Keekli Reporter, 26th December, 2013, Shimla
Celebrating the martyrdom of the sons of Shri Guru Gobind Singh aka Shahidi Divas, the Dharam Prachar Committee Singh Sabha in association with the Sahibzada Youth Federation, Shimla organized a five day long Vishesh Gurmat Samagam. During this Samagam various competitions were held for nearly 70 children between the age groups of four to twelve years, who participated in events such as poetry, drawing, quiz and declamation. The first event began on 21st December, 2013 in the evening, when children gave few scintillating performances by singing aarti, kirtan, poetry, lectures, ardaas, hukumnaama and sukhaasan, enlightening and entertaining everyone about the rich heritage of Sikhism and their culture.
On 22nd December, a drawing and colouring competition was organized during the day in which three groups participated. Group A constituted children up to Class 5; Group B had children from Class 6 to 12; while Group C comprised of Elders. All children received the same sketches for colouring and those in group A and B were also assessed on how well they wrote about the sons of Shri Guru Gobind Singh. The winners of Group A were: 1st – Japneet Kaur, d/o Gurpreet Singh; 2nd – Umarjeet Singh, s/o Satpal Singh; 3rd – Ishveen Kaur, d/o Saranjeet Singh; and a Consolation prize was given to Ishleen Kaur, d/o Simarnpreet Singh. Winners of Group B: 1st – Mansimran Kaur, d/o Manvir Singh; 2nd – Manmeet Kaur, d/o Mahinderpal Singh; 3rd – Tashneet Singh, s/o Iqbal Singh; and the Consolation prize was won by Simrat Kaur, d/o Jaswinder Singh. Winners of Group C: 1st – Kawaljeet Singh, s/o Davinderpal Singh, 2nd – Harpreet Kaur (Meenu), w/o Harbajan Singh, 3rd – Gurpreet Singh, s/o Surinderpal Singh, and the Consolation prize winner was Tamandeep Kaur, w/o Gurpreet Singh.
In the evening, the Punjab Arts Council in collaboration with the Language and Cultural Affairs Department, Himachal present a play titled “Chandni Chowk Ton Sirhind Tak”, which was written by Gursharan Singh and directed by Sudesh Sharma at Gaiety Theatre, Shimla. The theme of the play was how despite being beheaded Shri Guru Teg Bahadur’s soul was beyond defeat. In the second Act, social and political conditions of the era were shown. It also depicted how Shri Guru Gobind Singh baptized his Sikhs into Singhs by making them a part of the Amrit and then got himself baptized by one of the Panj Pyaras, Bhai Daya Singh. In the end of the play, Darvesh utters the same word “Kiv kuure tutte paal” which were uttered by Sahibzadas at the time of their death. He tells the audience that this question by the Sahibzadas was answered by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at that time. And now the same question is put before the people of our country today?
An interactive quiz session was held about Sikhism on 23rd December for all the participants. While on the 24th and 25th children from Sukriti Trust Ludhiana and Patiala, Gurmat kirtan Class, Shimla, Akal Academy Boond Sahib and others performed kirtans, aartis and poems depicting the life and works of various Sikh Gurus. On the final day, that is the 26th, the prize distribution was held and as a special gesture all participants received trophies as a form of encouragement.
A special mention is warranted to all the volunteer teachers in the Gurudwara Sahib, namely Gurpreet Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Amardeep Singh, Harvinder Kaur, Seema Malhotra, Anvinder Kaur, Harjit Singh (Raagi), Harjit Singh (Head Granthi) and Jatinder Singh (Granthi). Their special efforts, hard work, time and initiative made this programme a grand success and was loved and appreciated by all present.
These teachers also conduct free classes for children teaching Gurumukhi and Sikh history!!!.