Mid-Camp program was performed by the children of the Akal International Youth Camp on 16 July 2006. The Gurbani Kirtan started at 10:00 am. All the campers were dressed beautifully. The boys were dressed in White and Girls in Blue. The ceremony took place in the Darbar hall. All the children were very excited as this was the first time they were going to perform in front of a huge gathering. They were to perform the shabads that they had learnt in the camp. Some children performed shabads and the others recited poems. The people were amazed to see the enthusiasm of the children. They were amazed to see the skills of the children that developed in just 10 days.

The children learned playing different instruments here in the camp. They displayed their skills while reciting Kirtan and poems. The instruments like Tabla, Harmonium, Sitar and Taus were used by the children. All these shabads and poems were taught to them by the teachers at the camp.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of sadh-sangat. Baba Iqbal Singh Ji was also present in the Ceremony along with the other dignitaries.

The campers recited shabads very enthusiastically. Children recited poems with a lot of zeal performing body actions taught to them by the gurmat teachers. Their enthusiasm was appreciable.

After the Kirtan by campers, Baba Iqbal Singh Ji delivered a speech in which he appreciated the courage of all the children. He praised the children that they have learnt a lot in such a short time. He exhorted all campers to do service to the humanity by adopting different kinds of seva. He explained the significance of doing Sewa and encouraged all the campers to make Sewa a part of their daily life

He appealed to Sangat to make their children learn more of Gurbani, moral values and Sikhism.

The schedule of the program was as follows:

Group ‘A’ (Girls)

"Asi paida hoye haan khande di dhar vichon"

• Harnidh Kaur • Rasnaam Kaur

"kavan gun pranpati milo meri mai"

• Inderpreet Kaur • Rajkiran Kaur • Sherry Kaur

Group ‘A’ (Boys)

"Dasven guran dian khushian je lainiaan"

• Khushkarmdeep Singh • Gursimrat Singh • Amrit Sony • Deep Singh • Jaskaran Singh • Jobanpreet Kaur • Navjot Singh • Akashdeep Singh

"Gur gur karat sada sukh paia"

• Angad Singh • Harpreet Singh • Gurakam Singh

"Ram japo ji aise aise"

• Manpreet Singh • Amardeep Singh • Akashdeep Singh

"Kalgidhar panth piare da"

• Ravjot Singh • Angaddeep Singh • Amritpal Singh Grewal • Manpreet Singh Khalsa • Harpreet Singh Khalsa • Akashdeep Singh • Jugraj Singh

• Manpreet Singh • Gurveer Singh • Kiratdeep Singh • Jasdeep Singh • Jaspreet Singh • Gurakum Singh • Amandeep Singh

"Gur mere sang sada hai nal"

• Amandeep Singh • Haramritjot Singh

"Gur amrit har sukh choia"

• Jasjeet Singh • Karandeep Singh

Group ‘B’ (Girls)

"Dasven pita de doven chhote lal ji"

• Gagandeep Kaur • Gururoop Kaur • Sumit Kaur • Navdeep Kaur • Kirandeep Kaur • Jeevanjot Kaur • Gagandeep Kaur • Keerat Kaur

"Gur pure meri rakh lai"

• Himmat Kaur

"Mein dastar rahi han bol"

• Mandeep Singh

"Bisar gai sab tat parai"

• Angad Singh • Amritpal Singh

"Thir ghar baiso harjan piare"

• Gurwinderpal Singh

"Dassin kalgi valia ve kithe lalan de ne jorhe"

• Jasjeet Singh • Karandeep Singh • Haramritjot Singh • Guramritjot Singh • Sandeeppal Singh • Harmanpreet Singh • Balkarandeep Singh

• Amandeep Singh • Angad Singh • Amritpal Singh • Tejinder Singh

"Aisi maang gobind te"

• Jaismin Kaur • Darshpreet Kaur • Gurpreet Kaur • Dalbir Kaur

"Man loche har milan kau"

• Ravneet Kaur • Jaskirat Kaur • Charanpreet Kaur • Mandeep Kaur • Raminder Kaur

"Mittar piare nu haal muridan da kehna"

• Shaminder Kaur

"Tatian lohan te dere lae satgur mere"

• Group-C girls • Group-D girls

Punjabi Speech Competition for the campers was held in Akal International Youth Camp on 19 July 2006. The children were divided into two groups. ‘A & B’ and ‘C & D’. All the campers participated in this competition. The topics for the speech were:

Group A & B

Group C & D

All the speakers were required to speak for at least 2 minutes exclusively in Punjabi

Marks distribution was as follows:

The prizes were given by Mr. Duggal and Dr. Sekhon. The event was compered by Mr. Harpal Singh. Er. Amarjeet Singh, Col. Anand, Wing Commander Bindra and Mrs. Paramjeet Kaur were also present on this occasion.

A trip to Paonta Sahib Gurdwara was organized for the campers on 22 July, 2006. Two Deluxe buses departed from Baru Sahib at 6:00 in the morning. All the campers were very excited about the trip. The buses started off with the Jaikara “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ke Fateh”. The first stoppage was Gurdwara Shri Dashmesh Asthan in Nahan. Here the children had their Breakfast at 10:00 am. According to the history, Guru Gobind Singh Ji spent eight and half months at this place.

After having the darshan of this Gurdwara, the buses headed towards Gurdwara Paonta Sahib. The history of the Gurdwara is that, Guru Gobind Singh Ji spent four and half years of his lifetime at this place. Here he fought the 1st battle of Bhangani. This was the first battle of Guru Gobind Singh Ji against injustice. Sahibzada Ajit Singh was also born here. The children were very excited once they reached Gurdwara Paonta Sahib. They all shot pictures of the Gurdwara and its surroundings. They sat in the main hall of the Gurdwara to listen the Kirtan. They also visited Dastar Sahib, where Guru Gobind Singh Ji used to tie his Turban. This was followed by Gurdwara Kavi Darbar. Gurdwara Paonta Sahib is right on the banks of river Yamuna. The Yamuna is full of serenity near the Gurdwara Sahib. Here, Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his poets used to sit and recite poems. On every Puranmashi (full moon night), the poets visit this place and recite poems in the remembrance of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

The next place to be visited was Shaheed Baba Ajit Singh Library and Museum”. Here the manager told a brief history of Paonta Sahib. After this session, all the campers had their Langar. The children loved shopping outside the Gurdwara. They did a wide variety of shopping in the market adjascent to Gurdwara.

After this, the campers reached Gurdwara Bhangani Sahib at 3:00 pm. This Gurdwara is at a distance of 10 Kms from Gurdwara Paonta Sahib. Here, Guru Gobind Singh Ji fought and won the battle against many kings (Pahari Raaje).

Next Gurdwara that the children visited was Gurdwara Sher Gaah Sahib . The history of the Gurdwara is that, here Guru Gobind Singh Ji killed a white lion, who had been converted to be a man eater. After this the children visited Gurdwara Tir Garhi Sahib.

Dastar Tying Competition for the campers was held on 24 July 2006. All the children participated enthusiastically in the Competition. The children were divided in two sections. Group ‘A & B’ and Group ‘C & D’. The children were putting their best efforts in tying their Dastars. The judges for the event were Dr. Sekhon, Er. Amarjeet Singh and Mrs. Mandeep Kaur.

The name of the Position holders are:

Team A & B

1st: Angadeep Singh, Barinder Singh

2nd: Navjot Singh, Akashdeep Singh

3rd: Jovanpreet Singh

Team C & D

1st: Amritpal Singh

2nd: Angad Singh, Haramritjot Singh

3rd: Karandeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Gurvinderpal Singh

"It felt like this was the thing I have been waiting for"

This is the tale of the girl, who lately accepted Sikhism as her religion. She is HIMAT KAUR, an American Sikh. 23 years old Himmat Kaur is attending the Akal International Youth Camp 2006, and also teaches Yoga to her fellow campers everyday.

What made you choose Sikhism as your religion?

I used to go to the religious place with my parents, but never got a good feeling for that religion from my inner self. The teachings in that religion are very nice but the people don’t practice it (majority). So I didn’t like this thing. This made no sense to me. I had a normal lifestyle, I had two Sikh friends who were born and raised in Gursikh families. I had one friend whose father was a yoga teacher, he was also a Gursikh. I visited them and was very much impressed by the lectures that they gave related to Body, Mind and Soul. I started visiting them occasionally, but soon it became a daily routine. I used to feel so energetic after doing yoga. I felt as if a new door has opened for me. He used to tell, "If you want to attain peace of Body, Mind and Soul, then you should know Sikhism more deeply.

He used to give lectures related to Sikhism, and I started taking lot of interest in Sikhism and started to learn things about this religion. Slowly I started going to Gurudwara every Sunday. I started learning Mool Mantra. It just stuck in my mind. Every time I used to recite Mool mantra, I used to feel so good. It gave me all the answers to my questions that were there in my mind. At this time, I was 17. It felt like this was the thing I have been waiting for. My soul had awakened, I was feeling so good. I don’t have words to explain that feeling.

Did your parents support you?

Initially, my mother thought it was a temporary phase in my teenage and will go away as the time comes, but I was committed and then she also realized it that I was committed to Sikhism. When I told my mother that I have started yoga, she also accompanied me to the yoga classes, but it demanded a lot of concentration and discipline. She was not feeling comfortable after a couple of days, but she never said anything to me because she knew I was on the correct path. Sometimes she feels insecure for me, but when I sit with her and explain every thing, she becomes normal. She knows I am in the safe hands. Sometimes my elder brother makes fun of me, but he is also very caring. Now all my friends and family members have accepted me and I am very much happy about it.

How all did this process start?

When I went to University, I didn’t have friends. For the first two years, I felt very lonely. In the 3rd year, I met a friend Gurvinderpal Singh. He is a very nice boy, and very much into Sikhism. Gurvinderpal introduced me to Dr. Sekhon* and Dr. Sekhon started teaching me Gurmukhi. Although I had interest in Gurmukhi, I could only read it with the help of a translator. Dr. Sekhon helped me a lot in learning Gurmukhi. I feel it is the presence of the Sangat that made me come close to Waheguru. The message of Waheguru is delivered through Sangat only. I started reading Gurbani and pronounce the words correctly.

How did you find India?

Generally, I found weather in India very hot, but surprizingly Baru Sahib is very cool and peaceful. I liked the Indian Airports. and the people are very nice here. This is my first visit to India.

How did you come to know about the camp and tell us your experience here?

Gurvinderpal Singh is my friend and he is attending the camp for the last two years. He always used to tell so many good things about the camp, what all they learn, do so many good things; I always used to listen to him and wished to come to Baru Sahib to attend the camp, and today I am so lucky to attend the camp.

The teachers here are so amazing, I am learning a lot here. I was very scared to perform Kirtan in the Darbar Hall, but all my teachers encouraged me and I did it. This is one of the biggest achievements for me.

The food is very nice in the camp, the weather is good, I have learnt Kirtan, Playing Gatka, learned a couple of Shabads, learned to play different instruments. I teach Yoga to all the campers every day. All other campers are very nice to me. They are very helpful, they are eager to learn new things, like me.

I love the dress code very much. I like wearing Dastar.

It was a very nice experience talking to Baba Iqbal Singh Ji. It was amazing, I can't expain that feeling in words, it was simply fabulous. I would definitely come next year for the camp.

“IF WE ALWAYS REMEMBER WAHEGURU, THEN KNOW THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING IS COMING FROM HIM.”

“WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KE FATEH”