Bhai Sahiba Bibiji Dr. Inderjit Kaur Khalsa with Monsignor Jerome Martinez y Alire (center), and Interfaith Leaders at Santa Fe’s Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, celebrating the Basilica’s and the City of Santa Fe’s 400th Anniversary year
Tuesday afternoon, January 19th, the New Mexico Sikh Community hosted its 16th annual New Mexico Legislative Luncheon to thank and honor the dedicated public servants of New Mexico for their hard work and service. Following Governor Bill Richardson’s address to a joint session of the House and Senate which launched the NM Legislature’s Annual Session, the Sikh Community was pleased to host Governor Richardson, Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, Senator Tom Udall and his family, Attorney General Gary King, Congressman Harry Teague, former US Ambassador to Spain Ed Romero, former Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan, and many dignitaries of New Mexico, including cabinet members, and members of the Judiciary, at downtown Santa Fe’s India Palace restaurant.
The Luncheon honors the dedication of public servants, and honors Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, also known as Yogi Bhajan, who began the tradition in 1995. Governor Richardson saluted “Yogiji’s dedication to excellence” and reminisced that he was a commanding presence and friend with whom many in the room shared in the common bond of friendship. Over 150 people attended the luncheon.
Sikh Community representatives attended the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast early Thursday morning, where both main speakers, Governor Richardson and Attorney General King (speaking about his father Governor Bruce King who passed on in 2009), spoke prominently about the Siri Singh Sahib, and how much he meant to them and to New Mexico. Hundreds were in attendance when Attorney General King spoke. He honored his father by stating that his father was truly a great man by seeing the value in every human being. He went on to say “that’s why Governor King, a rancher from New Mexico and Yogi Bhajan, a Sikh from India, grew to love and respect one another.” It was a heartfelt memorial to the celebration of both men. Next, Governor Richardson spoke. In the middle of his praise of Governor King, he unexpectedly and candidly broke off and said, “I really miss Yogi Ji. He was always the biggest man in the room and I miss him.”
On Thursday evening, Bhai Sahiba Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, in addition to attending the week’s earlier events, was invited to share the leadership of an interfaith gathering hosted by Monsignor Jerome Martinez y Alire, rector of downtown Santa Fe’s Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The event celebrated the City of Santa Fe and the Basilica’s Quad Centennial Anniversary Year of founding (1610).
The evening program was inaugurated with a sacred blessing dance by the Native American Santa Clara Pueblo Buffalo Dancers and included music from a 3-faith choir, a Sikh Community Jatha (music group) led by Sangeet Kaur Khalsa, and readings from faith traditions represented by leaders from Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Orthodox, Protestant, and Roman Catholic faiths.
The ecumenical gathering also spent time in prayer for the people of earthquake-devastated Haiti and took up a collection for aid for the relief efforts.
Yogi Bhajan traveled to the West in the late 1960’s, sharing the teachings of Kundalini Yoga and helping to establish the practice of Sikh Dharma. He eventually settled in northern New Mexico’s Espanola, which became the world-wide headquarters for the 3HO Foundation and Sikh Dharma International.
He befriended Governors and public officials of the state over his 35 years there, as well as many public officials in the national capitol of Washington, DC. Local Highway 106 near his home, in Espanola, was renamed in his honor, Yogi Bhajan Highway, and he was honored by a Joint resolution of the US Congress, for his life and work, in 2005, following his passing in 2004.