WASHINGTON: The 16th Annual Interfaith Concert featuring Sikh Kirtani Jatha an inspirational celebration of seven faith communities captivated a huge audience of 2100 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception recently. “This was the best concert yet,” was heard frequently afterwards in the audience. Sponsored by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC), the concert helped increase the sense of community among peoples of many faiths among the very diverse audience and participants. “The power of this years’ experience of unity and diversity while praising God through music, dancing and chanting helps explain why this concert has become a * noted the Rev. Clark Lowenstein, the organization’s Executive Director, This year’s concert highlights included two ‘women Hindu dancers, the Islamic call to prayer and a recitation of several verses of | the Qur’an, the Mormon Choir of Washington, the SL Augustine Roman Catholic Church Choir, Sikh Kirtani latk y and the peace Ringers a hand bell cho.t of St Mathew’s United Meanodist church. The concert ended with a prayer by Dr. Rajwant Singh, a first Sikh president of the Interfaith Conference, ‘The Sikh Kirtani Jatha organized by Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF), maintains the 500 year old tradition of kirtan (hymn singing) started by Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion. The group performs at the regular Sunday services at the National Sikh Center in Washington, and at special programs. Directed by Granthi of GGSF, Bhai Gurdarshan Singh, this year’s jatha sang hymns written by Sikh Gurus, GuruTegh Bahadur and Guru Arjan reflecting the theme of journey of the individual soul to meet with its destiny which is God. The tunes were based on Ragas from Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Scripture) and were accompanied by many Indian musical instruments, 30 members Jatha wearing all white left an indelible mark on the audience. Mrs. Amrit Pal Kaur represents| the Sikhs o. the planning committee for this event which worked for over nine months. The concert is the major fund raising event for whine help support the work of Interfaith Conference which brings together the Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Sikh faith coms munities. It works to: ‘increase understanding and address issues of human dignity. IFC is currently working on issues of racial and ethnic polarization, drugs and violence, hunger, AIDS. ‘And homelessness, recently it organized. Delegation of leaders of all faiths to visit several lawmakers at the Capitol Hill to speak against the injustice being committed against poor and underprivileged in the federal cuts. Guru Gobind Singh Foundation representing the Sikh faith is the member if the IFC since 1988. Hindu community ‘was the last one to join IFC in 1909.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 31, 1996