Sikhs in Afghanistan continue to face problems, with the issue of the Sikh custom of cremation figuring prominently. City development also threatens to destroy the Gurudwara Karte Parwan and adjoining shrine to Guru Nanak.
"We organize a 'chhabeel' every year, and this time we decided not only to carry forward this tradition but also set up a special counter for books and CDs related to the Sikh religion," said, Harjinder Singh, 26, who is also the owner of a bakery shop in city.
Since 2006, SikhNet has sponsored an online film festival for the youth. So, anyone can make a film about Sikhism anywhere around the world and thousands of people will see it! This year, we are introducing 'SikhNet Shorts'. Films, 5 min. or less. Is This year, your year?
As the first words of the opening remarks were uttered, “Welcome to the White House…” my mind began to wander. I thought to myself, how did we make it to this historic event?
Caste is one of those dark secrets in our community. Some defend it as “culture”, others downplay its discriminatory effects, and some go even as far as to blame the victims of the violence itself.
Here we are, almost thirty years after 1984. There will be no messiah. There will be no reckoning from heaven. We will not be made free and delivered to salvation as passive agents in the hands of some omnipotent force. Our pain will not be erased or numbed, our trauma will not be healed through some miracle.
It is a matter of proud for the all Amritsarites that Eco Sikh, a UN based organization, is launching an international campaign for a ‘Green Amritsar’ this week.
Shanti Kaur Khalsa says that, during the Guru's times, women were equal on all levels of life, including leadership. But discriminatory practices against women came into the Sikh life later on when different groups were in charge of places like the Harimandir Sahib.
No words will ever strike the right note for such unjust suffering. A silent bow to the pain and this superhuman strength? This also will not suffice. And in addition there is a sorrow that will never cease, for Bhāī Matī Dās Jī's death at the Cāndnī Cauṅk on November 8, 1675 put an end to his suffering, but Sikhs will never cease to feel the resulting pain.
As is quite common with religion and its many different incarnations, to the unaccustomed, practices seem odd, foreign and well... just different.