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Samelan 2004 The
Children’s Camp at Gurdwara
Guru Nanak Darbar
By: Raghbir Singh
August 20th 2004,
7:30am. The Gurdwara Sahib was bustling
with eager children. This was
their first experience of
a Gurmat Parchaar Samelan.
The enthusiasm of the 30 odd participants
for this 3‐day event at
the Gurdwara was matched by that
of the 10 sewadars who acted
as organizers of
this inaugural event.
For one month, the
Organizing Committee under
the leadership of Gurinder Singh
met regularly to discuss the
plan the event. A two‐day
seminar aimed at training the
facilitators of
the Samelan was conducted by S. Karminder Singh Ji. The objective of the Samelan was to allow children aged 4 and above to participate in the learning and exercising of Gurmat.
Formal registration began at
8am, where
each participant was extended
a warm welcome and given
stationery and nametags. A
Nishan Sahib di Selami was
followed by a rendering
of the rules and regulations of the Samelan.
The Samelan began with
Parkash of Sri
Guru Granth Sahib in the
small darbar, followed by inspirational
Kirten by Guru Nanak
Darbar Kirteni Jatha singing “Charan
Chalo Marg Gobind” which was
also the theme of the Samelan.
After having breakfast, a Breaking
the Ice session was conducted to
allow
participants and facilitators to get to know each other. After all we were going to be together for 15 hours per day for three days. Educational lectures followed until lunchtime.
Then, the children gathered
for Langgar and it was a refreshing scene to watch an exclusively
children Pangat having Guru
Ka Langgar. The afternoon sessions
of first
day consisted of a Quiz Contests, followed by an Open Discussion
Forums. The little inquisitive
minds showed to the fullest that learning is always fun.
After tea,
the participants played a variety
of team games and enjoyed
themselves even further. Then after
light snacks, the participants went
back to the Darbar for an
evening diwan where
they performed Rehras Sahib and
listened to an hour of
inspirational Kirten and
Katha session. It was a Kirten session that did not allow them
to just sit and listen, they
had to sing too. The vibrant
throats performing Kirten were
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challenging the
integrity of the surrounding walls. Sukhasan
was done followed by
Langgar. Then children left
for their homes at 10
pm eager to return the
next morning. DAY 2.
The program began with Nishan
Sahib de Selami, and a briefing
for the activities of the
day. The day started
with Nitnem Paath and
other banees. The participants read
Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib,
TavPrasad Savaiye, Chaupayee Sahib
and Anand Sahib. After having
breakfast, everybody gathered
for another Kirten session, followed
by two educational lectures. The
afternoon saw them take part in
a variety of competitions,
followed by an Open
Discussion Forum that
proved invaluable.
A Telematch was organized in
the evening. Rehras Sahib Path
was
accompanied by Kirten and Katha of Chali Mukte
that left the sangat touched to
the brim.
Nishan Sahib Di Selami
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DAY 3. The day began with
the Selami, Nitnem Path,
followed by breakfast and
then Kirten. Everyone sang
– Asaan Sikhi Da Ni Chadna Raah.
The Samelan culminated with
the Inam Vand Samaroh, the prize
distribution in
the regular Sunday diwan.
At 3 pm it was
time to say goodbye. The children
and the facilitators had learnt
so much from each
other’s experiences. We were all returning
home with wonderful memories
of the synchronous harmony of
enchanting Kirten and Simran;
of knowledge acquired, and of
experiences shared.
It was the end of
the Samelan but the longing
for the next one had already
started. The participants
returned home as tender plants of Sikhi
that needed extensive guidance
and watering. It was the
last day of the Samelan,
but it was just the beginning. End.
Breakfast
Participants Baldeep Kaur (left) and Gursharan Kaur
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Samelan 04
The Participants
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Samelan 04
Receiving Prizes in Recognition of their talents
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Samelan 04
Sewadars
Sewadars L to R: Kajol Kaur, Sitvinder Kaur and Mandeep Kaur
A family of Sewadars and Participants
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Samelan 04
Participants and Facilitators
Facilitators L to R: Satvir Kaur, Baljit Kaur and Gurinder
Singh
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Samelan 2004By: Raghbir SinghSamelan 04