WASHINGTON, DC: Sikh Gurbani kirtan -a combined choir of Eastern and Western Sikhs will be among the music of six religious traditions at the 12h Annual Interfaith concert on Monday, November 25, at 8:00 p.m. at the extra ordinarily Basilica of National Shrine, Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon will be delivering the opening remarks, and Samuel! Bonds will conduct a combined choir of over 200 voices. This music event, sponsored by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, has become an important Washington religious and cultural tradition in the last 11 years.

This year’s concert will feature selected choirs of the Islamic, Jewish, Mormon, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Sikh traditions. The concert will again open with the Islamic call to prayer.

The Sikh Kirtani Jatha which has become one of the main attraction at the Interfaith Concert. Will feature combined groups of American Sikhs and Sikhs of Asian origin for the first time this year. Members of the American Sikh community will join members of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation for this year’s performance. It will have both a traditional ‘Shabad’ and a translation of part of the Sikh scripture set to an origin an American Folk tune. Kirtan will be accompanied by the Indian and Western musical instruments.

This program will be televised nationally later this year. A television special made on the concerts in recent years has shown on various PBS stations as well as on VISN national Interfaith Satellite Network.

The annual concerts are the largest program and fund raising event of the IFC. They help support the year round work in this region on critical issues such as drugs, racial and ethnic polarization and AIDS.

The Interfaith Conference brings together the Islamic, Jewish, Protestant, Mormon, Roman Catholic and Sikh Faith communities and their leaders in this region Is mission is to increase der standing, dialogue, and a sense of community among of different faiths races and creeds. It is believed to be the first such staffed organization in this country or abroad Comments received from persons from across America and from many other countries indicating it is probably the best developed such concerts in the world.

Rajwant Singh, co-director of the kirtani  Jhta said, “this event Provides us an opportunity  to come close to people of other Pips and sharing to be richness of our heritage. This yea” racer has also afforded us a chance to come close to the American Sikh community. ”

Dr. surjit  kaur secretary  of G.C.S.F. said, weal Guru Gobind Singh Foundation feel that it is important  for us to be present in these events which helps  in dispelling lot of misunderstandings about our community. We need to show that we are God fearing and want to make   this world more livable and just.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 15, 1991