Darbar 720p
Marva Richardt
There are spiritual reasons to wake up at this so-called ungodly hour. Keep calm and Riyaz on Western folklore has instilled in our minds that 3 am is the witching hour. However, many believe it is a time of heightened spiritual awareness, Read More
As we gear up to deliver Darbar Festival 2022 (and are already deep in the planning stage for Darbar Festival 2023), I find myself thinking about the way the pandemic has changed the lens through which we view live music performances. Read More
Behind the scenes with Darbar's sound engineer Christoph Bracher. How does Darbar successfully reimagine and recontextualise Indian classical music for our times, and our geography? Because essentially, the music played in courts (and darbars) Read More
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A pressing need for a place of worship and communal service to cater for the needs of a sizable community of Sikhs in Somerville and its surrounding cities, including Boston led to the setting up of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Somerville in September of 1997.The Gurdwara was the result of pooling of talent and resources among the members of the community. The history of the Gurdwara is a story of sorts that parallels the development of the Sikh Community in Sommerville, Cambridge, Malden, Medford and the city of Boston. The Gurdwara is now attended by members from as far as North Andover and Woburn.The humble beginnings of the Gurdwara go back to 1997 with Sardar Maan Singh Grewal leading the way. An inauguration ceremony was performed by the revered Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Pathlavay Wale, who encouraged the community to never refrain from developing spiritually.The Gurdwara thus began as a prayer service that was conducted in the houses of Sikhs who were members of the community. About six months later, the community rented a premises at 62 Summer Street, Sommerville, and then for another two years at 251 Highland Avenue. As the community grew bigger, the Gurdwara shifted to larger rented premises at 76 (Rear) Central Street, Somerville.In May 2003 the Sangat purchased a building in the commercial hub of Medford and converted it to a Gurdwara. In January 2004, the Gurdwara moved to this new premises which consists of two Diwans (prayer halls), a library, a 700 sq foot fully furnished Granthi Living Quarters, conference room, office, langgar hall and a full sized commercial kitchen.The community now comprises of some 100 families and is growing. The Gurdwara's management comprises 7 Directors headed by Sardar Bachittar Singh Sodhi as Chairman. The Management Committee of the Gurdwara comprises of Sardar Jaspal Singh Pabla as President, Sardar Gurminderjit Singh as Treasurer, Sardar Harbhajan Singh as Vice Treasurer, Sardar Gurinder Singh Saini as Secretary, and Jarnail Singh Pabla and Avtar Singh Basuta as Executive Members.The Gurdwara meets on Sundays for its main functions. Reading of the Five Banees (prayers) begins at 8 am followed by the recital of Sukhmani Sahib. The congregation service begins at 11 am, with an hour of Kirtan by the local youth Jatha. This is followed by a Gurbani Lecture Series till 12:45 pm. Langar meals (community kitchen) are served at 1:00 pm.The Gurdwara conducts weekly Kirtan (Harmonium, Tabla) and Gurbani Recital classes. They run on Saturdays from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm and on Sunday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Some 20 children and adults are currently attending these classes. Anyone can join these classes, the only condition being interest. Punjabi Classes are conducted on Sundays at 2 pm.The current thrust of the Management Committee, headed by Sardar Jaspal Singh Pabla as President, is the maximum utilization of the new and permanent premises. All activities are geared towards educating and training the children and youth. The children run their own diwan parallel to the main diwan of the sangat, where they do kirten and listen to sakhis. Additionally, the management committee is in the process of setting up punjabi classes and equipping the Khalsa Library for the benefit of the children.For more information contact: WebmasterE-mail to Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar at: darbar_g...@yahoo.com
A Granthi is also a spiritual leader. He /She leads congregation in prayer, performs the Kirten (musical rendition of the Scriptures), Katha (Discourses), Ardas (Prayers), and inspires and provides spiritual direction and upliftment to the Sangat (congregation).
Finally, a Granthi is a teacher and role model. He/She is expected to spend a good deal of time teaching children, young adults and adults. He/She is to teach Kirten (spiritual music), Tabla (spiritual rhythms) Gurbani (poetry of the scriptures) and Punjabi (the language of the Holy Books).
A. Conduct weekly Sunday Diwans. (Prayer Meetings). The Sunday Diwan Service typically begins at 9 am and concludes at about 2 pm. The Granthi recites Banees from the Granth Sahib such as the Amrit Banees and Sukhmani Sahib. The recitation of these prayers is followed typically by two hours of Gurmat Kirten during which he/she renders verses from the Holy Book in the Original Ragas, Taalas and Musical Scores in which the Scripture is composed. The Granthi uses a musical instrument such as a harmonium, Mandolin, Sitar or Tanpura accompanied by a Tabla (rhythm) player to do the Kirten.
E. Conduct Kirten (Spiritual Music) and Tabla (Spiritual Rhythm) classes. These classes provide instruction in Gurmat Kirten, Sangeet, Vocal and Tabla in order to allow members of the Sikh faith to appreciate the true nature of the content and style of the Scripture.
G. Conduct the Parkash (Opening of the Holy Book) and Semapti (closing) prayers daily. The Prakash is to be done at dawn with recital of Japji Sahib and Semapti at dusk with recital of Rehras and Kirtan Sohela.
H. Partake as an Akhand Pathi in Akhand Paths. These are 48-hour non-stop readings of the 1430 page Holy Book and the Granthi leads 4 other members of the Congregations who each take turns lasting 2 hours.
He/She is expected to be a team player. Gurdwara projects and activities are almost always run by volunteers as charitable and non-profit organizations. An ability to work with and inspire these Sewadars (volunteer service providers) to keep going is an asset any Granthi can have.
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