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The world renowned Sikh Priest Giani Balwinder Singh Rangila from Chandigarh in the northern Indian state of Punjab was given The Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to the Sikh Community Worldwide on Sunday 10th January at Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, 106 East Park Road, Leicester by the locally based Sikh Voluntary organisation Punjabi Listeners’ Club who recently organised a Young People’s Children’s Hymn Singing for BBC Children In Need which raised £605. The presentation was made by the young members of the Punjabi Listeners’ Club Gursimran Kaur Loyal, Gurkiran Kaur Loyal, Guraman Singh Loyal and four year old Mansukhpreet Kaur Atwal. The above mentioned youngsters recited two Shabads prior to the presentation. This was so appreciated by the congregation that they offered over £100 which was also handed to the Rangila brothers for the marriages of the poor in India which is again being organised this year in October. Giani Balwinder Singh Ji pointed out that it costs approximately 40 Lakh Rupees for the marriages of the poor girls that they organise yearly. On their last visit in 2008, at Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara Sahib, Stanhope Street, Derby, Mansukhpreet Kaur who was only two years at the time handed Giani Balwinder Singh Rangila Ji a cheque for a substantial amount which was donated by her parents Sukhdev Singh Atwal { Sokha Udopuria ) and Sukhraj Kaur Ji. The Atwals attended the last three Kirtan Darbar held at the East Park Road Gurdwara in Leicester on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 –9 pm.. Although the Kirtan Jatha { Religious Hymn Singing Group } comprising of three brothers Balwinder, Bhupinder and Surinder performed Kirtan as well as gave explanations with easy to understand examples in London, Coventry, the £12 million newly built Gurdwara in Royal Leamington Spa and other cities across the country, the majority of the time they were at Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Leicester ie, 1, 2 , 3, 4 ,5 , 8 , 9 and 10 January. One of the main differences with Giani Balwinder Singh Rangila
Kirtan Jatha compared to others is that he encourages and is very
successful in getting the members of the congregation to sing the
praises of God with them. During the last decade Giani Balwinder Singh
Rangila has been organising and contributing towards the marriages of
the poor and in October 2009 there were 31 such marriages one of which
was for a Muslim couple whose parents could not believe the care of
Sikhs for the Muslim faith.  The brothers first came to Leicester in November 1983 and this year came especially to celebrate the birthday of the 10th Sikh Master Guru Gobind Singh Ji on 5th January for which continuous readings of the Sikh Scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji began on 3rd January and were completed on 5th January at the East Park Road Gurdwara. Giani Balwinder Singh Rangila Kirtan Jatha performed Kirtan at the Gurdwara from Midday until about 1.45 pm . Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born in Patna City in Bihar state of India and created the Khalsa Panth {Sikh Nation} by a baptising ceremony at Anadpur Sahib in 1699 . Guru Ji’s parents, sons and Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave their lives for the Sikh religion. The thee brothers were presented with a Saropa each by the Gurdwara whose President Mohinder Singh Sangha thanked the congregation and the three brothers and the countless volunteers at the place of worship which is open from 5 a.m. till 9 pm daily and visited by about 1000 people every day. He along with Ex-President and current Sports Secretary of the Gurdwara Mangal Singh presented the brothers with a Punjabi Listeners’ Club Booklet containing various reports, photos, interviews, articles etc. The General Secretary of the Punjabi Listeners’ Club Tarlochan Singh Virk commented “ We are very pleased to honour Giani Balwinder Singh Rangila Ji with The Lifetime Achievement Award for his countless Services to the Sikh Community all over the world. “ |
