PITTSBURGH, PA: The 9th annual Kirtan Samalen was held on Sept.3, 1994 from 12:307:30pm at Tristate Sikh Cultural Society of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gurdwara. The participants came from all across North America.
‘There were two age groups: Children 612 yrs. and children 1320 years. There were three Jathas consisting of children 6 years and younger. This age group Jatha is the future of our religion.
Twelve organizations (21 Jathas with 150 children) from all across United States and Canada participated; About 500 people attended this competition. “The elevators for this competition were: Bhai Narian Singh from North Carolina, S. Kuldeep Singh from Detroit, Bibt Kaur from Windsor, Ontario, Bibi Manjit Kaur from New York, and Dr. Jasbir Kaur, a visitor from India.
‘Was started with Ardas and Weak by Giani Sucha Singh of Pittsburgh Gurdwara. Dr. Jasbir Singh Gill Secretary and Kirta Coordinator welcomed the Sangat and explained the Niles of the Kirtan Samalen. Dr, Amarjit Singh from Buffalo, NY introduced the evaluators, the two youth stage secretaries, and Sonika Kaur Gill and Inderjit Kaur Gill of Finsburvh were also introduced.
Each group performed superbly well. Each Jatha sang the Gurbani Shabad in the same Raga in which the Guruji wrote the Shabad, It was a breathtaking scene, as group after group in Safron, white or Akali blue colored uniforms sang their Shabads in Ragas Using various musical instruments, some traditional such as Tabla and Harmonium and some nontraditional as such as violin, sitar, and clarinet.
At the end of the program, Bhai Manjit Singh of Cleveland, OH, sang Shabad for 15 minutes which was followed by Rehras Path led by Kuldev Singh Brining from Pittsburgh.
Professor Hamam Singh Shan, retired, Guru Nanak Dev Chair Professor and Chairman of Panjabi Department of Panjab University distributed the trophies. Professor Shan is currently working as a research fellow at the Panjab University’s Sikh Center and he was in the United States to attend a U.N. sponsored conference, during his remarks, Professor Shan spoke very highly about the Samalen. He said, “when I see these young children doing Kirtan in Ragas and bearing Akali Bana with Kandas on their turbans Kamar Kassas and Kirpan with Gatra across their bodies, I am left with no doubt in my mind that nobody can make the Khalsa extinct. Khalsa shall always live.” The names of the winners are as follows: Overall Its place; (both Jr & Sr Jatha) for running trophy Guleph Ontario, Its place for senior Jatha, Buffalo, NY and Its place for Junior Jatha Guleph Ontario the prizes were awarded in three categories, exemplary, excellent, and high standard for exemplary Jr. Jatha, Guleph Ont; GNFA Maryland, Detroit *A’ Ohio; Detroit “B’, Ohio, Buffalo, NY; excellent category Jatha Jr, Cleveland, OH; Youngstown, Ohio; Pittsburgh, PA; Richmond, Virginia; and high standard Jr, Jatha was Sikh Foundation of Virginia. Among the senior Jathas; the exemplary category Jathas ‘are, Buffalo, NY; Guleph, Ont, GNFA, MD; ‘Youngstown, OH; Sikh Foundation of Virginia, Virginia; Pittsburgh, PA; Detroit, OH; and the excellent category Jathas are, Cleveland, OH; Houston, TX; Winton, WV; and , Toronto. There was a Jatha in high standard as _a result of superb performance by every Jatha. _ The evaluators and the Sangat was impressed it the proficiency of the children in Ragas pronunciation of even though Sanskrit and Farsi words in the Shabads. The program was concluded with Ardas by Kuldev Singh Birring and Weak by Inderjit “Kaur Gill of Pittsburgh, PA. At the end, Dr. “Gill thanked all the evaluators, the participants, and the Sangat and emphasized the “importance of participation in such programs ‘and learning of Gurmukhi, pride in being Sikhs and living as model citizens with prosperity. The entire program was professionally videotaped and the tapes are available by calling S.Sirmukh Singh Manku @ 703.250.6702.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 23, 1994
