|
Jakara camps present Vaisakhi’s
joie de vivre spirit
WSN Network
| |
Children in turban tying
contests, the Mai Bhago skits, lessons about importance of
Vaisakhi. The Jakara camps turned out to be a vivacious
colorful date on calendar |
|
It
is during the month of April that a certain renewed vivacity
overtakes the Sikh world. It is during this month that we find the
beginning of the month of Vaisakh. Vaisakh was the beginning of the
new year in
South Asia. The first day of Vaisakh was a special harvest
celebration by farmers and the entire Punjabi society.
However, Vaisakhi’s significance for Sikhs is far greater than a
harvest festival. For it was on this day, in 1699, at Anandpur Sahib
that the 10th Nanak (Sikh Guru), Guru Gobind Singh called for a
special gathering of his Sikhs. It was on this day that he made a
clarion call asking for those Sikhs that would be willing to give
their all for their Guru. Five Sikhs from different regions and
different castes stood up. From these 5 (popularly known as the Panj
Pyare ‘5 Beloved’), through the ‘initiation by the double-edged
sword (Khanda da pahul), the Khalsa was born. The Khalsa would be
the vanguard of those willing to fight for justice and liberty.
After initiating the first five, Guru Gobind Singh fell to his knees
and begged to be admitted into the Khalsa order. Sikhs commemorate
this unique spectacle with the words, “Vaaho Vaaho Gobind Singh, Aap
Gur Chela” (Wondrous, Wondrous are you Guru Gobind Singh, both Guru
and Follower). With this act, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa
Panth.
In
celebrating this spirit, the Jakara Movement organized its first
ever Jakara Junior Khalsa Kids Camp. Attracting youth from
Bakersfield, Orange County, Phoenix, Fresno, Stockton, and San Jose,
the camps have been a huge success in teaching the Sikh youth about
spirit of Vaisakhi and the mighty Kaur of the Khalsa, Mai Bhago.
Children heard the stories that have rejuvenate our community, sang
songs about the heroics of Mai Bhago, transformed themselves into
Lions and Lionesses, and made postcards to Guru Gobind Singh.
Both volunteers and participants had a great time. Although the
Jakara Movement hosts their annual camps in the fall throughout
California, this was the first-time that they held a Vaisakhi
camp.The first round of camps were hosted in late March and early
April in Stockton, San Jose and Fresno. The turnout has been higher
than expected and parents and children were delighted with Jakara’s
student and young adult volunteers that took the time out to share
their love of Sikhi with the children.
Bakersfield:
The Jakara Vaisakhi and Mai Bhago Children’s Camp was a fun,
educational, and engaging event in
Bakersfield,
California. The Camp was held on
Saturday, April 12, 2008
at Wilson Street Gurdwara Sahib for children between the ages of
5-15. There were 65 camp participants who had day full of fun
lessons and good discussions. Children made lions masks, tied
turbans/dastars, acted out skits on Mai Bhago’s life, and sang a
song on how there is a Mai Bhago in all of us. Jakara Bakersfield
would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make the event a
success.
Phoenix:
Jakara Visakhi Kids camp was held at the Arizona Sikh Gurdwara Sahib
on Saturday April 19th, 2008.
This was the second time that such a camp had been organized in
Phoenix.
Lose to 100 kids participated in the camp, some traveled from as far
as Tucson.With the help of about 20 young volunteers the children
got to learn about the importance of Vaisakhi in the Sikh tradition,
Mai Bhago and the Khalsa. We received great feedback from the
parents regarding the camp, one parent wrote to us “My kids
participated in the Vaisakhi Camp on
April 19th 2008
in
Phoenix Arizona. It was a great effort by your group to bring the
all kids together and teach them about their religion and their
roots. It was a great experience.Thanks to all the organizers and
the Jakara Group.” With encouragement and support from the community
Jakara will continue to host events like this one in the future. We
would like to thank all the volunteer, parents, and community for
all its support in making this event a success.
Buena Park:
The Vaisakhi Jakara Juniors camp was held on April 26 at Buena Park
Gurdwara. Kids from Orange County as well as Los Angeles came to
attend the camp. They were taught about Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Mai
Bhago, and the Panj Pyare. The kids were divided into groups based
on their ages. The elder groups were engaged in such discussions as
“Who is a Sikh” and were encouraged to speak up about their opinions
and to think for themselves. The younger kids made lion and lioness
masks to explain the importance of equality within Sikhi. Both
younger and elder groups read the story about how Mai Bhago brought
back the 40 soldiers that abandoned Guru Gobind Singh Ji on the
battlefield against thousands of enemy soldiers.
The younger kids joyously performed a song about Mai Bhago in front
of the elder kids while the elder kids performed skits about her.
Not only did the children make new friends, but they also learned a
lot about Sikhism and seemed to only find more reasons to be proud
of their religion. The facilitators guided the children through the
workshops and also found themselves creating strong bonds between
the children and themselves.
30
April 2008
|
Read Also