The
Spirit of Darbar – E - Khalsa Comes Alive Despite Inclement
Weather
Dr. Jaswant Singh Sachdev, MD
Phoenix, Arizona
Los Angeles, Dec. 29, 2008
NRIpress.com
Jagjit Bains
With weather Pundits predicting rain for the entire Southern
California on Christmas day, the Sikh Sangat kept on wondering
about the attendance at Darbar - E - Khalsa celebrations; yet
the spirit of Khalsa Panth rose to a new pinnacle on December
25th 2008. The International Institute of Gurmat Studies (IIGS),
the pioneer Sikh camping association has been arranging the event
of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Prakash Utsav functions under
the banner of Darbar - E - Khalsa on Christmas day for the last
several years. These celebrations have always been held at the
campus of Mt. SAC College in Walnut California. With a stroke
of genius, Capt. Harbhajan Singh, the founder of IIGS as well
as the brain and soul behind the organization, added the celebration
for the 300th Guruta Divas to the theme of this year’s program
of Darbar - E - Khalsa. And then, there was no looking back.
Selfless volunteers of IIGS and many others kept busy inside
the auditorium in running a continuous program of melodious Kirtan
Seva starting at 6:30 am in the wee hours of morning. The program
started with Aasaa dee Vaar, rendered with great Gusto by the
famous Raagi Jethaa of Bhai Dilbag Singh Ji. This was the same
Jethaa that was recently asked to deplane at Sacramento airport,
thanks to the ignorance of the airline pilots about the Sikh identity
and faith. After different Jethaas did their parts, the grand
finale of divine Kirtan was begun around 3 PM with the IIGS Jetha
followed by a group of five Raagi Jethaas together. Interspersed
with the Kirtan during mid-day were high cadre speeches by two
key-note speakers.
The first speaker S. Mohinder Singh of India Journal explained
at-length, the significance of the combined event in a way it
had never been done before. “The pre-ordained Hukum of Akaal
Purukh to Guru Gobind Singh Ji in passing the Gurgaddi over to
Guru Granth Sahib Ji could not have been fulfilled, had Guru Ji
not walked away unharmed through an army of thousands and thousands
of enemies surrounding him from all sides at the battle of Chamkaur
Sahib?” so stated S. Mohinder Singh. Elaborating it further,
he said, “Two significant events of Sikh history i.e. the
Sirjanaa of Khalsa Panth on Vaisakhi day 1699 and declaration
of Gurgaddi for Guru Granth in 1708, though separated by nine
years, were indeed inter-connected pre-ordained acts.” Celebrating
them together on this day of Darbar - E - Khalsa, thus, made all
the sense.
The second speaker, Sardarni Kiranjot Kaur, SGPC member and
the grand-daughter of Master Tara Singh, the Uncrowned King of
Khalsa Panth for over half a century, had specially flown for
this event from India. After being honored with Mata Sundri Award,
she spoke to the Sangat offering full cooperation from SGPC to
the Sikhs living abroad in promoting Sikh faith and helping their
voice to be heard in Sikh religious matters. Two other premier
organizations i.e. SALDEF and SIKH COALITION that have been fairly
active in this country helping Sikhs who encounter difficulties
in maintaining unique Sikh identity were also honored on the stage.
The Indian idol Ishmeet Singh, the first Sikh with a complete
Sikh identity whose life was cut-short at the pinnacle of his
youth, was also awarded posthumously for his singularly unique
voice.
While this was all going on inside at the Kirtan Darbar, several
Nishkaam Lungar sevadaars continuously served ‘Hot Guru
Kaa Lungar’ outside under the tents. Thousands upon thousands
braved the incessant rain to partake. The Sevadaars didn’t
get bogged down by the torrential rain that continuously kept
on pouring as a gift by Indra Devta. Despite the inclement weather,
these young men and women Sevadaars kept their promise with the
Guru as always and served His Atutt Lungar of Breakfast consisting
of hot Chhole-Bhathuray along with other delicacies starting with
day break that went on for the rest of the day. And then a free
hot lunch Lungar, with equally extended menus was also added on
as day progressed. The Sangat members braved the weather and a
constant flow of Sangat members kept on pouring in from early
morning through late afternoon.
The interior of the hall had been decorated in a way it had
never been before. Guru Singasan - the throne of Guru Granth Sahib
Ji - the Guru Eternal of the Sikhs was more regal than a worldly
King could have ever enthroned or even imagined, thanks to the
spirit of 300th Guruta Divas in the psyche of Sikhs. Round perimeter
of the Chandoa was encased in a royal style valance from four
the corners of which hung flowing curtains embedded with bouquets
of flowers in their middle. The regal decoration around and over
Guru Granth Sahib Ji was indeed a feast to the discerning eyes.
The floor where the Sangat was seated was not merely covered with
hap hazardously; rather, full floor length sheets of pure white
coverings were very nicely and professionally placed all over.
Two very large TV Screens brought two stages, raagis and speakers
to life in every nook and corner of the hall. Unfortunately continuous
rain did not allow vendors outside to do the brisk business like
previous occasions and the ceremonial send-of Guru Granth Sahib
Ji in a helicopter ride was not practical given strong rain and
wind. Yet the imagination of IIGS Sevadaars left nothing to chance.
While weather did reduce the number of attendees to some extent,
yet a great numbers of devotees attached to this one of a kind
of event arrived from far and near despite rain and cold for it
was the spirit of the event that ultimately had a strong magnet-like
pull. The message imparted was strong for the soul, the event
was full of divine Kirtan, the aesthetics were above-par and unequivocally
superb. The Lungar was sumptuous, tasty and hot.. While turbans,
chunnis and feet did get wet, yet the connection of the soul with
Guru and God through this spiritual event was as strong and solid
as ever. Overall the function was a great success not only because
of the combination of two significant events in the Sikh history
but because of the overall superb quality of the function. And
thus, another pleasant tract of sweet memory was ingrained in
the grey matter of the brains of many devotees.
