What do Sikhs need to learn and implement when remembering the shaheeds during the months of November and December each year? With this in mind, many sevadars ran a splendid 3-day winter Sikhi camp, dedicated to the 4 Sahibzaday at Gurdwara Sahib Ramgarhia Sabha Derby, UK.
The idea was to take themes from the hugely successful 4 sahibzaday film and to expose the young Sikhs to activities based on these themes. Each day commenced with dastaar tying which was received with wonderful enthusiasm-it was splendid seeing dastaars of all 7 colours of the rainbow dancing around joyfully during the camp.
Numerous themed sessions were delivered over the course of 3 days of which the art session was judged to be very popular. This comprised of making cardboard shields, decorating Kalgees with colourful sequins and gemstones and creating falcons with real and felt feathers. The transformational and therapeutic power of art never ceases to amaze, and created expressions of joy and lots of sticky fingers covered in paint and PVA glue!!
Another very popular activity was planting flower bulbs in pots, a metaphor for planting a fresh seed of faith that is the central message of these Shaheedee months and to follow in the footsteps of Guru Gobind Singh ji, who when he was a child would plant flowers and shrubs in the garden of Rajah Fateh Chand. So the young Sikhs were taken through the explanation of how planting and caring for the bulbs is identical to planting and caring for ones spirituality during good and difficult times. Other activities included viewing the 4 sahibzaday film (with an observational quiz), baking in the langar hall, basic self-defence, kirtan, exposing the children to Sikh stringed instruments (dilruba) and classical raag notation.
Values such as the power of play and having fun, joy, courage, caring and sharing, forgiveness and validation of all feelings were explored through talks, sharing personal stories and role-play. This was particularly moving as some of the young Sikhs really opened up by narrating personal stories about overcoming challenging circumstances with conviction, courage and persistence.
This was a tremendous camp full of joy, inspiration and practical application. I only wish that such camps were around when I was a child, but then again, we are all children and every day is a moment to be playful, to have fun and to learn.
Dr Hardeep Singh
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| Photos showing young sikhs sewing bulbs in flower pots and getting really creative with making kalgees, decorating falcons and creating great shields | |