American Born Confused Sikh

Gurpurab 2020. Alas!  Like all other holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and events that have occurred since March of this year, it has been quite a challenge to celebrate and enjoy them fully. And for a faith that is very much focused on community, it has been exceptionally challenging for us Sikhs.  When the whole world went into a strict lockdown back in March, I think one of the hardest pieces of it all was not being able to go to the Gurudwara. I felt isolated from my community and even worse, I felt isolated from my Guru!  I know. I know. You don't have to go to Gurudwara to do your paath or to connect to the Guru or Waheguru. You can do everything at home. But it's not the same!!!! I'm an extrovert. I like people. And even if I don't know anyone at a Gurudwara, just sitting amongst a sangat feels nice. Their energy and vibrations rub off onto me and vise versa. So as you can see, going into lockdown gave me major anxiety.  But then something kind of amazing ha...

Sometime in the 1700’s – Delhi, India   The Afghan Moghuls had invaded India and slaughtered thousands of men in battle, looted tons of treasure, and kidnapped and abducted a lot of Hindu women. (One source said it was 22,000. Another source said it was 2,200. But regardless, it was a lot of women!) The Moghuls were planning to take these women back to Afghanistan so that they could be sold into slavery and on the way, these women would be used by the Afghan soldiers to “satisfy their lust”.    When news of these horrific events reached the Sikhs, they came together and made plans to rescue these kidnapped women. Led by Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, the Sikhs made midnight raids and rescues and saved the women and children that were stolen by the Moghals. Unfortunately, many women and widows were not accepted back into their families. When their own families rejected them, they were welcomed and embraced by the Sikhs and they were able to marry the Sikh soldiers. ...