Browsing Tag: Dya Singh

In fact here we were doing kirtan in the Guru's sangat. I was so glad when they stayed on to listen to our kirtan and left after some very warm hugs.

Where you spend so much on all a variety of luxuries including holidays, the one thing we always neglect is our health - until it is too late. Do yourself a favour. Come before it goes wrong.

I have known Harinder Ji of SikhRI for some time. He has always struck me as a very forthright Sikh without any hang-ups, 'vehems' etc. on Sikhi living. In my mind, he is a true model of the 'miri-piri' spirit.

I would not have sent a 'note' from Ludhiana where I have ended up after Kenya, but for a very interesting story which I must share. It could make the basis of an excellent Punjabi movie - a love story. The romantics amongst you are going to love this!

Initially called 'Sikh youth camp' ('naujawan samelan'), they are now mostly called and are, 'Sikh family camp' ('pervarak samelan').

Christian 'propaganda' in east Malaysia has been using (or perhaps abusing) the word Allah for God in their literature promoting the Christian faith amongst the locals in Sarawak and Sabah in remote north Borneo - also part of Malaysia.

This is probably the first declaration of independence in present day India and you will not pick that up from Indian history books where even Guru Gobind Singh is not, or hardly, mentioned.

This is my story about Bai, who is not only my oldest brother, but my mentor, my peer, the harshest critic of my presentation of 'world music' style kirtan worldwide, but also the father figure after the passing away of Bapu Ji.

Seeing the state of the practice of our faith and ‘way of life’, Sikhi today, brings back nostalgic memories of yesteryear (my childhood) when it seemed all so simple and full of joy. I speak of Sikhi in the former Malaya (now Malaysia) where I was born.

True spiritual music touches everyone's spirit by uplifting the peace of mind, promoting harmonious living and most importantly, bringing internal happiness and self-contentment

Fifty years - half a century, seems like a long time. Yes, for me a lifetime affection and association, with Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia - my link with my faith - run by youth, for youth. The youthful Sabha has always worked towards making Sikhi relevant in the lives of younger generations...

This is a remarkable piece of music, complemented by the tablist Dheeraj Shrestha and his brother Suraj, both from Nepal (giving some lovely 'pahaarri' feel), then polished by Dya's sound engineer and guitarist, Quentin Eyers, and completed with additional ethereal and dynamic sounds on conches, soor mandel and drums

It is quite amazing, that the one guru who perhaps does not get as much 'exposure' amongst Sikhs, has now stepped up and declared his relevance into the future when the environment has become the most important issue into the future

Flanked by a "taoos" playing maestro on one side, and a Guiness record holder, tabla player, on the other, it was an unlikely setting at Jalandhar in central Punjab, for world renowned Dya Singh of Australia. For the first time, he was finding himself at a Kirtan smagam, without his motley group of musicians playing a range of East-West musical instrumental blends.

In the razzmatazz, glamour and superficiality of the materialistic life, mysticism and spirituality have taken a backstage. Yet, the soul yearns for the ultimate reality. Mysticism-oriented music, if only it could be marketed as much as "pop", can possibly be the salvation of humanity. Unfortunately, it remains a niche — sidelined in favour of sex and violence.

“These hymns and chants from Guru Nanak tradition are loved and cherished by millions of Sikhs and Guru Nanak followers around the globe.....This music has the power to promote deep relaxation, meditation contemplation and devotion, regardless of religion and cultural back ground.”

There is a mistaken belief amongst Gurbani Keertan purists sometimes that Indian and Sikh classical raags have remained static over the centuries. Gurbani singers like Sikh “world music” genre pioneer, Dya Singh of Australia, are at the receiving end of criticism because they do not always stick to the beaten track of traditional Gurbani Keertan sung to prescribed raag bases.

"Dya Singh is the true messenger of the universal message of Amritsar... and its Golden Temple. He and his group remind me of the Golden Temple - not as a holy shrine of the Sikhs alone, but a holy shrine of all people." ~ (His Holy Highness - The Dalai Lama..)

I do not normally watch such games (even the Olympics, or the World Cup soccer matches) with such devotion as I did these games. The reason is simple. I was able to see my 'people' on a daily basis on TV.

Slim and tall, Giani Ji had a charismatic personality and a spiritual presence. It was due to his strong spiritual leaning from childhood that he became a Gurbani teacher and a kirtania parcharak

It is my observation that the significance and meaning of the actual ‘lavan’ are today, generally, a mere formality and the remaining ‘merry-making’ and that other, sometimes meaningless and outdated, cultural ceremonies have taken greater prominence.

Dya Singh Ji's 'Gurmat Sangeet' inspiration came from his parents who nurtured him in the right sphere.

Dya Singh, the Malaysian Sikh singer and musician who now lives in Melbourne, has produced his 20th album of Gurbani and will launch it at four venues in the Klang Valley this weekend.

“All of us have to take steps to ensure that the thread of unity, currently perceived to be fragile, is strengthened for the good of all in Malaysia.

"Life is a journey and, therefore, the passage towards an achievement is more important than the achievement. "It does not matter what I achieve and there are no expectations."