow the bhangra dancer to open and close the interlocking wooden pieces. Each time the sups are closed they make a clapping sound which is mostly in rhythm with the beat and step of the dance.

SUPS

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark

On the evening of Sunday 3 July 2011, 50 senior citizens from the Sikh community gathered together at Silat Road Sikh Temple for a memorable trip to Marina Bay Sands, SkyPark, organized by the Care & Share group. The SkyPark is perched elegantly on the 56th floor of Marina Bay Sands Hotel, an icon of Singapore. Stretching longer than the Eiffel tower laid down on four and a half A380 Jumbo Jets, with an impressive 12,400 square meters of space, the Sands SkyPark can host up to 3900 people. The gravity-defying cantilever is one of the largest of its kind in the world. From the observation deck, the Sadh Sangat feasted their eyes on an unforgettable panoramic view of Singapore.

World Environment Day

Sunday, 5 June 2011 was World Environment Day. To commemorate this day, the Central Sikh Temples Sunday morning Kirtan Programme was dedicated to this day with specially selected Shabads from Gurbani on the environment. Guru Nanak placed a very high importance on the environment when he stated, pavan guru pani pita (Air is our teacher, water our father). In the local context, members of the sangat were given an opportunity to appreciate how Singapore handled this precious resource. On 12 June 2011, participants learnt how water is recycled during their visit to Newater Visitor Centre. The next stop was Marina Barrage where many interesting facts came to light, including Marina Barrage being Singapores 15 th reservoir and the 1st within the heart of the city.

UP COMING PROGRAMMES at SRST/CST

Prakash Gurpurab Thursday, 1 September 2011 CST SRST SRST CST Gur Gaddi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Thursday, 20 October 2011 Diwali/Bandhi Chhore Avtar Sri Guru Nanak Dev JI Wednesday, 26 October 2011 Thursday, 10 November 2011

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

IRCC Visit
The Sikh Centre had the privilege of hosting a group of 150 people from IRCC (Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle) on Saturday, 18 June 2011. As suggestive of its name, the group was seeking to get acquainted with our rich Sikh Culture and Tradition. They were given a tour of the Temple and the visit concluded with a round of refreshments in the car park area. It was an enriching experience indeed.

Central Sikh Temple Palki

A new design for the Palki at Central Sikh Temple is in the making. It will be designed by Artisan Avninder Singh who arrived from India on 20 July. The prototype of the Palki has been on display at Central Sikh Temple for the past few months and we have received positive feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Renovations to the kitchen at Central Sikh Temple

When renovations to the kitchen commenced, it was a big challenge to all staff and sevadars as the kitchens temporary location was in the carpark. The renovated kitchen has been completed and an interesting feature is a new collection centre for trays and cups where the sangat can easily return these utensils.

Maths Tutor
Sikh Centre is looking for GCE O Level Maths Tutor, available on weekends.

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

Documentary Feature Film on Sikh Martyrs

Martyrs is the second documentary film produced by Jagmeet Singh Samundri, after his first award winning documentary on the Rise of The Khalsa'. This top-notch 90 minutes documentary feature film is a journey that starts with Guru Nanak Dev Ji and brings us all the way to the present. In the first 15 minutes we are reminded of how and why Sikhism was created by The Guru Sahiban, the purpose of it all. Because without the basic knowledge, it is impossible to understand what is so important in Sikhism that people are willing to die for it. After laying the foundation the journey continues with the audience coming face to face with the many martyrs that have laughed in the face of death. Starting with middle of 17th century the film talks about the various Sikh Martyrs that lost their lives under cruel rule of Aurangzeb. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was one of the prominent figures of the time to accept Martyrdom to raise a voice against Aurangzab. This movie talks about Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's martyrdom and the impact it had on the direction of Sikh religion. It goes on to talk about the establishment of Khalsa Panth and the many Sikh warriors that served Khalsa Panth with everything including their lives. Finally the movie comes full circle at the climax by connecting back to the present times. Trailers of this new upcoming movie can be viewed at <http://www.youtube.com/user/sikhmediaworld>http://www.youtube.com/user/ <http://www.youtube.com/user/sikhmediaworld>sikhmediaworld

SIKH CENTRE
Sikhi Courses
Majh Ki Var Saturday -10.30am-11.30am Gurbani Pronounciation Saturday - 12.15pm-1.15pm Gurmukhi (Punjabi)Tuesday - 7.15pm-8.15pm NIkke Khalse/Fateh Saturday - 1.15pm-2.45pm Chardi Kala Alternate Sunday - 10am-11am

Book Of the Month

Sikh Studies in recent decades have been marked by a prolonged controversy involving most of the basic issues related to the Sikh tradition. The Authors comments and his perspective based on his extensive study of Sikh History and literature, meaningfully moderate between the opposing views held by the Western academia and the Sikh intelligentsia. As a result, this volume becomes an e xcep t ion a lly insightful introduction to the Sikh tradition. It is indispensable for all readers and scholars interested in Sikh Studies.

Tuition Classes
English, Maths & Science Satturday, 2.00pm-4.00pm

Tae-Kwon-Do
Saturday, 1.45pm-2.45pm And 2.45pm-3.45pm
For

info on Central Sikh Gurdwara Board activities, Please visit our Website @ www.sikhs.org.sg