Takhat Jathedars Visit Espanola Sikh Community

Special to SikhNet by Siri Amrit Singh Khalsa,
Miri Piri Academy graduate, class of 2002

April 28, 2003: Espanola, New Mexico. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful spring day in Espanola, New Mexico. Espanola is home to a large community of westerners who have embraced the Sikh path. Today, many of these Sikhs gathered to welcome and honor the highest dignitaries in the Sikh Panth: Singh Sahib Bhai Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar; Singh Sahib Bhai Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Sri Harmandir ji, in Patna Sahib; Singh Sahib Bhai Giani Tarlochan Singh, Jathedar of Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib; Giani Ranjit Singh, Head Granthi of Sisganj Gurdwara in Delhi; Sahib Bhajan Singh Walia, General Sect. of DGPC in Delhi; Sahib Pritpal Singh, personal assistant to Giani Joginder Singh Vendanti.

As the dignitaries arrived and emerged from their cars, they were greeted with the cry, “Bole So Nihal.” A group of very young Sikh children shyly, yet smiling, approached and offered the Jathedars flowers. All of a sudden the air was alive with the sounds of Deha Shiva and Gatka sticks cracking, almost as if one were back in India at a Vaisakhi celebration. The Jathedars slowly moved forward through the welcoming Sikh sangat, beaming among a sea of white. They received warm and loving greetings as they continued down the receiving line.

After freshening up from their travels, the Jathedars sat with members from the Sikh community for a cozy lunch of delicious Indian food. Laughing and eating, the group enjoyed the warm and cheerful atmosphere.

Come afternoon, the Jathedars were off, into the uniquely beautiful New Mexican outdoors. They enjoyed the scenery, hiked in the mountains and, curious about Los Alamos, toured New Mexico's famous labs.

That evening, the whole Sangat attended a one of a kind Gurdwara. The combination of the beautiful Gurbani and the coming of the Jathedars inspired everyone incredibly. As the Kirtan finished, the Espanola head Granthi, SS Hari Dharam Kaur Khalsa, came to the front of the Gurdwara and formally welcomed the group from India. She brought them before the Sangat and blessed and honored each of them with Saropas. Singh Sahib Joginder Singh Vedanti was then requested to speak to the Sangat.

Singh Sahib Joginder Singh Vedanti was very warm and loving with the Espanola Sangat. He spoke of how faith in the Guru is the base of Sikhism, and that everything else relies on this faith. "In the spirit of love, surrender and faith, one who goes to the Bani, there the spiritual spirit resides." He reminded the Sangat of its roots and that "the real Sikh spirit is in the Hari Mandir Sahib and the custodian of Sikhs' code of conduct is in the Akal Takhat Sahib." He extended a warm invitation to all, that whenever any of them came to Hari Mandir Sahib and the Akal Takhat, "we will be there with you, for you and around you".

Singh Sahib Joginder Singh Vedanti ended by imparting a sense of mission unto the gathered Sangat, "You are the missionaries, and you yourself are in Sikh Spirit, but I am expecting a lot from you…to impart it to your children, as well as those around you, and become missionaries of the Khalsa Spirit."

Everyone was honored by the presence of such blessed servants of the Guru and all of Espanola was deeply grateful for their visit. After Gurdwara and Langar, the weary travelers headed back to their rooms and rested. For they had a long journey ahead of them…they were to go visit other Sikh communities all throughout the US, hardly stopping to sleep, going to simply spread the joy and inspiration the Guru imparted to them.