PITTSBURGH, Pa: The listeners in the packed hall of the Gurdwara, Pittsburgh, P.A. were thrilled by the Kirtan Performance of the young children, some not even six years old. The youth from Ohio, PA., W. V a, N.C. Md. Va. and N.Y. States participated in Gurbani recitation competition held on October 18, 1986. The 90 participants classified into two age groups up to 11 years and 1118 years, kept the audience spell bound for four hours, The jubilation at the unique high class performance was visible on every face in the Sangat. Everyone observed it to be a great achievement and a big milestone in the history of the Sikhs in the West.
Seen in the back drop of the current generation, giving up their faith and not respecting the superior social and moral values, this performance by the Sikh youth was superb and marvelous, The Kirtan sung by some groups was more soothing and touching than that usually heard from the professional Ragis. After this great success, opinion created in the Sangat was that these kids should be honoured and encouraged by formally inviting them to sing Kirtan on Gurpurb celebrations by different Sikh societies and Gurdwaras. This would have very good effect on the other Sikh youth and will help them to overcome the strong negative peer pressure being undergone by them.
Since the planning of Kirtan Darbar and the decision by the: youth to participate in it, they were ‘busy in preparing themselves for this great function, the first of the life. The organizers were also very much excited about the outcome of its success. After the Ardas when the function began, each group anxiously awaited for his turn to sing Shabad which they had been rehearsing for weeks. Parents of the children were also equally involved both emotionally and physically, driving their children for getting together to do rehearsals. The five judges coordinated by S. Kuldip Singh of Detroit, MI, had a very difficult task grading different groups. They found that all participants did a very good job and deserved to be honoured. Accordingly every participant was given a plaque.
HIGHLIGHT: Highlights of the program included singing of Shabad by 4 year old, Sandeep Singh of North Carolina. Group singing by Buffalo kids all below the age of six including the boy on the Tabla, drew heavy applause with Bole So Nihal from the Sangat. The Cleveland group clad in blue jerseys, which won the trophy, appeared more as regular Kirtan singers than as amateurs both in their graceful appearance and sweet melodious singing of the Shabad. All this achievement of the youth was attributed to their Participation in Sikh Youth ‘Camps and laborious efforts made by Granthi of the Gurdwaras who took lot of interest in training the kids.
This function was planned and organized by the Assistant Secretary of the Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Dr. Tajdeep Singh and his associates. They had to make dozens of repeated calls to inform and confirm the details of the program to participating Gurdwaras. The onerous job of langar was attended by Mrs. Gurdev Singh and her associates.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 21, 1986
