Sonia is currently presenting BBC Asian Network Gold on BBC’s Red Button until Sunday 29 January – iconic Asian music from over four decades . For more information - www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork <http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork>

A new mid-morning presenter will be announced in due course.

Guru Ji came to Alamgir village in the robes of “Uchch Da Pir” on a palanquin (Manji). Two Pathan brothers named Ghani khan and Nabi Khan assisted Guru Ji and three other sikhs Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Man Singh and Bhai Dharam Singh. Guru Ji came here in disguise because of the presence of Mughal military contingents in the area. Ghani Khan And Nabi Khan helped Guru Ji, even at the prospect of facing certain death by the Mughal. When Guru Ji reached Alamgir, a resident named Nagahia Khan presented a horse for further journey. Then Guru Ji discarded the palanquin (Manji), which is preserved in an underground cell in the Gurdwara premises and devotees can pay their visit.

Guru Ji gave a very affectionate send off to Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan by bestowing a Hukumnama by which their services were appreciated. After staying there for few days, Guru Ji went towards Raikot. While Guru Ji stayed there for few days, he asked an old lady about the water source, lady replied that there is a well nearby but its contaminated because a python lives in the well. Guru Ji hit the python with arrow giving it “mukti” (exemption from further transmigration) and hit the arrow at another place and a spring of water bubbled there. The lady saw this miracle and requested Guru Ji to cure her leprosy, Guru Ji said that whoever would take bath with this water with faith all their pains will be cured. Today the spring has been converted into a water body that consists a part of the Gurdwara and is known as “Tirsar” (Arrow Lake).

The Gurdwara premises are quite spacious with newly relocated, one of the largest Langar Halls to accommodate large volume of devotees paying visit to the Gurdwara. A Diwan Hall for religious gatherings. Water Body and free parking facility for the devotees. Gurdwara is situated on Ludhiana-Malerkotla highway and is easily accessible by road. Nearest train station is Ludhiana city and road    transport facilities to the Gurdwara are frequent during the day.

Illustration of Bhai Mani Singh

Bhai Mani Singh Ji was a scholar, a Sikh and a great martyr. Bhai Mani Singh steered the destiny of Sikh religion at a very critical stage in the history. He transcribed the final version of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Scripture) dictated to him by Guru Gobind Singh in the year 1704 and was appointed as a Granthi (keeper/reader of sikh scripture) at Darbar Sahib (The Golden Temple) Amritsar. Bhai Mani Singh was also responsible for collecting the Bani of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and compiling it in the form of Dasam Granth (book of tenth guru). His great martyrdom has become a part of the daily Sikh Ardas (Jina singha singhaniya ne dharam het sees dittay, Bandh Bandh Katvaye…)

Bhai Mani Singh Ji was custodian of Darbar Sahib in the days when the mughal emperor Zakariya Khan ruled Punjab and was bent on exterminating the Sikhs. No Sikh was allowed to utter the word “Guru” and there was a price on the head of every Sikh. Bhai Mani Singh had the courage to invite the Sikhs to celebrate “Bandi Chor Divas” (Diwali) at Darbar Sahib in those critical times. In the year 1737, Bhai Mani Singh got permission from Zakariya Khan to celebrate Bandi Chor Divas at Darbar Sahib for an agreed tax amount of 5000 rupees. Bhai Mani Singh expected to accumulate the money from donations from the Sikhs coming to celebrate Bandi Chor Divas. But he came to know about Zakariya Khan’s plot to kill the Sikhs who were coming to attend the celebration, so Bhai Mani Singh sent message to the Sikhs warning them not to turn up for the celebration. As a result the tax could not be paid to Zakariya Khan and he ordered the execution of Bhai Mani Singh at Lahore.

When Bhai Mani Singh was brought to Lahore, Zakariya Khan asked Bhai Mani Singh that if he wants to stay alive he should convert to Islam. But Bhai Mani Singh denied and Zakariya Khan ordered to execute him joint by joint. When the executor started to cut into Bhai Ji’s wrist, he said to the executor that you are not obeying your master’s order to cut me joint by joint and my joints start with my fingers. The executioner and the crowd were awestruck.

Bhai Mani Singh recited “Sukhmani Sahib” a holy creation of the Guru Arjan Dev Ji (fifth guru of the Sikhs) while he was being executed joint by joint. Bhai Mani Singh was one of the most devoted sikhs of his times and a great martyr who never barter anything for his faith.

In this small town a historical Gurdwara Ber Sahib is situated. This is the place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji sat under the ber tree (jujuba) to meditate everyday for 14 years, nine months and 13 days. It was during one of ablution that Guru Nanak Dev Ji had what is described, in the Janam Sakhis, as a direct communion with the Divine. Guru Nanak Dev Ji himself planted the ber tree and it is still present in the Gurdwara. Guru Ji worked at sultanpur lodhi in Modi Khana (food supplies store) of Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi.

In the year 1488 Guru Nanak Dev Ji married to Bibi Sulakhni Ji and while staying in sultantpur lodhi Guru Ji had two sons named Shri Chand and Lakhmi Chand. In late 1497 the news of Guru Ji drowning in the Kali Bein spread like fire. After three days Guru Ji came out of canal and said these words “na koi hindu, na koi muslman” (no one is hindu, no one is muslim). After this Guru Ji started his lifelong mission of Udasis from Sultanpur Lodhi.

Other than visiting many places in India Guru Ji also paid visit to Mecca, Madina and Baghdad via Multan, Peshawar Sakhar, Soni Miani, and Hinglaj etc. Guru Ji also visited Syria, Turkey and Tehran (present capital of Iran).

Guru Ji was a born poet. He wrote 947 hyms comprising of Japji Sahib, Asa Di War, Bara-Mah, Sidh Gosht, Onkar (Dakhni) and these were included in Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan dev Ji (fifth guru). As a social reformer Guru Nanak Dev Ji upheld the cause of women, downtrodden and the poors. He attacked the citadel of caste system of Hindus and theocracy of Muslim rulers.

The association of Guru Nanak Dev Ji with Sultanpur Lodhi began in 1475, when Bebe Nanki Ji was married in this town. Guru Ji’s father was concerned about the future of his son. Resulting in which, Guru Ji was sent to the custody of Shri Jai Ram. After Nankana Sahib (now in Pakistan) Sultanpur Lodhi is the only city, which can be said to be most related to the first guru of the sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The night will include…

• DJ Entertainment by Aman Hayer’s Entourage
• Singer, Geeta Zaildar
• Lots of prizes to be won
• 3 course dinner (provided by Signature)

Venue:

COLESIUM BANQUETING SUITE

300-310 High Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1QW

on

14th October 2011
6:30pm – 12:00am
£25.00 per person

It will be a truly enjoyable night for you and your family and friends, so be sure to attend.

Any questions, please contact SCCP on: 020 8554 3377

We charge a small administration fee of £12 per year to be listed on our directory.  Please don’t be put off by this small fee.  We use all revenue to continue running the Sikhs Online project.

If you are unfortunate enough to break down on the motorway, you should always bear in mind that hard shoulders are for emergency use only. If you can keep on driving and stop at a service station or take the next exit off the motorway you should try to do so.

If you need to use the hard shoulder in an emergency, stop as far to the left as possible, with your wheels turned also to the left. Leave your sidelights on and use your hazard lights.

Exit your vehicle using the left hand door and make sure all your passengers do the same. If you have a reflective jackets make sure that you put them on. Do not use a reflective warning triangle on the motorway if you have broken down.

You need to make sure that all your passengers are kept away from the carriageway. It can be a scary experience so ensure that you keep calm. Try to sit up the bank of if there is a barrier behind it.

On a motorway do not attempt to try to repair your car. Call you roadside assistance company to help you. If you don’t have car breakdown insurance cover it would be a good idea to get some. Breakdown cover can start from as low as £20 per year.

If you have a mobile phone use it to contact your provider. If you do not, you will have to walk to the emergency telephone, which you will find along the hard shoulder. You must never try to cross over the carriageway to use the emergency telephone. These phones are free and will connect you directly to the Highways agency.

“May Vaheguru bestow blessings on all,” it says, continuing: “The directors, staff and volunteers of United Sikhs would like to express their gratitude to the community for the continued support to all its projects: without your support, we would not have been able to undertake the many projects we do. We will continue to work on these important issues that most affect our community and those in need, exemplifying the most fundamental principles of Sikhi.

It goes on: “United Sikhs wishes prosperity and peace for all on the pious occasion of Vaisakhi, which commemorates the inauguration of the Khalsa panth at Anandpur Sahib in 1699. Khalsa, which means ‘sovereign’, is the name given by the 10th Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, to all Sikhs who have been baptised or initiated by taking Amrit.

“Based on the teachings of the Ten Gurus, Khalsa believes in one Supreme Omnipresent God. The Sikh religion teaches us equality, tolerance and respect for all of humanity. It teaches us modesty and instils within us the resolve to stand against any injustice and tyranny.

“Today, Sikhs are facing an unprecedented attack on their faith and dignity across the world – whether it is through xenophobia, unfair policies during air travel, racial and religious profiling, hate and bias crimes, school bullying or employment discrimination, the Sikh identity and articles of faith are constantly being threatened.

“Our legal advocacy team continues to work on individual cases, on advocacy for policies that protect religious freedom of Sikhs at national and international airports, on bringing awareness to issues such as the mass graves in Haryana and the unfair treatment of wearing of the Dastaar in Europe and Panjab (India), and on participating in education efforts for law enforcement in Australia and United States.”

United Sikhs urges: “Join us in our advocacy efforts to bring the many important community issues to light.”

In the USA, it says, “you can join United Sikhs at our 2011 Sikh Summit from May 3rd to 6th on Capitol Hill, Washington DC where participating community members will meet with US Congressmen and Senators from different regions and share community concerns with our lawmakers.

“This Vaisakhi, to meet the challenges, help us to fill out this simple community information form to ensure that the concerns of your community are represented at this national forum, the 2011 Sikh Summit.”

Internationally, the organisation is proud that it stands strong in the service of humanitarian relief, bringing aid to those most in need, notably in Japan and through its continuing work in Haiti.

In all, United Sikhs has served in over 16 disasters throughout the world. distributing more than 500,000 hot meals and emergency relief and shelters to thousands.

It remains “ready to respond quickly and effectively to any call for help, small or large. Our community projects such as health education and awareness programs and the Feed the Hungry (FTH) program would not benefit the many people they do without the support of generous community members like you.”

At Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall, London, the United Sikhs Help Desk has helped hundreds of immigrants into the UK since the service was started a year ago.

In New York, the Educare Centre provides services to enrich and inspire the local Sikh and Punjabi communities, especially women, youths and the elderly. However, in keeping with the Sikh principle of sarbat da bhala – service for the good of all – anyone in need is welcome.

After the New York centre, a second base is opening in Freemont California and the goal is to open such centres across the globe where need is prevalent.

United Sikhs encourages the Sikh community to vigorously practise their faith and report any issues in their respective areas that burden the ability to practise their faith. US Sikhs should call 1-888-243-1690 or email law-global@unitedsikhs.org to report any concerns.

Through its global conference and civil rights endeavours, the organisation continues to shed light on the most pressing issues of the global Sikh nation and to fight for the free practice of thefaith.

To continue these efforts it needs your assistance and financial support. You may donate online at www.unitedsikhs.org/donate or post a cheque or make a bank transfer to a United Sikhs chapter near you. For chapter details see http://unitedsikhs.org/contact.php

Single Sikhs is committed to helping Sikh singles find the love of their life, and with over 2,000 registered online users, we are confident in our ability to do so. The Single Sikhs dating model allows users to create online profiles letting your potential Sikh date know the kind of things you want them to.

Sikh dating can be challenging for singles looking for love that lasts. But Single Sikhs offers a Sikh dating site that allows our users to take their love destiny in their own hands. Of all the Singh’s or Kaur’s who are single, only some will be compatible with you specifically, and it can be difficult to determine the level of compatibility of a potential Sikh partner through methods of other Sikh dating services.

Create your profile free on Single Sikhs today

The story features in the wide-ranging Society and Culture pages of the Herald’s website and reveals the temple’s claim to be “the biggest eatery in the world” feeding up to 80,000 people every day in its langar.

The food for this colossal daily feat is prepared by as many as a thousand volunteers, from 4am until the evening. Their labour of love in Sikhism’s holiest shrine is accompanied by continuous chanting by religious leaders, which is broadcast around the complex.

Many visitors to the temple, both Sikhs and Hindus, consider a meal at the langar a spiritual blessing.

The report offers delightful insights into the philosophy of service enshrined in Sikhism, from how the food is prepared and served, to the cleaning of the temple every day, to the charming ritual of polishing leather shoes left by forgetful visitors at the end of the day!

Read the Sydney Morning Herald report and view its video about the temple by visiting www.smh.com.au