Sukhmani Sahib for the Shaheeds

The “Sukhmani Sahib for the Shaheeds” project by the Jakara Movement mobilized the Sikh sangat throughout the United States to participate in Sukhmani Sahib paaths. The purpose of these paaths was to come together and remember Guru Arjun’s Shahadat and the Shaheeds that gave their lives in the third Ghallughara (June 1984).

Sukhmani Sahib was recited in eleven groups throughout the United States during the week of June 1st through June 7th. The regions that participated were Bakersfield, Buena Park, Detroit, El Sobrante, Fremont, Fresno, Sacramento, San Jose, Washington D.C., San Antonio, and South Florida.

The project was successful in engaging the parent’s generation in the efforts to honor our community heroes and sheroes. It was also successful in integrating their involvement into the Remembering 1984 projects this year during the 25th commemoration of the Third Ghallughara. Although this project began with the parent generation as it’s target audience, it actually resulted in many first generation young adults joining into the Sukhmani Sahib paaths. Many young adults who had never recited Sukhmani Sahib before became motivated to attend and join their local sangats.

There was an over whelming positive response to the Sukhmani Sahib Project from the regions that participated. “It is so heart warming to see that the next generation has coordinated such an effort and we are proud of you,” said a Sikh woman who participated in the West Sacramento Gurdwara group. A survivor of the 1984 Ghallughara from Bakersfield said, “I am glad to see that this is being given attention and that someone is pushing for this remembrance.” Overall, the Sikh sangat once again demonstrated its ability to unite, mobilize, and act.