Sikh
Gurdwara Riverside celebrate 300 years Gurgadi purab of Guru
Granth Sahib Ji by Nagar Kirtan
(See pictures below)
Los Angles, Nov. 27, 2006
NRI press
More than 2000 Sikh NRIs from Riverside Side County
and Los Angles area get together in Sikh Gurdwara Riverside
(approximately 60 miles from LA airport) to celebrate 300
years Gurgadi purab of Sacred Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
This procession, move through the streets
and lanes of the city (2.5 long) and are accompanied by music,
singing and chanting scriptures and hymns. Large number of
devotees including women, school children, band parties and
members of various Sikh religious organizations such as three
other Gurdwars from LA area-Vermont Gurdwara, Lankersim Gurdwara
and Walnut are also participate. This is the first Nagar Kirtan
held in Inland Empire, LA area.
Every year, the Nagar Kirtan Processions around the World,
are carried out with much gusto in countries where there is
a significant Sikh population. Vasaikhi Processions of Yuba
City, and Toronto are particularly remarkable.
‘Nagar’ means
town and ‘Kirtan’ is a term that means singing
of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. The
term, ‘Nagar Kirtan’ therefore effectively describes
the most essential feature of Baisakhi Procession, which is
recitation of hymns from Guru Granth Sahib through the streets
of the town. The Nagar Kirtans is the term most popularly
used for traditional Processions lead by Panj Pyaras.
The Nagar Kirtan is started with Panj
Piyaras
The Nagar Kirtan is started with Panj Piyaras
(5 beloved ones) who walk in front of the Sacred Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji. The Panj Piyaras are Amritdhari: –
baptized Khalsa Singhs.
- The number five (5) is very significant as it was on the
day of Vaisakhi 1699 that our Tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind
Singh Ji created the order of Khalsa by baptizing 5 volunteers
from each corner of India and from different backgrounds.
- These five (5) ‘Panj Piyaras’ were given this
reference by our 10th Guru Ji himself as they selflessly
presented themselves at the call for their lives.
- It was these Panj Piyaras who amongst 80,000 stood up
and entered the tent where Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked for
the head of his Beloved Sikhs.
- It was to everyone’s amazement that the Panj Piyaras
came out of the tent alive and in glorious valour dressed
in the 5 Ks, as they had the holy ceremony of Amrit Shakna
performed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
- Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave so much honor to these Panj
Piyaras as they were the 1st Amritdhari Singhs (baptized)
that our Guru Ji himself bowed to the Panj Piyaras and took
Amrit (Baptism) from them. This was followed by the entire
sangat (worshippers) participating in the sacred ceremony
of Amrit Shakna and when the Khalsa Panth for formed.
In Nagar Kirtan, many are not wearing any
shoes regardless of weather conditions, clean the roads
before the Panj Piyaras and our Sacred Guru Granth Sahib
Ji is transported and Sadh Sangat are also singing the praises
of Waheguru throughout the route. When participating in
the Nagar Kirtan, one can truly reach a state of Nirvana
when indulging in the singing of Kirtan while following
the Sacred Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This is what the Nagar
Kirtan is all about.
You will see young and old, Sikh, non-Sikh
that follow the Nagar Kirtan route, stand on the sides and
freely distribute refreshments to all alike. The Nagar Kirtan
is concluded as the Sacred Guru Granth Sahib Ji enters the
Gurdwara and the whole Sadh Sangat stands still for the
Ardaas . The majority of the Sadh Sangat cover their heads,
this is a significant sign of respect to the presence of
our Sacred Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
The color Orange dress is in honor of the
Khalsa Panth, as the Panj Piyaras were robed in Orange,
this is the color of the Khalsa.
Sadh Sangat was also enjoy eating of delicious
food, like pakorae, jalebian, ladoo, sholay bhatoorae and
chips etc
All photos at Nagar Kirtan of Sikh
Gurdwara, Riverside, California, Nov. 26, 2006:



Amarjit Sidhu, Amarjit Dhindsa, Gurjpal Manan,
Mr. Khirana, Paranjit Singh, (Chairman, Board of Director),
Mr. Sandhu, Lt.. Scot Collins of Riverside Sherrif dept. ,
Surinderpal Khurana and Surjit Kahlon....073:
Puran Sandhu, Surinderpal Khurana, Balbir Jhawar,
Kanwaljit Dohal, Paramjit Singh, Chairman, Lt. Scot Collins
of Riverside Sherrif dept, Bharpur Takhar (Secretary, Boars
of Director), Dalip Singh (Singh Chevrolet, Riverside)...075

Joginder Singh, Paranjit Singh, (Chairman,
Board of Director), Ron Loveridge, Mayor of Riverside , Lt.
Scot Collins of Riverside Sherrif dept., Puran Sandhu, Dalip
Singh (Singh Chevrolet, Riverside), Gurajpal Manan, Harinder
Singh, and Baljit Bath ( Treasure)..098
Joginder Singh, Paranjit Singh, (Chairman,
Board of Director), Ron Loveridge, Mayor of Riverside , Riverside
Police dept. Lt. Mr. Lee, Puran Sandhu, Dalip Singh (Singh
Chevrolet, Riverside), and Gurajpal Manan



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