WASHINGTON: On Nov 14, 1989 Sikh Kirtani Jatha of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation participated in the Tenth Annual concert, featuring great music of seven religious traditions at the Washington National Cathedral. This event, sponsored by the Interfaith Conference (IFC) has become an important Washington religious and cultural tradition in the last nine years.

The concert was dedicated to the memory of Bishop John T. Walker founding president of the IFC. More than 300 singers of all traditions joined together as combined choir for opening and closing selections, directed by Douglas Major of the Washington National Cathedral.

This years concert had wonderful variety started with a Moslem call to prayer. A cathedral full of more than 2,500 people witnessed the “ringing” procession by the English handbell choirs. Banners of participating faiths draped the pillars as special guests and choirs made their way down the aisle in a colorful diverse array of traditional vestments and attire. The most outstanding were the Sikhs with their bright saffron dupatas and cream salwar Kameez. Choirs of the Jewish, Mormons Orthodox, Christians, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Sikh faith groups sang liturgical music of a wide range and the audience joined enthusiastically in the premier of “Hymn of Thanks,” written especially for the IFC by Thomas beversidge. The diversity of the music and the unity experienced in the combined choir anthems thrilled all those who attended.

Dr. Rajwant Singh, director of the Sikh Kirtani Jatha said, Kirtan or the singing of hymns from Guru Granth Sahib is an integral part of the religious worship of Sikhs which maintains the 500 year old tradition started by Guru Nanak. He added, “that our group practiced for 2 months for this event.” He declared that, “Sikhs are happy to be part of this great celebration. We sang a shabad expressing the universality of human kind and also a hymn written by Guru Gobind Singh which had provided inspiration and strength to the community especially in times of adversities.”

He added that, “I do not know of any other place where Sikhs in such a large number has performed together in a concert like this.”

Amrit Kaur, secretary of G.GSF said, “We felt great about this event. I think these events can really bring us all together and help us understand each other.”

The Rev Cannon Kwasi Thornell shared Bishop Walker’s vision for the IFC, to bring together diverse and historic religious traditions in metropolitan area.” to dwell together and to dialogue and to proclaim in the name of God, on the important issues of the day as well as to be an ongoing force in this community for social and moral transformation of our society.

The Interfaith Conference (IFC) brings together the Islamic, Jewish, Mormon, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Sikh faith communities and their leaders in this area for interfaith dialogue and for joint action on critical issues in the metropolitan DC area. The IFC has fulfilled these purposes through a variety of programs and interfaith prayer services which increase understanding among persons of different faiths, races, and cultures and by initialing and developing community services in the Washington metro area.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 15, 1989