Guru Nanak Foundation of America celebrates Vaisakhi.
By Dr. Ripi Kohli-Chhabra
SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND: A three-day celebration of Vaisakhi at Guru Nanak Foundation of America (GNFA) gurdwara was attended by overflowing sangat with great piety and fervor here, recently.
April 13th, the day of Vaisakhi celebrations, was a beautiful spring day. The inspiring program included melodious kirtan by Bhai Jagmohan Singh ji and jatha, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Shaant ji and jatha, and GNFA Khalsa School students looked resplendent in magenta dastaars and chunnis.
The active participation of the 180 student-strong Khalsa School, which offers Boli and Virsa classes for kindergartners to eighth graders as well as high school and adult gurmat classes, was evidence of the youth’s deep engagement with Sikhi. To the resonant accompaniment of dholak and chainey, the Panj Pyarey led the nagar kirtan marked by joyful singing of shabads and jakaarey. Nishaan Sahib Chole di Sewa was performed with much devotion. In addition to langar, devotees distributed delicious lassi, lemonade, cupcakes, and other sweets.
The Chairwoman of GNFA, Sardarni Harsharan Kaur, shared extraordinarily uplifting news with the sangat. A Sikh couple from the community has generously offered to donate eight acres of commercially zoned land to GNFA to use as assets, as it embarks upon a massive, new gurdwara building project at its Silver Spring location. This land is located in Prince George’s County in Accokeek, Maryland. Its assessed 2013 value is 1.2 million dollars. The sangat greeted this joyful news with resounding “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal.”
Thanking the donors on behalf of the sangat, Sardarni Harsharan Kaur expressed that this seva would greatly help in bringing to fruition the long cherished wish of the sangat for a new, larger gurdwara building.
Dr. Darshan Singh Saluja, Finance Committee Coordinator of GNFA, introduced the donor couple as Sardar Baldev Singh and Sardarni Pushpinder Kaur of Clarksville, Maryland. Dr. Baldev Singh is a prominent businessman, distinguished entrepreneur, and philanthropist. His expanding business empire includes a Hilton Hotel, a Double Tree Hotel, and a 300-acre farm breeding thoroughbred horses, among many others. In past years, he has served as Speaker of the Punjab Assembly and Secretary of Richmond Gurdwara, New York. The donor couple was honored with saropas.
In his address to the sangat, Sardar Baldev Singh ji said that he was humbled to be able to make this contribution. He shared that he was motivated by the great need for a new, large gurdwara building in the Washington metropolitan area, which could accommodate the growing sangat and the expanding programs catering to its needs and those of future generations. He acknowledged the felicitous role played by Bhai Jagmohan Singh ji in making the decision to donate the land to GNFA.
Sardar Kunwar Singh Goomer, Secretary of GNFA, expressed that the seva of the donor couple will greatly energize the sangat and gives further impetus to its determination and drive to erect a new, larger gurdwara building.
As Guru Nanak Foundation of America’s sangat marches towards building the new larger gurdwara Sahib, this welcome news added to the spirit of chardi kala and gratitude that are a hallmark of Vaisakhi.