The “Garage Kitchen”
While driving home from a friend’s house one night I noticed something out of the corner of my eye as I passed the rows of darkened homes in his neighborhood. One garage door on the block was open and the garage lights were on, but there were no cars inside. Instead, there was an older Mata/Mai/Bibi/Bebe...
The Rise of Gurmat Sangeet
Posted by Singh in Art, Education, Gurbani, Music, Musings, Preservation, Sikhi, UK, USA on 03 4th, 2009 | 18 Comments
As I was randomly going through youtube clips a few days ago, I came across the above video of a group of Sikh children in Fremont, who learn kirtan in classical raags. Despite the poor audio, its obvious that they are good and I know this also from having heard them (and some of their contemporaries)...
A Sikh Has To Practice To Be The Son Of The Great Guru.
A friend sent me a video of Harbhajan Singh [Yogi Ji] the other day. I never really listened much to Yogi Ji, but I think he makes some interesting analogies in his katha.
Here are a few that I thought were pretty cool and some that go to our previous discussions of what it means to be a Sikh. My...
California Cultural Clash
While driving yesterday I heard about an interesting news story on the local conservative talk radio station. Basically, the Mexican father of a 14 year old daughter was arrested by California authorities for selling his 14 year old daughter’s hand in marriage to an 18 year old man. Apparently...
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Posted by Singh in General on 12 24th, 2008 | 3 Comments
I saw this article?on BBC online and thought I’d share it with your guys. Basically, the BBC did a composite of six interviews with people of non-Christian faiths and asked them how they spend the time they have off for Christmas.
The Sikh interviewee noted that during this time of year, Sikhs...
A New Sheriff In Houston – Better for Sikhs?
Posted by Singh in General on 12 17th, 2008 | 4 Comments
A couple of weeks ago TLH reported on an incident involving the Tagore family in Houston who suffered what can quite easily be classified as police brutality after having called for help. The family called nine-one-one after finding out that their home had been burglarized, but when the Sheriffs arrived,...
The Sikh IDentity…
Posted by Singh in General on 12 10th, 2008 | 5 Comments
In a press release yesterday, SALDEF reported that the state of Indiana has recently implemented new guidelines for drivers license photographs:
The new policy incorporates the use of new facial recognition software and involves restrictions on smiling, head coverings, scarves, glasses, and facial...
Diaspora Sikhs in Punjab
Posted by Singh in General on 11 26th, 2008 | 5 Comments
Joint Post by Reema and Singh
The Book Club recently commented on the terminology and applicability of the term ‘diaspora’ to the Punjabi community outside Punjab-and whether ‘diaspora’ can apply to a group that won’t be returning to the homeland. For more discussion of...
“The 1984 [anti-Sikh] riots were wrong”/Widow Colony
Posted by Singh in General on 11 19th, 2008 | 28 Comments
Recently, during a news conference in Amritsar, Rahul Gandhi reportedly condemned the widespread violence which followed his grandmother’s assassination by her bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh.
The 1984 riots were wrong, and I strongly condemn the carnage…
The comment came in...
“Why blend in when you were born to stand out?”
Posted by Singh in General on 11 5th, 2008 | 14 Comments
Like so many Sikhs and friends of Sikhs, I was in Yuba City that past weekend for what is the closest thing to a “jor mela” that America has to offer. Lot of colorful Sikhs, lost of seva, and lots of food, lots of people selling lots of things.
One of the things that I think stood out among...
Something to Think About…
Posted by Singh in General on 10 22nd, 2008 | 12 Comments
Traditionally, in the Punjabi culture it is not unheard of or uncommon for a widow to remarry after the death of her husband. Its seen as a practical idea – the woman doesn’t have to “go back” to her parents home and is encouraged to move on with her life. That women in our community...
Gold Rimmed, Khanda Shaped, Sikh Glasses
Has anyone else noticed how ridiculous the (US Presidential Election) campaigns have gotten? The ridiculousness has reached a new all time low in the past few weeks with both sides slinging mud, making tenuous connections, and outright lying. Admittedly, I have a preference for one side over the...
Gurdwara Funds: A Fine Line…
Posted by Singh in Bhangra, General, Organizations, Punjabi, Sikhi, UK, USA on 10 3rd, 2008 | 12 Comments
Often on this blog we have discussed what role our institutions should play in our lives and recently I had an opportunity to examine the issue anew. In a recent gurdwara council meeting I attended, one gurdwara decided to give a large sum of money to a group putting on a bhangra program. The group...
Bollywood’s “Heroes” – More Sikh Characters on the Big Screen
Posted by Singh in General on 09 17th, 2008 | 41 Comments
We have had a lot of discussion about the Sikh identity here on TLH, so it is no surprise that when I saw this movie poster I immediately wanted to bring it to your attention.
Bollywood is doing it again – another movie with Sikhs. But instead of what we have seen in the past with Sikhs often portrayed...
Sikhnet – Gracefully Pushing the Limits of Punjabi Sikh Perspectives on Courtship
Posted by Singh in Canada, General, Organizations, Punjabi, Sikhi, UK, USA on 08 31st, 2008 | 47 Comments
This past week, I saw this advertisement about the “GurSikh Speed Meeting.” For those of you who have no idea the Sikhnet’s Gursikh Speed Meeting is obviously (and admittedly) the Sikh version of speed dating. According to the organizers of the program:
The concept is quite simple. An...
Sikh Prisoner’s Hair Cut Against His Will – PETITION
Posted by Singh in General on 08 30th, 2008 | Comments Off on Sikh Prisoner’s Hair Cut Against His Will – PETITION
In July of this year Jagmohan Singh, who is being held in a Florida prison on misdemeanor charges, had his hair forcibly cut by prison authorities. Florida’s prison regulations require that hair and beard be cut while a prisoner is in prison and the regulations have been repeatedly upheld on grounds...
Dastarbandi/Turban Tying
A few days ago Sikhnet News posted a story about the Dastarbandi/Pagri di Rasam/Turban Tying Ceremony of Harmanas Singh, a 16 year old young man in California. While the story gave only a brief explanation for the ceremony it got me thinking about the significance of the ceremony in the Sikh community...
Olympic Gold: Singh is King
Posted by Singh in General on 08 11th, 2008 | 8 Comments
Today Abhinav Bindra won the first individual gold medal ever claimed by any Indian Olympian. He competed in and won the 10M air rifle event this morning in Beijing. We originally posted about him a few days ago here.
Abhivan hails from Chandigarh, Punjab and is the son of Dr. A.S. Bindra and Babli...
Jathedar Vedanti “Resigns”
Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, resigned yesterday without providing any real reason for the step down. From reports it seems that the Jathedar was asked to resigned late Monday night after some SGPC execs visited him at home – the apparent reason: differences of opinion...
Preserving History the Right Way?
Good news! After years of coaxing and clamoring by Sikhs worldwide, the SGPC has recently committed to preserving Sikh buildings in their historic condition – instead of updating facades with rows of crisp white 4×4 tile, layers of white paint, and sheets of white marble, among other forms...
