The Langgar was formidable. Bhenji Ajaypal and team had taken charge of that. With all the Papri Chaat, gulab jamun, poori, bhaturas, dahi bhalla, kheer and badam dudh, people had to be forgiven for thinking that they were at Bhravan dha Dhaba, Amritsar!
The day began with an hour of optional simran at 3 AM. Optional or not, from my cabin window which was right across from the Darbar Sahib, as early as 2.45 AM, I would already see sangat standing around the hot chaa stand at the entrance, warming up with a cuppa before the session. The hall was packed every morning. Not surprising as the one hour was deep, intense and devotional. What really caught my attention was that some young mothers would bring their weeks old babies with them, just so as not to miss the session.
After simran was full nitnem for those who wanted to stay on. Others could go back to bed and come back for the Japji Sahib at 7AM. Day times were full of surprises and learning. Visiting Professor Sarbjit Singh Gobindpuri from USA would conduct a learning module. I am a speaker myself and can say that I enjoyed every session of his. He is very talented. His delivery is commanding. Many times, the sangat would plead with the time keeper to allow him to go on. He was a practical man preaching practical Sikhi, a Sikhi that made sense today, not the archaic version that we mostly hear. Looking around the Sikhi landscape, I can say that there are not many who possess such progressive thinking as this good gentleman.
Serjit Singh, with his able assistant Ajeetpal Singh also from Malaysia perfectly complemented the team. They did more than their fair share of duty at the camp by also conducting many sessions with the youngsters. These two were like magnets for the kids. I don’t think they got a minutes rest in the six days. The kids were hanging off them 24/7.
Amrit Sanchaar was held on the second last day. The camp was blessed with the emergence of 22 new Amritdharis, and 28 kids took the ‘Choola’, a sip of the sacred Amrit to signal their preparation towards becoming full Amritdharis. The Panj Piaray making their entrance leading this entourage of fifty was a sweet sight, especially for those who put in so much effort to inspire them to their commitment.
Even good things must come to an end. A kind of sadness descended on the campsite from the morning of the 26th as people quietly went about packing their cases and loading their cars. The group photo had already been taken the night before after the Amrit Sanchaar. It had probably been Whatsapped to all corners of the earth and outer space by now.
The call went out for the final assembly by the flagpole at the waterfront bearing the Holy Nishaan as it fluttered proudly against the blue Australian Sky. Striken by the thought that all this that is so precious to us Sikhs is about to come to a sudden end, I can’t really say that I heard the strains of our anthem. But the chorus line never fails to challenge even a vivid dreamer. ‘Shubh karman tay kabhoo naa taron’ – With God as your witness, never be afraid to do what is right.
Well done to all the selfless and tireless sevadars who made this camp happen. Well done to the angelic sadh sangat who rose to the occasion and participated beautifully in every programme organised for them. And thank you from my heart for making me a part of yet another Australian Sikh Camp. Satnam.
Source: Sukdev Singh Malaysia (Pilot Malaysian Airlines)