Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Dear Khalsa ji,
We are writing on behalf of EcoSikh to invite you and your Gurdwara to join Sikhs all over the world in celebrating March 14th as Sikh Environment Day. The important day marks the New Year in the Nanakshahi calendar and the 'Gurgaddhi Diwas' of our seventh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Ji, who is remembered in Sikh history for his deep sensitivity to nature and its preservation.
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| Guru Har Rai ji inspired Sikhs to care for nature and his legacy provides one of the most inspiring models for our ecological consciousness |
On March 14th, hundreds of Gurdwaras across India, the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and the world will be taking part in the celebrations by singing shabads focused on the environment, holding ceremonial tree plantings, and encouraging children to share reflections on the environment and Sikhism with the sangat. Gurdwaras around the world are also coming up with their own creative ways to celebrate the day, through children’s environmental art displays, environmental nagar kirtans, recycling drives for used goods, and reducing energy and water use.
We believe that every Gurdwara can make a difference. Since November 21st, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Gurdwaras and schools across the world have been signing up to share the message of ‘Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat’ with their sangats. By joining the celebrations, Gurdwaras in the diaspora will also be expressing their support to over one hundred Gurdwaras in India that will use the day to raise awareness about the state of ecology across their spiritual homeland, and in restoring peoples’ relationship to the air, land, and water systems through careful reflection on the words of the Sikh Gurus enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
After the March celebrations, Gurdwaras will have the opportunity to share their stories, photos, and videos from the day on an online exhibition on our website. We believe that the day will be an opportunity to bring the Sikh community together by celebrating our rich tradition of concern for the environment. We kindly invite your Gurdwara and the sangat to celebrate the day according to their wishes, and welcome your ideas and suggestions to make Sikh Environment Day a day of reflection and renewal, and truly, a historical event for Sikhs around the world.
Participating Gurdwaras will be provided with a toolkit on how they can celebrate the day. In the mean time you can find out more on www.ecosikh.org. We look forward to being in touch.
Guru Ang Sang,
Contacts:
| Bandana Kaur Diaspora Program Manager EcoSikh [email protected] +1-917-326-9222 New York, NY, USA |
Ravneet Pal Singh India Program Manager EcoSikh [email protected] +91-998-837-3268 Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA | ||
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