PITTSBURGH: The 7th annual Pittsburgh Kirtan Samelan was held on Sept.5,1992, from 12:30 P.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Tri State Sikh Cultural Society of Pittsburgh Gurdwara.
There were two age groups: Children under 13 and children 13 and over, There were 13 organizations represented by 20 Jathas from the U.S, and Canada, About 170 children took part and there were 300-400 members in the Sadh sangat.
A distinguished panel of evaluators consisted of Prof.Darshan Singh, Dr.Pashaura Singh, Professor of Sikh Studies at the University of Ann-Arbor, Michigan, Manjit Kaur, from Long Island, S. Kuldeep Singh, from Toledo, and Ravinder Kaur from Rochester, The program was started by Ardas and Vaak by Giani Satpal Singh, Dr.Gublash Kaur Nagpal, Secretary of TSSCS, welcomed the sadh sangat. Dr. Amarjit Singh, from Buffalo, introduced the judges, and Dr Jasbir Singh Gill, the program coordinator of TSSCS, explained the rules, ranking categories, and started the program. The four youth stage secretaries of the program were Sonia K.Gill, Harjit K.Harika, Jagroop S. Bal, and Jag deep S. Bal. The program ended with Rehras Sahib and Ardas led by Sonika K.Gill.
The overall winners of the Kirtan Samelan for a combined junior and senior jathas were Guru Nanak Foundation of America, The running trophy for the best senior jatha was won by Ann-Arbor, Ottawa jatha, and for the best junior jatha was won by G.N.F.A. For the exemplary categories groups from G.N.F.A., Buffalo, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, and Washington Sikh Center, For the senior groups: Ann-Arbor/ Ottawa, G.N.F.A., London Sikh Center, Buffalo and Guru Gobind Singh Foundation. For the excellent categories: Junior groups from Pittsburgh, Michigan Gurdwara, Sikh Foundation of Virginia, and Rochester Sikh Center. For the Senior groups: Hamilton, Sikh Foundation of Virginia, Youngstown, Pittsburgh, and Rochester Sikh Center. Both senior and junior jathas from Guru Nanak Foundation of Cleveland earned High Standard category.
Every year the performance of all children has improved and every jatha is trying to approach the exemplary category. No jatha was placed in the lowest, satisfactory category, and only one jatha got the highest standard.
During the break, three jathas performed Kirtan, They were all children under the age of 6. These three jathas represented Buffalo and the Washington Metropolitan Area, The evaluators and the Sangat were extremely impressed with the proficiency of the children in Ragas and pronunciation of even tough Sanskrit words in the Shabads,
Trophies and certificates were given by Prof.Darshan Singh. Prof, expressed his happiness by explaining the importance of Kirtan as the basis and foundation of the Sikh Religion.
Dr.Gill thanked all the evaluators, the participants, and the Sangat and emphasized the importance of participation in such programs. He also emphasized the importance of teaching the youth about reading Punjabi, for without learning to read Gurmukhi, how can we read and understand Gurbani? The entire program was professionally videotaped and copies (two tapes) are available for $25.00 by calling S. Sirmukh Singh Manku.
(All photos By S. Manku)
Article extracted from this publication >> September 25, 1992
