Fourth Annual Keertan Competition in Sydney

In the memory of most renowned Raagi of Sikh history, Bhai Sahib Bhai Hira Singh Ji Ragi (1879 - 1926), a Keertan competition was organised in Sydney by the Sikh Keertan Parchar Mission, Sydney on 15th and 16th of July 2005 in Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Revesby, Sydney. In all a total of 101 children of ages from 4 years to 21 years took part in this competition enthusiastically.
The competition was well organised the by the organizers who seemed to have planned months ahead. Everything seemed so perfect with their experience of past three years, that the competition went very smoothly. The competition was divided in eight groups (age-wise) and all the children performed so excellently that its for certain that in future the Sikh Sangat of Sydney will have plenty of quality Keertanias provided our matured community nourish their art of singing Gurbani and faith in Guruji, with love and care.

The stage was controlled nicely by S Amarjeet Singh ji Chawla, who came especially from Newcastle to do the sewa. He introduced all the participants briefly and also encouraged them for their performances. The competition began at the specified time on 15th July, with the ardaas to Guru Granth sahib ji and then Bhai Gurjeet Singh ji of Tarramurra, welcomed all the participants and also encouraged them to keep abreast with Gurbani and Gur-Shabad to receive blessings from Guruji for ever. Three most experienced personalities from Sydney Sikh Sangat were asked to perform the most difficult job of judges and were, Bhai Baldev Singh ji, Bhai Narinderpal Singh ji ‘Asees’ of Austral and Bhai Gurjeet Singh ji of Tarramarra. All the three are well known for their knowledge and experience in Gurbani, Keertan, Raagas and various instruments. The first group was up to the age of seven years where about 15 children took part and the youngest one was only four.
Some of them could hardly reach and play harmonium. Some of them recited Shabads in their sweet voices without using any instrument and from their memories. The enthusiasm was so great that they pushed their parents away who were bit nervous for their first time performance on stage.
After that there were two more groups in which about 16 children took part and recited Shabads in Ragaas. They had presented a beautiful introduction to their Shabads, ragaas and the meaning of the Shabads.The last group of the day was to play the instruments only. Some of the most difficult instruments like Violin, Sitar and Tabla (alone) were played to the tunes of Shabads in ragaas. The Gurudwara hall was packed with Sangat who didn’t want to miss even single participant.
The next day i.e. on 16 July, the competition went on for whole of the day. The main attraction of this day’s events was that all the participants were young adults and had spent a lot of time preparing for the competition. Also another attraction was that the participants not only came from far off places in Sydney but some of the came from Canberra etc.
I would like to congratulate all the children and especially their parents who spared some time from their busy schedules and helped their children learning Gurbani, Keertan and various instruments and imbibing in their children the love and faith for Guru Maharaj. Many of the participants sang Shabads in most difficult Ragaas from Guru Granth Sahib ji and some of them even clubbed many ragaas in single shabad and sang same shabad in different ways.

I am sure that judges have had very difficult time in cutting any marks as almost all of the participants were finishing just on top bracket.

Finally there was time for the group singing of Shabads in which the participants sang Shabads by keeping in tune with other fellow participants. Apart from a brief break of just half an hour, the competition went on and on until 6:30 pm when ardaas was performed to thank Waheguru ji for their overall blessings by which this marathon event has been accomplished without any difficulties.
The names of the winners will be declared on 6/Aug/05 (evening program) in Gurudwara Singh Sabha Revesby, where prizes, trophies, mementos will be presented. All the participants and especially the Sangat are requested to come for this special program of prize distribution to encourage the participants and also provide your blessings. S Amarjit Singh ji Chawla once again thanked all the participants, their parents, Sangat for encouragement and all the volunteers for their outstanding help by which this event went on so smoothly.
All the organizers are once again congratulated for organizing this successful event and may Waheguru ji bless them with even more strength to cultivate this crop of young Sikh generation.