Cream of Bollywood visits Darbar Sahib

April 21st, 2009 Source: www.emgonline.co.uk

Harimander Sahib welcomed a host of celebrities today, proving that the four doors of Darbar Sahib continue to welcome worshippers of all faiths and not just Sikhs.

Amongst those celebs paying homage were Shakti Kapoor, Aditya Pancholi, Mukesh Rishi, Ekta Kapoor with her parents – Jeetendra and Shobha Kapoor, Prem Chopra, Anand Raj Anand, Jaspinder Narula, Monica Bedi, Abhijeet, Gurdeep and Arjun Punj, Hiten Paintal with his father Paintal, Poonam Dhillon and Anita, Pankaj and Niketan Dheer, among others.

They all took advantage of the generosity of  a flight that had been chartered specially by Shilpa’s friend Kiran Bawa and her dad GS Bawa, so that they could all visit the famous Gurdwara.

The plane landed at Amritsar airport in the afternoon. Shilpa was dressed simply in a yellow salwar-kameez, and was accompanied by Raj. Shamita wore a pink suit, and walked alongside their parents Sunanda and Surender Shetty, TOI has reported..

The airport was buzzing – a huge crowd was waiting to welcome the guests with garlands and flowers.

The party reached the Gurdwara around 3.30 pm. Shilpa immediately covered her head with her duppatta.

Inside the Gurdwara, again, there was a huge crowd waiting for a glimpse of all the stars. “Just the fact that I’m here is wonderful. I’m happy that my entire family and friends from Bollywood are here with me to do the sewa too,” Shilpa told reported in India.

Her mother added, “We actually wanted to do some sewa, but looking at the rush here, we couldn’t.” Shamita, protecting her mother from getting pushed around by the crowd, said, “It’s been a great experience, but the rush was maddening and it spoilt our mood.”

Playback singer Abhijeet, who had come with his wife said, “This is the first time I am here and it feels very good.” Monica Bedi looked rather demure in a white kurta and she said, “I just love coming to the Golden Temple... It refreshes my mind body and soul.”

 “We basically wanted to create an awareness amongst the people about doing sewa at the Golden Temple and so, we brought all our friends from Bollywood. It was my father's initiative. He organised this function and brought all his friends to do sewa.”

Raj patiently waiting for Shilpa and her family to be escorted to the car. He said, “I loved the experience of coming here. This is my first time and that too with Shilpa and her family members – that made it all the more special. I hope and pray that my team wins the IPL this year too.”

Comments

you getting wrong idea Tejpaul

I was addressing Theodorus's idea that perhaps actors coming to temples will help provide awareness of Sikhi. O and about living in Moghul India and akber era, yeah I still think we should follow those rules that were put in place by the Guru's in that time. Your rite about the actors getting attention and stuff, but like, when someone "famous" (ex Badal) comes to Darbar Sahib they (the administrators) usually block the other Sangat from entering and I am not blaming the actors for anything; and as I said in the comment before, everyone is allowed (the 4 doors) in Harimandir Sahib and all other Gurdwaras. And I will say it again the administrators and the Akal Takhat Jathedar should have used this as a oppertunity to tell the bollywood people that we don't want any offensive things in the films. In bollywood films half of the time their dancing half-naked and other half you hear Hindu holy scriptures (Gita) in the back. If we don't tell them or warn them about adding things about Sikhs in the films, believe me it will get out of hand. Yeh I no it sounds off topic but, the oppertunity should have been taken to atleast to warn this small body of actors. WJKK WJKF

Get a reality check Theodorus!!

This isn't in North America; if it wasn't for Sikhs, this would country would be Moghulastan. Yeah spreading Sikhism is good and all, but not by giving preference to actors over Guru's sangat. We are not selling a product that we need to invite actors to endorse it. When Emperor Akber came to Goindwal Sahib he ate normal langar with the sangat and even washed dishes after. If anything the Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib should have offered them a Fateh and warning-we don't want to be portrayed in any way in there ignorant movies and films (ex. Singh is King). Sure anyone can come to temples, but they shouldn't recieve any preference over all the other Sikh sangat. WJKK WJKF

My reality check?

KHALSA MaNNN ji,

I'm not from North America but from Europe (the Netherlands to be precise). I'm not quite sure what you mean to say to me with that first sentence though? I do realise that my reality is very different from yours but I cannot help it to be limited to my reality. I'm willing to exand that ............
I never said you should give preference to anybody and I never said anything about selling a product or even spreading Sikhism but to create awareness (that is something entirely different). I also didn't say you need actors to do that but since they come to the temple anyway (and they are welcome I presume as anybody is) why not use that fact?
It is up to them if they want to sit with the sangat at the langar and it is up to them also if they want to wash dishes isn't it? You call 'their' movies and films ignorant. That might be true (to be honest I cannot recall having ever seen a bollywood production) but do not blame them as they are just the actors not the producers or writers.

Actors did not come for

Actors did not come for selling products nor to promote sikhism. They came as sangat like others do. Being people of national and international fame they would obviously attract the attention of other sangats and cause some security concerns as well. Do you mean that famous people should not be allowed? Or, are we still living in mughal era of akbar?

Tejpal you do not get it...

Tejpal he is not talking about uninviting anyone. All are invited to the Sikh gurdwaras - it is about giving special treatments to folks. He has given the example of akbar who as an emporer had to eat langar with the common man of his times and then meet the Guru's. Since all are equal in the eyes of the Lord no special treatment is needed - you may come anyday without restriction but not riding on your laureals and achievements.

Absolutely disgusting!

It's a shame that when these "celebrities" visit Darbar Sahib, they are given VIP treatment. They have news media following them around. SGPC and other political figures also grovel in front of them. This causes a lot of hassle and distraction for thousands of commoners. These practices must be stopped because they are completely against the tenets of our faith. The news media shouldn't be allowed on the premises except on Gurpurbs and other historical days. No special treatment shall be given to any actor, model, politician, prince etc. All visitors shall be given the same treatment.

Turn it to your advantage.

Nihal Singh ji,
On the one hand I do understand your disgust on the other hand we should turn such an event to our advantage by using it to create awareness of the Sikh faith and situation in India.
I agree with you when you say that all visitors should be given the same treatment (so there shouldn't be a VIP treatment) but in order to enable people like them to just visit the temple does require some speacial measures regarding crowd management and safety I think.

Theodorus where do we draw a line...

Where do we draw a line with "special people". My experience has been that most so called VIPs have crowd problems only when we give them spl treatment. If you do not advertise the arrival of these people things would be smooth and not many would care much - how can I claim to do this - since I stayed in Bombay and actors are a dime a dozen seen on a daily basis - actors would be jogging around and people would not care to surround them but the moment there is some special function (such as hotel inaguration, school functions) where these folks are invited, we would have serious traffic jams, media and police "bandobast".

Misuse the press attention to create awareness

kanwarjeet ji,

In my country famous people are 24/7 watched by journalists. The attention for them has little to do with special treatment or not. I agree when it is announced they go somewhere they will attract a crowd if not they will at least be followed by a string of jounalists. Some of them have to go through greath length to go somewhere and stay anonymous. Most of them have a hate-love relations with the press (they hate intrusion into their private life but the love the press as they need it to promote their work). It is this journalists attention that we should 'misuse' in this case to create awareness for Sikhism.

Problem with we Indians is

Problem with we Indians is that we want to eat the cake and have it.

Gurudwara special plans for special people

What a lovely day. That was very nice. So pleased to see all the fine china was put out, and there were adequate security arrangements for such important people. IPL can be shifted to South Africa because can't cope with that. Will make a nice holiday though Shilpa won't it?

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