Dr. Jaswinder S. Sidhu: Funeral service on Wed, Aug 10, 2016

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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!

Dr. Jaswinder S. Sidhu, a dedicated physician, selfless leader in the Sikh and Indian communities, and, above all, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2016. Dr. Sidhu was a good friend of Sikh Gurdwara DC and Sawhney family.
Dr Jaswinder Singh

Dr. Sidhu was born in Gilgit, India, on May 13, 1940, to Dr. Kartar Singh and Amar Kaur. In 1963, Dr. Sidhu obtained his medical degree from Amritsar Medical College. A scholar-athlete, Dr. Sidhu earned the 2nd highest grades in his entire state and he was captain of his medical school’s cricket team. In 1964, Dr. Sidhu married Satwinder K. Sidhu, and they had their first child, Patwinder, in Chandigarh, India.

The three moved to join Dr. Sidhu’s brother, Dr. Rajinder S. Sidhu, and his family, in Montreal. There, Dr. Sidhu completed training at McGill University. He received further training at Grasslands Hospital in New York and the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. In 1972, Dr. Sidhu and his family settled in Maryland, where Dr. Sidhu worked for over forty years as a nephrologist at local hospitals and in private practice. In 1978, Dr. Sidhu’s second son, Dawinder, was born in Cheverly, Maryland.

Dr. Sidhu helped build longstanding cultural and religious institutions in the Washington, DC area. For example, he helped found the Guru Nanak Foundation of America (GNFA) and he served as President of the Indian-American Medical Association.

Dr. Sidhu will be remembered not only for what he did: provide for his loving family, treat patients, mentor residents, and help establish community organizations. He also will be remembered for how he lived: with honesty, humility, and integrity. He will be deeply missed, but his impact and his example of a truthful life will live on.

The funeral service will take place on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at the Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., 1411 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD 21113. The service will be held from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations to the Thakur Singh Scholarship at GNFA be considered. This scholarship, named in honor of Dr. Sidhu’s grandfather, offers financial assistance to women pursuing graduate and professional education.

Langar on the Hill – 2016

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SALDEF: Protecting Civil Rights since 1996
As the oldest Sikh American civil rights organization—commemorating 20 years of service—SALDEF continued creating history and sharing our Sikh values of service and equality this summer on Capitol Hill! More than 500 Congressional leaders, staff, neighbors, visitors, and community members gathered to learn about Sikh traditions, our beliefs, and our contributions to America at the third annual “Langar on the Hill.” The program was sponsored by Senator Harry Reid in conjunction with Congressman Mike Honda and organized by SALDEF’s largest SikhLEAD Internship class.
This year’s Langar once again became the largest Congressional and community gathering on Capitol Hill in Sikh American history, and reached thousands more through social and traditional media. Livestreamed on Facebook, Langar was also shared on Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram, and once again covered in NBC News, Roll Call and community media outlets including The Indian American Community News.
About SALDEF
Founded in 1996, SALDEF’s mission is to achieve equal access and opportunity for Sikh Americans by protecting civil rights, building dialogue, deepening understanding, promoting civic and political participation, and upholding social justice and religious freedom for all Americans.
Contact SALDEF
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
1730 M St NW, Suite 909
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-2700
Fax: 202-318-3344
Web: www.saldef.org
Email: info@saldef.org

12th Annual Unity Walk in Washington DC : Nominations by 30June2016

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12th Annual Unity Walk in Washington DC: Nominations by 30June2016

On September 11th, 2016, the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington will lead the 12th annual Unity Walk as people of all faiths and cultures from around the Washington, DC region walk down Massachusetts Avenue and visit houses of worship and other religious centers in a public celebration of unity and support for everyone within our diverse community.

Get involved before the walk! This year, we will be holding a pre-Unity Walk art contest for children 18 years old and younger and a poetry contest for children 12 years old and older on the theme: Know Your Neighbor. Winners and their work, will be featured on our website as well as on various Unity Walk promotional materials. Questions about the contest and all submissions (due by June 30th)) should be sent to: unitywalk@ifcmw.org.

For more information about the walk or about the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, please visit our website: www.ifcmw.org.

Today, more than ever, our message of friendship and solidarity is critical. We hope you will join us and add your voice to this powerful event.

Unity Walk 2016Save the Date Unity Walk 2016

Shaheedi Dihada of Guru Arjan Dev Ji: Jun 17 – Jun 19, 2016

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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!

Saadh Sangat Ji,

Please join us in remembering Shaheedi of Guru Arjun Dev Ji on Sunday, 19-June-2016. Also there will be Akhand Paath seva starting from 17-Jun-2016 and ending on 19-Jun-2016.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was the first martyr of the Sikh faith and fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus, who compiled writings to create our holy book Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

One of the greatest contribution of Guru Arjan Dev Ji made to the Sikh faith was to compile all of the past Gurus’ writings, along with selected writings of other saints from different backgrounds which he considered consistent with the teachings of Sikhism into one book, now the holy scripture: the Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Arjan was arrested under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and asked to convert to Islam. In June 1606, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir ordered that Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru be tortured and sentenced to death after the Guru had refused to stop preaching his message of God as started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The Guru was made to sit on a burning hot sheet while boiling hot sand was poured over his body. After enduring five days of unrelenting torture, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was taken for a bath in the river. As thousands watched he entered the river, never to be seen again.

Program Schedule

Asa di vaar                                            –       8:00 am to 10:00 am
Sukhmani Sahib                                  –       10:00 am to 11:00 am
Kirtan by Sangat                                  –       11:00 am to 11:45 am
Kirtan by Bhai Surinder Singh ji      –       11:45 am to 1:15 pm
Langar                                                   –       1:45 pm

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

DC Khalsa School closed from Sunday Jun 12th 2016, Registration starts Aug 1st 2016

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DC Khalsa School will be closed for summer from this Sunday, 12th June 2016. We will be open for registration & enrollment for the next semester throughout the month of August starting 01st Aug 2016.

The school reopens & classes are resumed from August 21st 2016.

Bhagat Puran Singh Ji’s Janam Diwas in Sikh Gurdwara DC – 05Jun2015

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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!

Please join all of us to celebrate the Birthday of Bhagat Puran Singh Ji on this Sunday, 05Jun2016 in Sikh Gurdwara DC. Also, we will remember and pay tribute to all martyrs of Chota Ghallughara (lesser holocaust).

Bhai Puran Singh Ji (June 4, 1904 – August 5, 1992) was born in Rajewal (Rohno) Ludhiana district, Punjab. Born into a Hindu family, he was given the name Ramjidas as a child. Later, while still a child, he chose to become a Sikh. He was greatly inspired by the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh Gurus. Though he never finished his basic schooling, he became a writer, a (self) publisher, an environmentalist, and a philanthropist. He is perhaps best remembered for the home he founded in Amritsar, India, named Pingalwara, a home which long after his death, is still tending to the castaways of society: the sick, disabled and abandoned forlorn people.

As a young man he decided to dedicate his life to the ‘selfless service of humanity‘. He founded Pingalwara in 1947 with only a few patients, the neglected and rejected of the streets of Amritsar. An early advocate of what we today refer to as the ‘Green Revolution’, Bhagat Puran Singh was spreading awareness about environmental pollution, and increasing soil erosion long before such ideas became popular. Pamphlets with his writings on various subjects, such as environmental awareness, were printed on re-used paper and freely distributed.

He was honored in 1979 by the Government of India with the Padma Shri award, given for exceptional and distinguished service in any field.

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Remember martyrs of Chota Ghallughara:

In order to avenge the death of his brother, Diwan Lakhpat Rai had got all the Sikhs of Lahore executed by scavengers on the 10th March, 1746 AD after that he marched with an army of fifty thousand, including artillery, to wipe out the Sikhs. At that time, about Fifteen thousand Sikhs had taken shelter in the marshes of the river Ravi near the pool of Kahnuwan in Gurdaspur District about 20 kms North west of current day Gurdaspur. The forces of Lakhpat Rai besieged the marshes and began pounding the area with his cannons. Massively outgunned and with no artillery themselves, the Sikhs headed for the safety of the hills, as their attackers moved in pursuit. What rations, the Sikhs had, were soon finished, so whenever they found an opportunity, the Sikhs robbed the army of rations and weapons. In ‘guerilla’ style warfare they attacked and disappeared, keeping the royal army off balance.

Program Schedule

Asa di vaar                                    –       8:00 am to 10:00 am
Sukhmani Sahib                            –       10:00 am to 11:00 am
Kirtan by Sangat                            –       11:00 am to 11:45 am
Kirtan by Bhai Surinder Singh ji     –       11:45 am to 1:15 pm
Langar                                            –       1:30 pm

NOTE: There is ample amount of free parking on Sunday in DC next to Gurdwara Sahib and also in parking lot in basement.

Gyani Kuldeep Singh: Guru Granth is higher than Sikh Rehit Maryada

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Kuldeep Singh, granthi at Gurdwara Sikh Sangat of Virginia today stood his ground in the face of mounting condemnation from many Sikhs for making alterations to the Amrit Sanchaar he organized and took part in last month. In a lengthy statement to the sangat, he questioned the origin and authorship of three of the Baanees recited during the ceremony that are attributed to Guru Gobind Singh, and also how they ended up in the Rehit Maryada. He had replaced these Baanees, which are from the disputed Dasam Granth, with Baanees from the Guru Granth Sahib. A large number of Sikh gurdwaraas and organizations from the East Coast decidedSaturday to form a Punj Pyaray to handle the issue. Both sides rejected the authority of the Akal Takhat and other takhat jathedaars who were cast out by the Sarbat Khalsa in November 2015, and dismissed their summons last week for Kuldeep Singh to appear at the Akal Takhat.

Canada’s Trudeau makes formal apology for racist Komagata Maru incident

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a formal apology on May 18 for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident in which Canada turned away a ship carrying hundreds of South Asian immigrants.

More details at this link

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/05/18/the-tragic-story-behind-justin-trudeaus-apology-in-canadas-parliament/

Bhai Sahib Ji from GNNSJ Birmingham awarded from Roman Catholic church

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Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh ji from GNNSJ, Birmingham being awarded a plaque
from the Roman Catholic church for their outstanding work in world religions and Interfaith diversity. He has been recognized for his dedicated work to Roman Catholic-Sikh relations and for his enthusiastic commitment to working for peace among people of all faith.

This is a truly honorable moment for Sikhism. Just observe how the Kirtan is being done in the church! Haven’t seen a moment like this ever! This is what the world needs – coexistence of all in peace and harmony!

A very clear message:
Respect & Honor other religions, yours will be appreciated & accepted in return, in good faith…

 

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