Congratulations :-)

The new year starts with lots of blessings and happiness.

Congratulations to the Durhailay family and the Bahra family, who have been blessed with a beautiful baby girl and gorgeous baby boy respectively.

Congratulations to the babies born in 2009 as well. The Assi family, Mahon family and Panesar family have been blessed with new souls born into their families.

With Guru ji's Kirpa, they will grow up to make their parents proud.

BB is back!!!

Happy New Year to everyone....More like happy belated New Year.

Apologies for leaving this blog stagnant for such a long time, almost two years....lol...I will try to post more often from now on.

Please watch this space...... :-)

Plashet in Dublin

(courtesy of Sikhs in Ireland)

http://sikhsinireland.blogspot.com/2007/04/visit-of-uk-singhs-to-dublin.html

Always a winner – that’s Darsh Singh, By Justin Parker

(Taken from On Trinity Hill)

Anyone who has been to Trinity’s men’s basketball games during the past four years has probably heard fans chanting for Coach Pat Cunningham to put fan favorite Darsh Singh in the game. This season, fans haven’t had to chant for Darsh – the team co-captain has appeared in every game, and every time he plays, he makes a statement.

As a follower of the Sikh religion, Darsh speaks volumes by wearing a turban and allowing his beard to grow. In fact, it’s believed that he is the only turbaned Sikh to play in an NCAA basketball game. The Sikh faith, which is around 500 years old, has more than 23 million followers, but it remains a mystery to some Westerners.

Darsh’s appearance can sometimes bring out the worst in people. At a young age, he was forced to come to terms with the fact that his appearance made some people suspect him of being involved in terrorism. But Darsh doesn’t let it get to him. He says those very prejudices helped to solidify his faith and make him the person he is today. His statement involves one of his firmest beliefs: “If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, don’t do it.”

Darsh also involves himself in numerous groups and organizations. He is not only a basketball player for the Tigers, but he is also a resident mentor and an active member of TUVAC. He serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, is a part of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur and Save Darfur, and he is president of the Students Creating Awareness of the Sikh Faith. He has volunteered in various Sikh organizations in Chicago, Maryland, and Washington D.C., and is a repeat guest lecturer at a leadership development program. Darsh also was recently selected as a Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges recipient.

He is an engineering science major who is affiliated with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and who has been on the SCAC Honor Roll (minimum qualification of 3.20 GPA) for three of his four years at Trinity. Following graduation, he plans to work while he pursues his professional engineering license and then go on to get his MBA. Darsh is minoring in mathematics to prepare him for a position involving investing and budget planning, among other things.

For now, he is enjoying his time as a Trinity student. Darsh is always eager to share his beliefs with those willing to listen, and he credits the Trinity community’s support and encouragement for enhancing his college experience. He no longer notices when fans of other teams point to his “different” look. He’s too busy trying to help his team win basketball games.

http://www.trinity.edu/departments/public_relations/oth/oth-feb08/pages/student_spotlight.htm

AkhandJaap Simran Stream

Akhand Jaap - Listen to non-stop Simran 24/7

For the next 30 days you will be able to listen to Akhand Jaap Simran recordings from previous events, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Download Winamp (free) and play the following URL:

http://akhandjaap.serverroom.us:5444/listen.pls


Please email any feedback to akhandjaap@jsbc.co.uk

Please forward this email.

Anthony Nolan Trust Register

(from an email forward)

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your interest in the Anthony Nolan Trust (Register).

The Nishkam Civic Association as a centre for community development has been approached by a Sikh family, who is suffering from Leukaemia and urgently requires a bone marrow transplant. Mrs Lall and her family are urging the Asian community to come forward and join the register. After discussion with the Anthony Nolan Trust we feel this is an excellent initiative that we should support and assist with. The Anthony Nolan Trust will be recruiting (screening) at:

Nishkam Civic Association,

6 Soho Road, Handsworth,

Birmingham

B21 9BH

on

22nd January 2008 between 5pm – 8pm.

We look forward to seeing you then. Please forward this message and the attached flyer to your contacts.

For further information please go to http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk or Tel: 020 7284 1234.

Kindest regards,

NCA Team

Registered Charity No: 1100307

Company Limited No. 4378505

Happy New 2008

Happy New 2008 to all. Hope this year brings you peace and happiness.

Will be up soon...

Hey sorry guys. I have not been posting lately and the blog seems a bit stagnant. I have been quite busy and am sorting out some stuff. I will start to my usual blogging as soon as possible. Just wanted to wish everyone Happy Holidays. Enjoy

Nairobi Smagam, 6 - 9 December 2007

Nairobi Samagam, at Simba Union Grounds, Nairobi, during 6-9 December, with setup during 3-5 December.

Random Shabad

rwgu DnwsrI mhlw 5
raag dhhanaasaree mehalaa 5
Raag Dhanaasaree, Fifth Mehla:

<> siqgur pRswid ]
ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

hw hw pRB rwiK lyhu ]
haa haa prabh raakh laehu ||
O God, please save me!

hm qy ikCU n hoie myry sÍwmI kir ikrpw Apunw nwmu dyhu ]1] rhwau ]
ham thae kishhoo n hoe maerae svaamee kar kirapaa apunaa naam dhaehu ||1|| rehaao ||
By myself, I cannot do anything, O my Lord and Master; by Your Grace, please bless me with Your Name. ||1||Pause||

Agin kutMb swgr sMswr ]
agan kutta(n)b saagar sa(n)saar ||
Family and worldly affairs are an ocean of fire.

Brm moh AigAwn AMDwr ]1]
bharam moh agiaan a(n)dhhaar ||1||
Through doubt, emotional attachment and ignorance, we are enveloped in darkness. ||1||

aUc nIc sUK dUK ]
ooch neech sookh dhookh ||
High and low, pleasure and pain.

DRwpis nwhI iqRsnw BUK ]2]
dhhraapas naahee thrisanaa bhookh ||2||
Hunger and thirst are not satisfied. ||2||

min bwsnw ric ibKY ibAwiD ]
man baasanaa rach bikhai biaadhh ||
The mind is engrossed in passion, and the disease of corruption.

pMc dUq sMig mhw AswD ]3]
pa(n)ch dhooth sa(n)g mehaa asaadhh ||3||
The five thieves, the companions, are totally incorrigible. ||3||

jIA jhwnu pRwn Dnu qyrw ]
jeea jehaan praan dhhan thaeraa ||
The beings and souls and wealth of the world are all Yours.

nwnk jwnu sdw hir nyrw ]4]1]19]
naanak jaan sadhaa har naeraa ||4||1||19||
O Nanak, know that the Lord is always near at hand. ||4||1||19||

New Exhibition Website

(courtesy of sikhsocs@hotmail.com)

UKPHA has produced a new on-line resource called "Empire, Faith and Kinship : Exploring 150 years of the Anglo Sikh Relationship" . This is an online exhibition with images and text that explores a fascinating relationship that has touched and shaped the lives of millions.

Through illustrations and detailed captions, the key events and people concerned are presented in eight sections, from the rise of the Sikh kingdom of Lahore in 1801 to the settling of the Sikh Diaspora in Britain in the twentieth century. Sometimes as friends, other times as foes, the Sikhs and the British have had one of the most rich and intriguing of partnerships.

http://www.efk.ukpha.org/

Meet Monty Panesar

(courtesy of email from sikhsocs@hotmail.com)

A Fantastic new Book "Sikhs In Britain"

http://www.sikhsinbritain.com/

Meet Monty Panesar

EC3, Waterstone's Leadenhall Market. Free Book Signing

Monty Panesar

Friday 19th October at 12:00pm

Widely rated as England's best spin bowler for 30 years, the Wisden cricketer of the year will be signing copies of his autobiography 'Monty's Turn: My Story So Far'.

Waterstone's 1-3 Whittington Avenue, Leadenhall Market, London, EC3V 1PJ, (020 7220 7882)
Underground: Old Street

St Tropez aka C.B.P.T

St Tropez is definitely a place to visit, but you need to take lots of cash with you. Need to go between June and August as that is the season or can go for the Regatta. I will be posting pictures up soon.

Belated Happy Anniversary

Just wanted to wish Gurcharan Singh and Preetkamal Kaur a 3rd happy belated anniversary.

YOUR AGE BY EATING OUT

(courtesy of email from Sanjiv)

Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway-but your waiter may know!


YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH


This is pretty neat.

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!

It takes less than a minute.
Work this out as you read ...
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat.
(more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1757 ....
If you haven't, add 1756.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.


You should have a three digit number


The first digit of this was your original number
(I.e., how! Many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)

The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2007) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

Sanja Smagam - 20th October 2007

kljug mih kIrqnu prDwnw ]
gurmuiK jpIAY lwie iDAwnw ]
Awip qrY sgly kul qwry hir drgh piq isau jwiedw ]6]

Kaljug Mei Keertan Pardhana, Gurmukh Japie Lai Diyana
Esa Keertan Kar Man Mere, Eha Uha Jo Kam Tere
Sevi Satgur Apna, Har Simri Dins Sabh Rehn.

Aye Mil Gursikh Aye Mil, Tun Mere Guru Ke Pyare

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,
Khalsa Jio,
With Maharaj Ji's blessings, the 2007 Sanjha Akhand Keertan Smagam will be held in Birmingham on Saturday 20th October 2007 to coincide with the 299th Gurgaddi Divas of Sahib Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Address of venue:

Nishkam Educational & Cultural Centre (NECC)
Great King street
Hockley
Birmingham
West Midlands
B19 3AS

Supporting Organisations:
Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha
Akhand Kirtani Jatha UK
Damdami Taksal UK
Nanaksar Sampardai
Nihang Singh Jathebandia

Keertania invited from all jathe.

Random Shabadh

This Shabad is by Guru Raam Daas Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa 167

gauVI bYrwgix mhlw 4 ]

gourree bairaagan mehalaa 4 ||

Gauree Bairaagan, Fourth Mehla:

hmrY min iciq hir Aws inq ikau dyKw hir drsu qumwrw ]

hamarai man chith har aas nith kio dhaekhaa har dharas thumaaraa ||

Within my conscious mind is the constant longing for the Lord. How can I behold the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan, Lord?

ijin pRIiq lweI so jwxqw hmrY min iciq hir bhuqu ipAwrw ]

jin preeth laaee so jaanathaa hamarai man chith har bahuth piaaraa ||

One who loves the Lord knows this; the Lord is very dear to my conscious mind.

hau kurbwnI gur Awpxy ijin ivCuiVAw myilAw myrw isrjnhwrw ]1]

ho kurabaanee gur aapanae jin vishhurriaa maeliaa maeraa sirajanehaaraa ||1||

I am a sacrifice to my Guru, who has re-united me with my Creator Lord; I was separated from Him for such a long time! ||1||

myry rwm hm pwpI srix pry hir duAwir ]

maerae raam ham paapee saran parae har dhuaar ||

O my Lord, I am a sinner; I have come to Your Sanctuary, and fallen at Your Door, Lord.

mqu inrgux hm mylY kbhUM ApunI ikrpw Dwir ]1] rhwau ]

math niragun ham maelai kabehoo(n) apunee kirapaa dhhaar ||1|| rehaao ||

My intellect is worthless; I am filthy and polluted. Please shower me with Your Mercy sometime. ||1||Pause||

hmry Avgux bhuqu bhuqu hY bhu bwr bwr hir gxq n AwvY ]

hamarae avagun bahuth bahuth hai bahu baar baar har ganath n aavai ||

My demerits are so many and numerous. I have sinned so many times, over and over again. O Lord, they cannot be counted.

qUM guxvMqw hir hir dieAwlu hir Awpy bKis lYih hir BwvY ]

thoo(n) gunava(n)thaa har har dhaeiaal har aapae bakhas laihi har bhaavai ||

You, Lord, are the Merciful Treasure of Virtue. When it pleases You, Lord, You forgive me.

hm AprwDI rwKy gur sMgqI aupdysu dIE hir nwmu CfwvY ]2]

ham aparaadhhee raakhae gur sa(n)gathee oupadhaes dheeou har naam shhaddaavai ||2||

I am a sinner, saved only by the Company of the Guru. He has bestowed the Teachings of the Lord's Name, which saves me. ||2||

qumry gux ikAw khw myry siqgurw jb guru bolh qb ibsmu hoie jwie ]

thumarae gun kiaa kehaa maerae sathiguraa jab gur boleh thab bisam hoe jaae ||

What Glorious Virtues of Yours can I describe, O my True Guru? When the Guru speaks, I am transfixed with wonder.

hm jYsy AprwDI Avru koeI rwKY jYsy hm siqguir rwiK lIey Cfwie ]

ham jaisae aparaadhhee avar koee raakhai jaisae ham sathigur raakh leeeae shhaddaae ||

Can anyone else save a sinner like me? The True Guru has protected and saved me.

qUM guru ipqw qUMhY guru mwqw qUM guru bMDpu myrw sKw sKwie ]3]

thoo(n) gur pithaa thoo(n)hai gur maathaa thoo(n) gur ba(n)dhhap maeraa sakhaa sakhaae ||3||

O Guru, You are my father. O Guru, You are my mother. O Guru, You are my relative, companion and friend. ||3||

jo hmrI ibiD hoqI myry siqgurw sw ibiD qum hir jwxhu Awpy ]

jo hamaree bidhh hothee maerae sathiguraa saa bidhh thum har jaanahu aapae ||

My condition, O my True Guru - that condition, O Lord, is known only to You.

hm rulqy iPrqy koeI bwq n pUCqw gur siqgur sMig kIry hm Qwpy ]

ham rulathae firathae koee baath n pooshhathaa gur sathigur sa(n)g keerae ham thhaapae ||

I was rolling around in the dirt, and no one cared for me at all. In the Company of the Guru, the True Guru, I, the worm, have been raised up and exalted.

DMnu DMnu gurU nwnk jn kyrw ijqu imilAY cUky siB sog sMqwpy ]4]5]11]49]

dhha(n)n dhha(n)n guroo naanak jan kaeraa jith miliai chookae sabh sog sa(n)thaapae ||4||5||11||49||

Blessed, blessed is the Guru of servant Nanak; meeting Him, all my sorrows and troubles have come to an end. ||4||5||11||49||

Valencia - September 2007

On the 8th of September 2007, a few of us went to Valencia for a Weekend break. I will be posting shortly a few pictures from our trip to Valencia.


Watch this space......

Day in Pictures

(courtesy of BBC website)An Indian man works on a handwritten version of the holy book of the Sikh religion. He began work three years ago.

This is featured on the BBC's website. It is the third picture in the list.

Will be posting soon...

I haven't posted for quite a bit now as I have been busy/lazy. I assure all of you that I will be posting very soon.

Watch this space. :-)