Washington: Sikh Kirtani Jatha sang at Washington’s most prominent and inspiring event on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. The gothic arches of Washington National Cathedral were filled with the sounds and sights of the 32nd Annual Interfaith Concert, a must attend event in nation's capital, featuring a 30 member Sikh Kirtani Jatha. A celebration of 5 faith communities was witnessed by a huge audience.
Sikh group has been performing at this concert since 1987 and this was their 23rd performance.
Washington National Cathedral has been closed since the earthquake in Washington in August and it opened on Saturday, November 12th. This concert was one of the very first public programs after the opening of this national icon which hosts presidential prayers.
This program was organized by the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) and it featured music of five faith traditions: Hindu-Jain, Jewish, Latter-day Saints (Mormon), Protestant, and Sikh. The concert helped to increase the sense of community among peoples of many faiths among the very diverse audience and participants.
A Hindu Group performed a classical dance at the Concert as well
The concert is an event to support the work of Interfaith Conference which brings 10 faith communities in the Washington metropolitan area and it works to increase understanding and address issues of human dignity. Guru Gobind Singh Foundation representing the Sikh faith is the member of the IFC since 1988. Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, based in Washington, is active nationally and locally in different forums on behalf of the Sikhs.
Sikh group sang a shabad 'Kahe re ban khojan jayee' which is written by the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur and is contained in the Sikh scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib.
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.”
Sikh Kirtani Jatha
Sikh Kirtani Jatha of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation maintains the 500 year old tradition of hymn singing started by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. This group performs at the regular Sunday services at the National Sikh Center in Rockville, Maryland, as well as at other special programs and on other religious occasion.
Kirtan, or the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh's holy scripture, is an integral part of the religious worship of Sikhs. The Granth Sahib contains preachings of the Sikh Gurus (Guru is the messenger of God- The Divine Teacher) and also the writings of saints and spiritual teachers of their times, whose philosophy conformed to the spirit of Sikhism. It is perhaps the only scripture in the world that incorporates and sanctifies texts of people who did not subscribe to the faith.
Journey of 23 performances, Images from the past:
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| The picture (right, bottom) is of 1987 performance, the first ever. |