Devotional music
It was a spiritually elevating evening at the Madhya Kailash temple on August 26 as the strains of 'Kirtan--Shabad Qurbani' rendered by a group of dedicated Sikhs reverberated.
The occasion was the concluding day of Mandala Abishekam of the temple.
Developers India, an organisation formed by its secretary Harbhajan Singh to promote India's Development, Progress and Amity, had organised the Kirtan at the temple. The Executive Committee of the temple had approved the rendering of the
Kirtan.
The evening's programme began with Kirtan by Giani Prithipal Singh and Jatha. Later, there was Recital of Shabad by Isleen Kaur and Simran Kaur, by Shiba, Narinder Kaur and followed by more Kirtan from Giani Satpal Singh and
Jatha.
In his address, Harbhajan Singh said, "We are really fortunate to be in the sacred temple of Madhya Kailash. Today happens to be the concluding day of Mandala Abhishekam. On July 9, after a gap of 12 years, the temple performed Maha Kumbabhishekam. As a sequence, from the next day Mandala Abishekam has been taking place for 48 days. Today is the concluding day. We are happy to render Kirtan on this occasion and thank the Committee for having granted permission."
He pointed out that the Sikh Guru had laid great emphasis on Shabad Kirtan (devotional music). In fact, almost every composition in the Divine Guru Granth Sahib is to be rendered in a prescribed Raga, he said. "The Kirtan performance thus promotes spiritual vision. It creates an environment of peace and spiritual ethos that lead to communion with God. In Sikh faith, though the performance of Ragis --the professional musicians -- is welcomed, the Gurus encouraged individual and chorus singing by the congregation", Harbhajan Singh added.
"The Madhya Kailash temple, an abode of the Divine Lord, always resounds with the chants, mantras and poojas. The Abishekams now being performed have surely charged the atmosphere with greater intensity of spirituality. Today's Kirtan have added another dimension to the spirituality. May Waheguru, the Lord, shower his grace on the tormented world and bless us with peace and harmony", he said.
A N Srinivasan, President, T Raghavan, Secretary, and T C A Ramanujam, who represented the Temple committee at the Kirtan, said they were happy that the Kirtan could be rendered as it was a spiritually exhilarating experience. They wanted the Developers India to organise such Kirtans often at the temple.
Commandant of the Coast Guard in Chennai, B P Singh, attended the function, among others.
M Sabesan of Developers India proposed a vote of thanks.
