A new Sikh youth organisation has been formed at the Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib in Takanini at the three-day event that saw the participation of more than 150 young Sikh individuals.
The three-day event was held from Friday, July 21 to Sunday, July 23 that saw young individuals participate in the Akhand Paath and sewa of the Gurudwara.
The Youth Wing Supreme Sikh Society New Zealand is established with the aims to get more young minds to come towards Sikhism, learn more about the religion and actively participate in its cultural activities.
“The aim of creating this organisation is ‘empowering tomorrow’s Sikh leaders for a better future’ and getting the kids who have gone away from Sikhism back into Sikhism by Waheguru’s grace,” says Sukhjap Singh, spokesman of the group.
The group currently has 90 members enrolled between the age of five and 19. Young individuals can enrol their names by paying a one-time membership fee of $50 which will be used to fund and organise events and activities of the organisation.
One of the many activities planned by the group is to host an exhibition to display the rich history of the Sikh community, its birth and growth over the centuries, the life of Sikh martyrs and important events such as Battle of Chamkaur and so on.
Another important project is getting the young Sikh children and the youth to visit Gurudwara regularly and participate in its activities.
“We want the young people to come to the Gurudwara, and hopefully this will create more affinity for the religion in them which seems to be getting lost in today’s fast paced living, even amongst the school goers and the youth,” Mr Singh added.
One of the most recent activities of this organisation is getting in touch with the schools about the issues faced by Sikh students for wearing dastar (cloth to cover the forehead) at school.
Youth Wing SSSNZ comes under the parent body Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand. Supreme Sikh Society in the past has conducted many community and sporting events such as National Kabaddi tournaments, Langar for the community, events for children and the women and other events.