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GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
Samelan 2004 The Children’s Camp at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar
By: Raghbir Singh
August 20th 2004,
7:30am. The Gurdwara Sahib was bustling with eager children. This was their first experience of a Gurmat Parchaar Samelan. The enthusiasm of the 30 odd participants for this 3‐day event at the Gurdwara was matched by that of the 10 sewadars who acted as organizers of this inaugural event.
For one month, the Organizing Committee under the leadership of Gurinder Singh met regularly to discuss the plan the event. A two‐day
seminar aimed at training the facilitators of the Samelan was conducted by S. Karminder Singh Ji. The objective of the Samelan was to allow children aged 4 and above to participate in the learning and exercising of Gurmat.
Formal registration began at 8am, where
each participant was extended a warm welcome and given stationery and nametags. A Nishan Sahib di Selami was followed by a rendering of the rules and regulations of the Samelan.
The Samelan began with Parkash of Sri
Guru Granth Sahib in the small darbar, followed by inspirational Kirten by Guru Nanak Darbar Kirteni Jatha singing “Charan Chalo Marg Gobind” which was also the theme of the Samelan. After having breakfast, a Breaking the Ice session was conducted to allow participants and facilitators to get to know each other. After all we were going to be together for 15 hours per day for three days. Educational lectures followed until lunchtime. Then, the children gathered for Langgar and it was a refreshing scene to watch an exclusively children Pangat having Guru Ka Langgar. The afternoon sessions of first day consisted of a Quiz Contests, followed by an Open Discussion Forums. The little inquisitive minds showed to the fullest that learning is always fun.
After tea, the participants played a variety
of team games and enjoyed themselves even further. Then after light snacks, the participants went back to the Darbar for an evening diwan where they performed Rehras Sahib and listened to an hour of inspirational Kirten and Katha session. It was a Kirten session that did not allow them to just sit and listen, they had to sing too. The vibrant throats performing Kirten were
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GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE challenging the integrity of the surrounding walls. Sukhasan was done followed by Langgar. Then children left for their homes at 10 pm eager to return the next morning. DAY 2. The program began with Nishan Sahib de Selami, and a briefing for the activities of the day. The day started with Nitnem Paath and other banees. The participants read Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, TavPrasad Savaiye, Chaupayee Sahib and Anand Sahib. After having breakfast, everybody gathered for another Kirten session, followed by two educational lectures. The afternoon saw them take part in a variety of competitions, followed by an Open Discussion Forum that proved invaluable. A Telematch was organized in the evening. Rehras Sahib Path was accompanied by Kirten and Katha of Chali Mukte that left the sangat touched to the brim.
Nishan Sahib Di Selami
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GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
DAY 3. The day began with the Selami, Nitnem Path, followed by breakfast and then Kirten. Everyone sang – Asaan Sikhi Da Ni Chadna Raah. The Samelan culminated with the Inam Vand Samaroh, the prize distribution in the regular Sunday diwan.
At 3 pm it was
time to say goodbye. The children and the facilitators had learnt so much from each other’s experiences. We were all returning home with wonderful memories of the synchronous harmony of enchanting Kirten and Simran; of knowledge acquired, and of experiences shared.
It was the end of
the Samelan but the longing for the next one had already started. The participants returned home as tender plants of Sikhi that needed extensive guidance and watering. It was the last day of the Samelan, but it was just the beginning. End.
Breakfast
Participants Baldeep Kaur (left) and Gursharan Kaur
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GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
Samelan 04
The Participants
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GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
Samelan 04
Receiving Prizes in Recognition of their talents
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GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
Samelan 04
Sewadars
Sewadars L to R: Kajol Kaur, Sitvinder Kaur and Mandeep Kaur
A family of Sewadars and Participants
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GURDWARA MEDFORD COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
Samelan 04
Participants and Facilitators
Facilitators L to R: Satvir Kaur, Baljit Kaur and Gurinder Singh
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Samelan 2004By: Raghbir SinghSamelan 04