 Wahe Guru Is Our Protector  |
Wahe Guru Is Our Protector
Harvinder Singh
Ansonia CT, U.S.A.
Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru (great indescribable wisdom) are the words on the lips of the entire sadh sangat (congregation) of Connecticut and we would like to share our story with you.
We, a small group of Connecticut Sikh families, have been assembling for kirtan (musical programs) and religious discourses since May 1996 on the second floor of a building we were renting in Ansonia, Connecticut. Everyone in our sangat was enjoying our Gurdwara, which we called The Guru Nanak Darbar. Our children were especially encouraged to assimilate the teachings of our Gurus and learn to practice the Sikh way of life.
Sadly, on Tuesday, October 20, 1998, our Gurdwara building suddenly caught fire. The fire, which is suspected to have started from a malfunctioning of the heating system in the basement, quickly engulfed the whole building. The fire became so fierce that the firefighters from three adjoining towns were called in to fight the blaze. It took 32 hours of struggle by some one hundred firefighters to extinguish this stubborn fire. All three floors of the building collapsed and fell to the basement. It is estimated that 1.5 million gallons of water were poured on the building to contain the fire. The Connecticut sangat lost its place of worship -- The Guru Nanak Darbar.
The members of our congregation who helplessly watched the building burn down were stricken with a deep sense of grief and turned to prayer, asking Waheguru for guidance. Some members were crying. There was no hope that they would ever be able to see Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and various religious books that were in a small room with the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Jii.
In the morning, the whole world saw that everything in the building was reduced to ashes except the small room where Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was in repose. Even Guru's Golak (donation basket) containing the sangat's humble contributions was safe. Furthermore, the Chandoa Sahib (the canopy over Guru's bed) was also intact and still in place. The fire fighters and Mrs. Nancy Valentine, Mayor of Ansonia, respectfully passed our Guru and other artifacts to the President of our Association, Hargurpreet Singh.
The mayor, the firefighters, the television and press reporters who were gathered at the site, all looked at the scene with total surprise and wonderment, some of them calling it a miracle. Who protected the Guru's room from the blazing fire that lasted so long? All these folks could only imagine the sense of joy and happiness that the congregation of the Connecticut Sikh Association felt when they realized that the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji had not been destroyed. This incident has strengthened our faith, and that of our children.
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The Connecticut Sikh Association is now planning for a permanent home. A bid has been placed for a very suitable property which has a 4,000 square foot building and a parking lot for 80 cars. It is centrally located where the Sikh sangat from all of Connecticut can congregate. The asking price is $469,000.
If you would like to contribute, please send tax-deductible donations to: The Connecticut Sikh Association, Inc., PO Box 3402, Bridgeport, CT 06605.