Sikh Dharma has planned four global events during 1999 celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa. Each event focuses on honoring one of the pillars of the Sikh way of life.
The first of these exciting events took place on February 28th and 29th. It was even more successful than we had anticipated. To celebrate the first pillar, which is bani, a virtual global Rensubhai Kirtan (all night continuous music with a specific rhythm that uplifts the soul) was broadcast live on the Internet via www.Sikhnet.com for the first time in history. Exceptional ragis (musicians) and sangat jethas (musical groups) joined us from around the world to participate in this most elevating experience. Using the power of the naad (sound current) inherent in Gurbani Kirtan (spiritual music), people around the world were inspired.
We had planned for this Rensubhai Kirtan to last only 12 hours, but we got such a great response from everyone that we continued playing Gurbani Kirtan for 37 hours. Ragis from countries all over the globe participated, including some from several cities in India. We listened to ragis from San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Herndon, Barcelona, Spain, and cities in Canada!
If you missed this wonderful event, it is archived on Sikhnet.com so you can hear it at any time. Watch on Sikhnet for our other global events coming in 1999.
In April, 1999, we will celebrate the second pillar of the Sikh way of life, which is bana (spiritual dress). On this occasion you will be able to view a virtual worldwide rebroadcast of the 300th Anniversary Baisakhi Celebrations in India. This will be broadcast as soon as possible after April 13th.
The third pillar, simran (repetition of God's Name), will be held on August 26, 1999, and will be a meditation for peace, coordinated and practiced simultaneously around the world. (This annual 3HO meditation will be a part of the Sikh Dharma Celebration. See bottom of page 4.)
Seva (selfless service), the fourth pillar, will be honored on December 4, 1999. It will be called T.A.S.K. Day (The Avenues for Serving with Kindness), and will be celebrated with free kitchens and free clinics hosted by sangats all around the world.