Gyan Godri Gurudwara Haridwar



Issue of Gyan Godri Gurudwara, Haridwar



 

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We Need More Participation in Prabhat Pheris

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I went to Jodhpur during the New Year, which was also a work trip. In the trip we stayed at the Singh Sabha Gurudwara. The day we came was also the day when the Gurudwara had the first Prabhat Pheri, which is an early morning procession done usually during Guru Nanak's and Guru Gobind Singh's birthday and the weeks preceding it. It is when the local Sikhs come and sing praises of God and other kirtan with a small drum (dholaki) and other kirtan instruments like chimta and the two brass cymbals (small ones). After going through the streets the Prabhat Pheris finally reach the house of the host who is pre decided and it is matter of honour and pride to host a Prabhat Pheri. The list rotates and every year is given to a new set of people.  In Jodhpur, the Prabhat Pheri was a very grand event even though the city has a very limited Sikh Population. There would be 150-200 people in one Prabhat Pheri.  In Delhi, the most posh area Greater Kailash 2, on the other hand had very limite...
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This is in response to the Appeal by SGPC to provide suggestions on the Roles and Responsibilities of the Respected   Jathedar   of the   Akal Takht Sahib .   It must be noted that the  Jathedar  of the  Akal Takht Sahib  is a Politico-Religious person and not a mere religious head. Before the Jathedar will be questions concerning the political, social, economic, and of course religious affairs of the Sikh  Panth. Sikhi  is fast evolving as a global religion and the Jathedar must represent the Sikhs across the globe and must not be limited in thought and action for Indian Sikhs.  Most humbly and with full responsibility the following suggestions for the role of  Jathedar Sahib  of  Akal Takth Sahib  are presented:   Roles and Responsibilities:  1.          To be the guardian of the uniqueness of the  Khalsa Panth , Khalsa beliefs, Khalsa way of life and syste...
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Sikhs have re-adopted the caste system they championed against!

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Guru Gobind Singh created an egalitarian religion which believed in one God and ended all castes and religious differences through the Amrit Ceremony. In an Amrit Ceremony, the members are initiated as Khalsa by drinking from a same pot which is water and a sugar (patasa) stirred with Khanda. By this process, the people partaking it become equals and the males remove the caste surname and put 'Singh' and the females put 'Kaur' But, this form of egalitarism may be just theory in today's everyday masses, especially when they are looking for a marriage partner. Offcourse there are exceptions with the initiated Sikhs with Amrit. Some of them I know by experience, who would not consider caste, but this seems to be a minority. The biggest proof of the plague of the caste system, as mentioned before, is visible twice every week as documentary evidence in the form of matrimonial advertisements in newspapers.  The picture above is a copy from a newspaper matrimon...
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