LOS ANGELES: Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, the head of Sikhs' highest seat Akal Takhat, formally launched the Tri-Centennial Celebration of the Ordination of Sri Guru Granth as the Sikhs' eternal guru at the International Seminar held here.
He was welcomed by the representatives of many Sikh organizations and given a plaque of honor by Los Angeles County Commissioner Mahesh Parekh. The Guru Granth was compiled and canonized by Guru Arjan in 1604.
It contains the hymns of 36 gurus and holy men from all world religions originating in the Indian sub-continent using all major languages of the South East Asia and Middle East. The last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ordained the Granth as the Eternal Guru in the last sermon he delivered in 1708. To celebrate the occasion a Seminar on "Shabad Guru" was held on May 6 at the Baha'i Center Auditorium.
It was sponsored by Guru Ram Das Sikh Mission of America (GRDSMA) chaired by Bhai Sahib Satpal Singh Khalsa. Figure 1 Jathedar Akal Takhat addressing International Symposium Jathedar Vedanti blessed the International Seminar and announced that this seminar would be followed by a series of such seminars all over the world to commemorate this auspicious occasion.
He asked Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa - Bhai Sahiba of Sikh Dharma International to take charge of Sikh mission work in North America. Gurutej Singh Khalsa-Founder and Senior Vice President of Akal Security- spoke on teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as taught to him by Jogi Harbhajan Singh.
He recited a poem dedicated to the Shabad Guru. Keynote speaker Dr Bhai Harbans Lal traced the history of the compilation of the Guru Granth and highlighted the spiritual doctrines it offered for peace, harmony and prosperity of the world global village. Guru Granth promotes interfaith dialogues and awakens one common spirit among people worldwide, he concluded.
Dr Hakam Singh pleaded for the understanding and the practice of the teachings contained in the Guru Granth for many real benefits it offered. Sardar Prithipal Singh, special assistant to Jathedar Akal Takhat narrated a visit of Bhai Sahib Satpal Singh Khalsa to the Golden Temple in Amritsar where he completed Akhand Paath, the continuous recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, at the Akal Takhat.
He then said a prayer in the presence of all five jathedars asking for guidance to found GRDSMA to further the Sikh mission work in the footsteps of late Yogi Harbhajan Singh. Dr Inderjit Kaur Khalsa asked the audience to undertake a pilgrimage to Hazur Sahib in India for the grand celebration of the Tri-Centennial.
Didar Singh Bains who is recognized for excellence in the California farming industry as well as Sikh leadership in America and was recently recognized with a title of Panth Rattan joined other speakers in highlighting the significance of the Guru Granth Celebration. Giani Ranjit Singh former head granthi of the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee asked for promotion of the language of the Guru Granth among Sikh youth. He proposed a vote of thanks to the organizers and the speakers of the seminar.
The seminar was attended by members of several Sikh gurdwaras and Sikh organizations of Los Angeles and State of California. Many traveled from Canada, New York, Texas, and Arizona to attend this seminar. The speakers and dignitaries attending the seminars were honored by plaques presented by Jathedar Vedanti, Bibi Inderjit Kaur, and Bhai Satpal Singh.
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