The twenty third youth weeklong retreat organized by The Sikh Youth Forum, Potomac, MD in collaboration with The Washington Sikh Center, Gaithersburg, MD, both in Washington Metropolitan area. Sikh children of age groups 712, and 13 and above came from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and North Carolina.

The program which began in the early morning everyday with Naam Simran, Japji Sahib, Shabad Kirtan and Ardas, would continue all through the day. There were two instructional classes in the mornings and 2 in the afternoons. The topics on which regular instructions were imparted by specialists in their respective fields were Shabad Kirtan, Shabad Vichaar, Sikh History, Gurmukhi, Sikhism, Sikh Issues in USA, Rehat Maryada, Punjab Situation, Social Issues like Drug Abuse, Naam Simran, Nit Nem, and Public Speaking. Special topics like the ‘Role of Sewa in Sikhism’ were attended by several non-registrants/and were much appreciated. Besides, special classes were also held on teaching Tabla, Harmonium, How to Tie a Turban, and Classical Kirtan. The different speakers included Sardarni Ranjit Kaur Bawa, Col, Autar Singh Anand, Prof Gurdeep Si gh Bawa, Dr. Ranbir Singh Achreja, S. Harinder Singh Bawa, Dr. Nau Nihal Singh Grewal, Dr. Jagjit Singh Khalsa, Dr. Avneet Kaur Bawa, Resident Doctor, Dr. Kamaljit Kaur Sethi, Giani Jagtar Singh, and Dr. Ujagar Singh Bawa.

In addition to classroom instruction, the children had a chafice to play outdoor sports and swimming. The participants were served 3 full meals and 3 snacks daily. The day’s activities concluded by the evening Diwan, Rehras Sahib, Shabad Kirtan, Kirtane Sohila, and Ardas, followed by an open forum in which the day’s activates were reviewed and commented upon by the participants. The children would retire at 9:30 pm to be able to get up at 6. am the next morning.

Regarding organization of the retreat, the entire group was subdivided into smaller groups and each sub group being led by an experienced counselor. Each subgroup was allotted a topic to study and research for preparing a report to be presented on the final day.

The concluding day program was attended by all the children, their parents and guests. Because of the limitation of space and facilities, the number was deliberately kept low. About 150 persons attended the final program. It included Shabad Kirtan by the entire contingent who rendered 4 shabads learnt in a short period of 1 week and by the sub groups and individuals, reports on the assignments on topics like Why Keshas? How to respond to questions commonly asked of the children in schools, and a debate on the “Broadening of the Functions of Gurdwaras; Presentation of colored pictures of Guru Sabibaan by the youngest group, and short stories about the Sikh gurus.

The volunteers of The Washington Sikh Center provided a sumptuous lunch to all the guests participants on the final day.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 22, 1989