Sikh Kirtan at Washington National Cathedral

In November 2011, Sikh Kirtani Jatha of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation sang 'Kahe re ban khojan jayee' written by the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur and is contained in the Sikh scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib.

More than 1,000 persons experienced the sacred songs, dances or chants from five world religions in the heart of Washington, the America’s capital. The magnificent building of the Washington National Cathedral was filled with sweet sound of spiritual music of Sikh Kirtani Jatha and many other faith traditions during the 32th Interfaith concert organized by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) in this multilingual and multi faith unique program.

The Sikh Kirtni Jatha of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation(GGSF), Washington, consisted of 25 men and women who donned spotless white dress with kesri satin palla ( scarf) around their necks with Sikh insignia ‘Ek Onkar’. In a melodious tune composed by Dr. Rajwant Singh in Raag Dhanasari, accompanied by talented Tabla maestro Bhai Sucha Singh, they sang in perfect harmony a hymn composed by ninth Guru Teg Bahadur ji. "Kahe Re Ban Khojan Jai." Ravi Singh started the musical presentation with an alaap on Sitar in Raag Dhanasari and Jaswinder Singh gave a fitting vocal response in the same raag and sang at higher notes.

Bhai Gurdarshan Singh led the singing with sargam and Dr. Rajwant Singh explained that the hymn is written by the ninth Guru of the Sikhs who stood for religious freedom in India and was executed in 1675 for his stand against forced conversions. This is the 24th time that Sikhs participated in this annual program led by GGSF.

IFC brings together eleven historic faith communities to advance justice, build community and nurture understanding in the metropolitan Washington, DC region. GGSF representing the Sikh faith is the member of the IFC since 1988 and is active nationally and locally in different forums on behalf of the Sikhs.

“Why go out to search for your God in the Woods?
For, though ever detached,
He abides within us all:
Yes, He also lives within you:
As the Fragrance abides in the flower,
And the reflection in the mirror,
So also your God.
So search Him not without, but within your heart
Know the one Lord alone, within and without.
This is the Wisdom imparted by the Guru.
Says Nanak, “ Without Knowing oneself,
One is rid not of the moss of Doubt
(of separation from rest of the creation).”

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To support the work of GGSF: www.ggsfusa.com
To support IFC: www.ifcmw.org

First participation of Sikh Kirtani Jatha in 1987 ( perhaps the first ever largest Sikh group to perform)

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Related article:

Annual Kirtan at the National Cathedral
By Avneet Kaur, Special to Sikh News Network

Reporting from Washington - Gurbani kirtan filled the gothic arches of the Washington National Cathedral as a Sikh jatha sang Guru Tegh Bahadur’s shabad.

The harmonium and tabla duo was accompanied by a melodious sitar as members of Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, in Rockville, Maryland, came together to represent the Sikh community at the 32nd Annual Interfaith Concert.

“I think it’s great that we are participating in the interfaith concert because it’s important for Sikhs to become recognizable in the community and for people to understand what Sikhs are all about,” said Guransh Singh, 15, one of the tabla players.

The 1,368-foot cathedral, which had been closed for two months following an earthquake in August, was reopened to host Tuesday evening’s event.

According to its Web site, “The Cathedral has long served as a grand spiritual center where Americans unite to worship and pray, mourn the passing of world leaders, and confront the pressing moral and social issues of the day.”

The annual concert was organized by the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, an association of religious groups that promotes dialogue and community among persons of diverse faiths in metropolitan Washington, according to its Web site.

Five of its 11 interfaith member groups were represented at the event on Nov. 15: The Mormon Choir of Washington, Latter-Day Saints; Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Choir, Protestant; Natananjali Dance Group, Hindu-Jain; Temple Sinai Choir, Jewish; and the Sikh Kirtani Jatha.

“This is our 24th presentation at the interfaith concert,” said Rajwant Singh, executive director of the gurdwara and a former president of the interfaith association. “It provides us an opportunity (to) show that we are very much part of the American society… So unless we participate in these programs, people will not know who Sikhs are and they will not get the taste of (our) wonderful heritage.”

The 25-person jatha sang one of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s shabads in recognition of his upcoming martyrdom anniversary.

“The theme (shabad) is ‘Kahe Re Ban Khojan Jayee,’ that God resides in every heart and every human being has the opportunity to become one with his or her creator,” Rajwant Singh said.

The concert began with an organ prelude and was interspersed with narrations after each devotional piece. In addition, The Washington Revels, a nondenominational group that combines Spanish culture with Hebrew and Arabic dialect, sang about peace. And, unlike the predominately vocalist groups, the Natananjali Dance Group performed a traditional Bharatanatyam dance.

“I enjoyed it (all) a lot because I got to spend time with other Sikh members of the sangat,” said Guransh Singh. “And I got to also listen to other communities present their own cultures and traditions.”

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