The Sikhs in Norway celebrated Sikh Environment Day on Friday March 14th, and on the following Sunday, March 16th. Here is our Green Story!
We had two parallel programs on Friday March 14th in Norway: one at the Punjabi School Oslo and one at the Gurdwara Oslo. On Sunday, March 16th, we had programs at the Gurdwara in Lier.
In Punjabi School, a group of young girls wanted to have a function for the kids of about 200 Punjabi families. The principal was extremely supportive of the idea and is an active member of Miljø Sikh (the Norwegian version of EcoSikh). We arranged a program for all the children, ranging from 6 years old up to 19 years old. The program started with a sakhi of Guru Har Rai Ji told by six-year olds. This was followed by the Shabad Sabh Jag Tere Kite Hoe, Satgur Phette Matt Budh Hoe, where Guru Amar Das Ji beautifully relates spring, the basant, to the higher spiritual state (connected with The Almighty). We distributed flower- and vegetable seeds to all children aged 13 or under, so that they could plant the seeds outside their homes. The younger kids went to the gym hall with two of the young girls in our group and had environment games and a photo-quiz. During the photo quiz, they had to find which material was more environmentally friendly than the others. Their answers will be corrected, and a special gift will be given to the winner, who will be announced as "Miljøsikh/EcoSikh of the year".
When the younger kids went downstairs, the elders also received seeds to plant in their homes. A workshop was arranged for elder children. They were divided in groups and discussed the question: "If you are India's Prime Minister, what changes would you bring to the environment?" After ten minutes, each group was called on stage - where they got only one minute to persuade three judges. The judges had already assigned roles among themselves: one was highly critical, the other highly optimistic and the third one had a more balanced point of view. When the workshop was finished, these children also received a quiz. To save paper and trees, we gave them a telephone number where they could send their answers. Again from thr elder group one is going to be announced "Miljøsikh of the year."
Parallel to this program, we held a program in Oslo Gurdwara. It started with an exercise session with the motive to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Then we had some general information about Environment day, followed by a shabad: Acharj teri kudrat tere kadam salah, ganiv teri sifath sache pathshah." Here, we had a viakhiya about what Waheguruji's Creation is. We learn in Sikhi that you should take care of the Creation and appreciate it. Do we really do that? Maybe some of you will say, "Well, I don't hurt the environment. I take care of it." Well, that's good. But do you appreciate it? When you walk to your job, your school or to buy food, what are you focused on? Do you consciously see and admire God's Creation? Have you consciously noticed how different and beautiful each tree is? Have you actually seen God's Art, or are you focused on yourself, your thoughts about the future or your feelings?
In the Gurdwara, we also showed a video of Ik Onkar telling the sakhi of Guru Har Rai Ji and his love for nature. We also had talks on what Miljøsikh will do in Norway; what EcoSikh is doing globally; the use and misuse of plastic; and how to cultivate vegetables in a cold country like Norway. Sangat was told about Miljøsikh in Norway who is just nine months old, and has organized two successful tours for awakening awareness about the environment. One cycle plus walking tour (September 2013) and one tour in a forest filled with snow (Janaury 2014). A Sikh lady in the research field of plastic, told us how the chemicals in plastic can disrupt our health to the food, if we buy plastic in other countries than Europe. One lady told how one can plant and create vegetables and gave tips to cultivate free organic vegetables at home. All over, the Sadh Sangat really enjoyed this day and we all learned something new.
On Sunday March 16th, our team went to Lier Gurdwara to hold the same program there.
May every one of us take a step towards this global sewa for the world community and follow the footsteps of Dhan Sri Guru Har Rai Ji.
Guru ang sang,Harveen Kaur, Miljøsikh Norway.