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Images below: 1st from bottom - Suneet Singh Tuli. 3rd from bottom - Lord Indarjit Singh. Both images are details from photos by Harleen Kaur.

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Sikhs Steal The Show At
The Parliament of World’s Religions

PAKISTAN CHRISTIAN POST

 

 

 





Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

The Council of Parliament of World’s Religions (CPWR) was held this year at Salt Lake City from October 15 to19, 2015. This event is held every four years and this year it was attended by over 9,500 people from over 50 different religious/peace organizations and more than 80 countries.

The highlight of this year’s Parliament was the Guru ka Langar which was a combined effort of Sikhs from across the globe.

A special note of thanks to the local sangat of the Utah Gurdwara for taking the lead, providing volunteers and services in every aspect of the Langar; to Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewa Jatha (GNSSJ) of United Kingdom for bringing in excellent displays and providing volunteers to serve the Langar; to the Khalsa Care Foundation of Los Angeles, California, for providing phenomenal services to cook the Langar at the Gurdwara and provide outstanding sewa overall; to these and all other panthic organizations for providing financial support for the Langar to be a resounding success and making a lasting imprint on all the attendees.

One of the Sikh presenters, S. Sutinder Singh observed: “As I entered the building I found myself in a huge hall full of people having Guru ka Langar. I was just awe-struck with the number of people being served (over 5000 every day) and the way they were being served – in a very organized and respectful manner by about a hundred Sikh sevadars. I had been travelling all day and now at 2 pm I decided it was time for me to have langar.

“So I joined the line and the first thing we did was remove our shoes, and the Sikhs helped others cover their heads with a white cloth. As we moved along the line, another group of Sikhs handed us damp tissues to clean our hands with. Moving along the line we were guided to one of several rows where people were sitting on the floor and already having a meal.

“As soon as I sat down one of the sevadars handed me a plate, and in no time at all, it was filled with naan, daal, chick peas, salad, raita and fruit. I could not believe the efficiency with which it was done. Soon I was enjoying a delicious meal. As I looked around, I saw about a hundred Sikhs serving the food in a very respectful and dignified manner.

“For those who were infirm or had difficulty sitting down on the floor, a special area was provided with tables and chairs – how considerate!”

Sikhs held several seminars, panel discussions and presentations. The Sikh speakers spoke about their religion, their history and their traditions. There was also a lot of focus on the issues and problems Sikhs have had in the past, especially since 9/11/2001. Other speakers focused on the current issues such as discrimination, hate crimes, bullying and harassment, in the US and in Punjab.

The speakers emphasized the teachings of love, humility, universality of all and the oneness of the Almighty.

Some of the key presenters were Lord Indarjit Singh of UK, Valarie Kaur from the US, and S. Gurtej Singh of Chandigarh, Punjab. The presentations were very well received.

Other programs included kirtan by the Nishkam Sevak Jatha and by Raagi Kultar Singh and his Jatha. Sikh youth organizations had a good display and presentations in the ‘Sacred Space’ room. The visiting guests were treated with detail information on the Sikh Faith.

The American Sikh Council (ASC) had an exhibit where they handed out educational materials on the Sikh Faith while tying turbans on anyone who wanted one. Over the next few days ASC volunteers tied over 500 turbans. While tying turbans ASC members had one on one contact with guests and the undivided attention for five or so minutes to explain and discuss their heritage.

The turban tying became so popular that when ASC ran out of turban material, guests brought their own scarves and had ASC members tie them like dastaars/turbans. Thanks to local and the Los Angeles sangat who contributed additional turbans, ASC members ended up tying over 850 turbans.

One out of every ten guests had a dastaar/turban on their head. And some of the attendees even reported that they slept with their turbans in case they may be unable to put it back on next day. Some actually went to the airport on their way back with the turban on their heads as they wanted to experience the treatment that each Sikh gets when they travel by air.

As ASC Chair S. Gulbarg Singh witnessed, “Many of the people we tied turbans on would either have tears in their eyes or they would openly start crying. When asked why, they would typically say, “I never knew you were such generous people, you have had so many bad experiences, from discrimination to killings and yet you are here giving us free food, and tying turbans and being so kind to everyone!

“Another teary eyed woman said that her son is homeless in Los Angeles and the only people who care to feed him are the Sikhs. Many of the attendees knew about the Sikhs already and would pass by wishing us well.”

On the final day during the closing ceremonies in a hall with over 5000 attendees, the organizers singled out the Sikhs for praise. Although there were only about a hundred Sikhs in total, there were another 400 people walking around with turbans! The chairman of CPWR said that it was “the first time I have seen so many Sikhs – brown Sikhs, white Sikhs, black Sikhs, yellow Sikhs – and why not?”

A thunderous applause followed.

In addition, he asked all the Sikhs to stand up and thanked all of them for the ‘Guru ka Langar’ and once again the attendees responded with thunderous applause. This was the moment that the Sikhs finally put themselves on the map. This was a truly inspirational meeting.

The Sikh participation in this year’s Parliament of World’s Religions was a monumental success, all due to the collective effort of Sikhs across our nation and beyond.

ASC member S.Iqbal Singh stated the most common comment by the attendees on the final day was, “The Sikhs have stolen the show!”

Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, the Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, stated: “And who says there is no free lunch in America. Sikhs came with kirpans and conquered the Parliament by sharing their langar tradition all five days.”

The next Parliament of World Religions has been scheduled in two years (not four) with the country to be announced later.


[Edited for sikhchic.com]

October 30, 2015
 

Conversation about this article

1: Kamal J Kaur (New Delhi, India), October 30, 2015, 11:56 AM.

Well done ... Congratulations! This seva -- quality and sincerity are of prime importance -- should be done daily, somewhere or the other, in the world. Once every two years is not enough.

2: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), October 30, 2015, 9:35 PM.

This article is so fantastically eerie in that after watching Lord Indarjit Singh's talk, I've been telling as many people as possible that his talk and knowledge of the Guru Granth Sahib is remarkable. Truly heartwarming.

3: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ), October 31, 2015, 4:20 AM.

In Guru Har Rai’s time, Sikhs were regularly sent out to see if there was anyone who had gone to sleep hungry. Sikhs are also enjoined to never turn away anyone hungry who knocks at their door. Who knows when Narayan Himself may come a-visiting. Recently an article appeared in The Tribune, Chandigarh on 18 October, 2015 by Maj. General SPS Narang who related his personal chance encounter at Paonta Sahib where they had stopped for a brief rest while traveling from Chandigarh to Dehra Dun and to partake in Guru’s langar. Just then they saw a family of Gujjars (Muslim nomads) who raise cattle and sell milk. The family comprised of an elderly couple and two middle-aged couples and four children. They seemed very poor and the eldest among them was counting coins and a couple of crumpled notes to see what they could buy with the paltry few coins. Just then, gathering courage, the Sikh General asked them: “Kya aap sab khaana khayengay?” - “Would you like to have some food?”. They looked with some apprehension and said, revealing self respect: “Hum kha kay aaye hain” - "We have eaten." Just then the innocent children blurted out that they had had nothing to eat since morning. The General insisted that they follow him. First to bow and touch their foreheads in the Gurdwara which they did with utmost reverence and then took parshad from the Bhai ji who asked the children if they wanted some more. The children nodded gladly. In the langar hall they collected the thaalis (plates) and sat in the pangat. Across to them was a newly married couple. Judging from her red bangles, it was the bride who asked the children to sit beside her and lovingly looked after them. You could tell what a lovely mother she would make. What bliss to see the whole family of Gujjars have their first meal of the day. Just then an elderly Sikh, probably the granthi and a youth sought the General out and asked if he had brought in this family in. A little apprehensive, the next question baffled the General. The granthi asked the General if he said his prayers everyday. Most humbly he admitted “No.” Expecting admonishment, he was surprised to hear: “Ajj tuhaanu sabh kuchh mil gaya hai (You needn’t do anything. Today you have got everything.) By bringing them to the Guru’s Abode and feeding them langar, we are also blessed today." As they were about to depart the elderly lady whispered to her husband. “Koi baat hai, Miyaan ji?” (Is anything the matter, husban?) Almost pleadingly, he said my wife wants to place her hand on his head and bless him. With tears in her eyes she placed her hand on the General’s head who then received his greatest medal from the hands of a Muslim lady wrapped in purity and love.

4: Bhai Harbans Lal (Dallas, Texas, USA), October 31, 2015, 12:06 PM.

Sikhs were only operationalizing the Guru Granth Universals. Langar is on the top of the Sikh value system. Our Guru gave us the best way of communicating with the world and humanity around us. Let us continue it in communities around us.

5: GJ Singh (India), November 01, 2015, 10:42 AM.

Great article and a beautiful story by Sardar Sangat Singh. He is one of the humblest persons I have ever met and a true Gursikh to boot.

6: Maj Gen PS Malhotra  (New Delh, India), November 01, 2015, 11:53 PM.

Proud to be a Sikh. Sikhism means spreading the word of Universal Brotherhood. Guru's teachings must be followed by all Sikhs. Sikhi is a proactive and progressive religion.

7: Kulbir Singh  (New Delhi, India), November 02, 2015, 2:45 AM.

Very beautiful and well written article. May Waheguru bless the Sikhs who did seva during all the days of the Parliament. Looks like they built on and improved on the 2009 Parliament at Melbourne, Australia.

8: Narender Singh Gulati (Delhi, India), November 15, 2015, 5:50 AM.

Marvelous, job well done. This is the true message of Sikhism. Sitting in pangat and partaking in langar -- that is, breaking bread together -- without any discrimination over caste or creed is the message of Universal Brotherhood advocated by Guru Nanak. Please keep on doing such activities which can bring peace in the world.

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