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February 2012 Dharat Suhavi: Volume 2 Issue 2 Sikh Vatavaran Diwas (Environment Day) 2012 Sikhs around the world will gather to celebrate the second annual Sikh Vatavaran Diwas (environment day), on the 14th of March this year. This day marks the Gurgaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Har Rai Ji, who is remembered for his deep sensitivity to nature, as well as the medicinal garden and animal sanctuary he kept at Kiratpur Sahib. On this week Gurdwaras, Schools, and Sikh Businesses around the world will reflect on the Gurus’ concern for nature, through kirtan, katha, workshops, tree plantings, cleanups, and by making their own personal commitments to the environment.

Visit our Sikh Environment Day page for more ideas and Register to be part of the movement. You will also find links to the Sikh Environment Day Toolkit for all participants in English and Punjabi the and Ek Bageecha Gurbani Compilation for Kirtan and Katha. Please join us on this day of inspiration and renewal in honor of the Seventh Sikh Guru. In this issue we include a brief overview of some of the most interesting projects happening Sikh Vatavaran Diwas, across the world.

Sri Akal Takht, Amritsar

The Jathedar of the Akal Takht Sri Giani Gurbachan Singh issued a notice to all followers of Guru Nanak to celebrate Sikh Vatavaran Diwas by cleaning their surroundings. From the Takht (throne) of Guru Hargobind Sahib, the Jathedar called upon all Sikhs to ‘carefully utilize water, and prevent the use of water pollution’ and ‘to reduce the use of plastics in Gurdwaras and homes.’

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee announced the planting of 5000 trees in celebration of Sikh Vatavaran Diwas. Last year, the SGPC distributed over 1 million tree saplings to Gurdwaras in Punjab. On March 1, EcoSikh and SGPC have called for a state meeting in Haryana for all the Gurdwaras, Sikh organizations, and institutions to celebrate Sikh Vatavaran Diwas.

Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib under the leadership of Jathedar Tarlochan Singh sent a message to gurdwaras in Punjab to celebrate Sikh Vatavaran Diwas, with concern over unchecked development, deforestation, damage of serene mountains, and chemical based agriculture. The Jathedar encouraged Sikhs around the world to seek Guru’s blessing by following a path of their Gurus in conserving Mother Nature and plant a tree on this day.

Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Takht Sri Hazur Sahib announced to celebrate Sikh Vatavaran Diwas again this year, by organizing a nature march, a plant distribution at Nanded, and developing a beautiful garden at Gurdwara Shikar Ghat Sahib, situated on the bank of the Godavari River. They will also involve the community in a campaign to plant trees in honor of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji.

Orchid Garden at Gurdwara Patshahi Chevi, in Haryana A vacant piece of land will be transformed into an orchid garden at Gurdwara Patshahi Chevi, in Bani Badurpur, in Haryana. Gurdwara management under the leadership of Sukhdev Singh of Kurukshetra along with Sikhs from local villages will spearhead the efforts, while the SGPC and Baba Sewa Singh will also help facilitate this project by planting trees.

Schools in Punjab Hundreds of primary and secondary schools across Punjab will also be participating in a morning assembly focused on the environment. EcoSikh, in partnership with the Sukrit Trust released a booklet in Khadoor Sahib, Amritsar for a ten-minute assembly for school children to inspire care for the environment. During the assembly, school children will be making vocal pledges to plant a tree this year, conserve water, and to keep their surroundings clean. EcoSikh will make the booklets available to 1100 schools across Punjab, with hundreds being personally delivered.

Celebrations in Punjab Villages Fifty parcharaks (teachers) from Gurmat Gian Missionary College in Ludhiana, will share the environmental message with the surrounding villages in honor of the celebrations. This will include both kirtan and katha on the environment through the Eak Bageecha compilation available on the EcoSikh website, along with tree plantings and cleanup efforts in local villages. Pakistan Gurdwaras Under the leadership of Pakistan Sikh Council, roughly 25 Gurdwaras in Pakistan, in the provinces of Punjab and Balochistan, will be participating in the environmental festivities this year. With the loss of forest cover being a major concern, contributing to natural disasters in the region, the Sikh community will hold events to contribute to the nation’s much needed forest cover.

Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, British Columbia, Canada Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, one of the largest Gurdwaras in the greater British Columbia region, will participate in environment day through weeklong celebrations, including a youth kirtan darbar, a tree distribution, and, an environmental cleanup with the City of Surrey. The Gurdwara is also allotting $3,000 to spread the word via diverse media networks about Sikh Vatavaran Diwas in Surrey/Vancouver, engaging one of the largest Sikh Diasporic communities outside of South Asia in the celebrations.

Solar Energy at Guru Nanak Darbar, Connecticut

Guru Nanak Darbar, in Connecticut will officially be celebrating their switch to solar energy on Sikh Vatavaran Diwas this year. The Gurdwara installed solar panels last year for the main Gurdwara Hall, the Granthi’s house, and an old Gurdwara building, and officially turned on the power in February 2012. In addition, costs for solar installation in the main Gurdwara building were fully reimbursed by the state of Connecticut, and the sangat chose to pay for the other buildings. Sikh Research Institute and Bridgewater Gurdwara, New Jersey The Sikh Research Institute will offer a talk for adults and general audiences at Bridgewater Gurdwara on the unity of ‘Creator and Creation,’ on March 1st, exploring the Sikh theological perspective on our environment. Bridgewater Gurdwara has made concerted efforts towards sustainability recently, by getting rid of disposable materials for langar and has taken steps to powering the gurdwara with solar energy.

Nature Hike for Punjabi/Sikh Youth, California Leaders affiliated with the Bhujangi Youth Academy for Punjabi Sikh Youth will lead a nature hike for Sikh Vatavaran Diwas, through Northern California’s scenic mountains. In August 2011, Bhujangi led a ten-day program called ‘Bhujangis in the Forest,’ to offer young boys a safe place to connect with each other, enjoy nature, and develop a relationship with Waheguru, with support from elder mentors.

Punjabi Community Health Services, Ontario, Canada

Punjabi Community Health Services, a long-running institution that serves elderly, adults and youth, will host a community cleanup drive, and a seminar on environmental protection based on Gurbani. PCHS is home to the Sahara Garden project, a local garden that enables elderly in the Punjabi/Sikh community to share their farming skills and stay physically active.

Glenwood Gurdwara in Australia Glenwood Gurdwara in Australia will mark the day with an essay competition for Sikh Youth on ‘the Guru’s message for Nature and Preservation,’ along with presentations and an awareness drive on the environment, and a talk by the local Green MP and local council member on how one community can make a difference.

Amritsar Forest Cover Increases by 16 square Kilometers

The Punjab Forest Survey Report revealed that forest cover in Amritsar has increased by 16 square kilometers. In the five year period, between 2007-2011, one million trees were planted each year under the leadership of the former Deputy Commissioner Kahn Singh Pannu. According to K.S. Pannu, ‘The objective was to protect the serenity of the Divine City of Guru Ram Das Ji, and to the protect Darbar Sahib from pollution. Out of the four million trees planted in four years of time, one million trees were planted in honor of seventh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Ji, beginning from his Gurgaddi Diwas, or Sikh Vatavaran Diwas (environment day) on March 14th, 2011’ Amritsar officially signed to the Green Pilgrimage Network launched in Assisi, Italy in November 2011, and is setting an example that non-forest cities can improve their green cover through collaborative efforts by locals.

Save the Date: EcoSikh Benefit Dinner, March 17th On March 17th at 6:30 pm, EcoSikh will be hosting its first Benefit Dinner at the University of Maryland Shady Grove Campus, to raise money for a number of exciting new environmental projects, based in Punjab and the Sikh Diaspora. Sikh leaders, entrepreneurs and community members will come together for a night of inspiration, reflection, and celebration for a renewed Sikh environmental vision. Special guests include, ‘Violinder,’ Raginder Singh Momi, master violinist and musician, a Punjabi Comedy Act, an a Bhangra/Giddha (folk dance) performance by talented youth, along with world renown leaders focusing on religion and the environment, including Dekila Chungyalpa, practicing Buddhist and director of the Sacred Earth program at the World Wildlife Fund. Tickets are available online, $50 for students and children over five, $100 for adults.

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