SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Sikh Community is a Symbol of Peace who made many sacrifices in World Wars – High Sheriff of Leicestershire Mel Thomas QPM
Leicester- Thousands of members of the Sikh community from Leicester, Leicestershire and the surrounding cities converged to the multi-cultural city of Leicester’s annual religious procession, Nagar Kirtan, which is now in its 40th year on Sunday 26th April. On a beautiful sunny spring day the procession began from Guru Nanak Gurdwara, 9 Holy Bones, Leicester at 11.30 am after the Sikh Ardas and prayers for world peace.. Leicester was one of the first cities in the UK when the Sikh religious processions began in 1986. In the early religious processions in Leicester, it began from Guru Nanak Gurdwara and finished at the De Montfort Hall and included Fun Fair in Victoria Park.
The lorry in which the Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was being carried was decorated with fresh flowers. The Nagar Kirtan was led by the Panj Pyare, the five beloved. Gatka, Sikh martial art was displayed through the Nagar Kirtan. Leicestershire Police provided security and Leicester City Council assisted with road closures as needed.
The route for the Nagar Kirtan was Great Central Street, Vaughan Way, St. Nicholas Circle, High Street, Humberstone Gate, Charles Street, Sparkenhoe Street, St. Peters Road, East Park Road, Blankyn Avenue, Nottingham Street, Leicester Street and Roseberry Street which reached Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara at about 2.45 pm.
Baptised ceremony, Amrit Sanchar took place at Guru Nanak Gurdwara on Saturday 25th April in the Upstairs Diwan Hall. The Panj Pyare designated by the Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Shri Anandpur Sahib, Punjab on Khalsa Sajna Divas / Vaisakhi in 1699 at a gathering of over 80000 were Bhai Daya Singh Ji, Bhai Dharam Singh Ji, Bhai Himmat Singh Ji, Bhai Mohkam Singh Ji and Bhai Sahib Singh Ji.
The Tenth Guru Ji established the cities of Shri Paunta Sahib on the shore of river Yamuna in 1684, Mukatsar Guru Kashi Damdama Sahib in 1706. Guru Ji wrote the Jaap, Akaal Ustuti, Chaupai , Bachitar Natak, Sawaye, Shabad Hajare and Zafarnama. Guru Gobind Singh Ji sacrificed his parents Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji and Mata Gujri Ji and his four sons Baba Ajit Singh Ji, Baba Jujhar Singh Ji, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji, Baba Fateh Singh Ji for the Sikh religion.
Kirtan Darbar took place at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara’s main diwan hall in which Kirtan Jatha, Kathawachik, Dhadi Jatha and Panthik speakers informed the Sadh Sangat about Khalsa Sajna Divas and Sikh History. The Panj Pyare, Nishaan Singhs, Five Management Committee members of Guru Nanak Gurdwara were all presented with a SAROPA , Garland of Honour.
President of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Gurnam Singh praised the efforts of Guru Nanak Gurdwara and all the sewadars / volunteers who made the Nagar Kirtan safe and successful. He also congratulated all the Sadh Sangat on the Khalsa Sajna Divas / Vaisakhi.
President of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Ajmer Singh Basra, speaking from the stage of the Gurdwara congratulated everyone on the Khalsa Sajna Divas/Vaisakhi and Leicester’s 40th Nagar Kirtan. He thanked the Management Committee of Guru Amar Das Gurdwara for their Sewa at Mann Motors where the Nagar Kirtan briefly stops for refreshments etc. Basra Ji pointed out that despite the Sikh Community paying over £60000 to the Police and Councils they want to stop the Nagar Kirtan. Police and Council workers will be taking photographs and notes of all the things that have gone wrong regarding safety and other issues, and they will be telling all these things at the next meeting in a month’s time.
Our sangat need to listen to the sewadars/volunteers as say out of 10000 Sadh sangat nearly 3000 walks in front of the main lorry. We are taxpayers and deserve more help from authorities. Previously when Nagar Kirtans started Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council both used to give grants for Nagar Kirtans. Grants are given to the Diwali Lights on Melton Road and the Xmas lights in the city centre.
Furthermore, Ajmer Singh Ji said that members of the Sikh Community who have become Councillors have not done much for their communities certainly not as much as Councillors of the other communities who have done a lot for their communities. No literature about the Khalsa Sajna Divas/ Vaisakhi or Sikh religion was given to those watching the Nagar Kirtan. This was particularly needed in the city centre where many different communities watched the Nagar Kirtan.
At this time there were about 200 members of the Sangat in the main diwan hall and in the Nottingham Street car park there were over 2000. It appears Sangat has lost all interest in what management Committees are saying from the stage. About 10-15 years ago main diwan hall, hall number one and two all used to be full, Guru ka Langar used to be served in the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Sahib. At this time TV screens in the langar halls showed what was being said from the stage so that Sadh sangat learnt more about Sikh history and the Khalsa Sajna Divas/Vaisakhi.
One of the special guests at the Nagar Kirtan High Sherrif of Leicestershire Meldin Thomas QPM, a retired Leicestershire police officer who received the Queen’s Police Medal in 2021. This role has over 1000 years of history. The High Sheriff of Leicestershire said “I am very happy to be invited to the Nagar Kirtan. Despite living in Leicester for 50 years it was my first Nagar Kirtan, it was a fantastic and amazing day. It gave me the chance to go to the East Park Road Gurdwara, an area where my and most people who have settled in Leicester came to live first. The prayers at the beginning were very peaceful and humbling. It was great to see the Sikh community come together. Sikh community is a symbol of peace who made many sacrifices in World Wars.”
Bhai Balinder Singh Ji sewadar for decades of Khalsa Aid- an international NGO with the aim to provide humanitarian aid in disaster areas around the world, thanked each and everyone of Nagar Kirtan’s Guru Di Piari Sadh Sangat Ji for their kind donations
Food and other stalls were provided in the Nottingham Street car park near the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara.
TARLOCHAN SINGH VIRK
CO-ORDINATOR
PUNJABI LISTENERS CLUB
LEICESTER
