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Guru Ram Das, Raj Yogi in Northern Argentina
10/31/2005
As Guru Nanak traveled by foot all over the Asian continent, a group of Khalsa Sikhs from USA and Mexico are carrying thru Gurus teachings, flying, all over the South American Continent.
Inspired by the work of Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogi-Ji the jatha consists of Singh Sahib Guru Bachan Singh, his family and 3 Teachers, including a Ragi and 2 Guru Granthi´s. This report is from Northern Argentina.
Rosario De La Frontera, Salta, Argentina: Saturday October 23.
Departing from Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Jatha traveled 6 hours to reach Guru Nanak Sar Templo (Gurdwara) in the town of Rosario de la Frontera.
In this Northern region, dubbed the "Breadbasket" of Argentina, there exists a little known and beautifully well kept Gurdwara of Argentine born Sikhs. This Gurdwara was established by the Sikhs that came to Argentina in the early Nineteen Hundreds. Originally they came to establish Sugar Cane farming as well as work the railroad built by the British. Now, only a few of the families still farm while most run supermarkets, transport companies and other businesses.
Being the first Sikh Gurdwara in South America, now it is the Sunday focal point for the Sikhs of the town as well as many Sikh families that have come from Punjab more recently, only 8 to 20 years ago.
Many of the turbaned Sikhs such as, Kuldip Singh & Baljit Kaur drove 4 hours from Jujuy. While others come from other towns like Ranjit Singh and his family from General Guarneaz, or Gurupdesh Singh and his family from Galpon, Pereco and the well known city of Salta and the neighboring province of Tucoman..
Spanish and Punjabi are spoken and occasionally English can be heard. Although they are very well educated, the passage of time has caused many of the younger generation born in Argentina to loosen their ties with Sikhee.
What a joy for us to be in the presence of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and this unusual Sadh Sangat.
After dusting the dust of travel off, we bowed to the Guru and then were served a wonderful langar. The next day being Sunday, the Gurdwara filled up all the North American Argentine Sikhs.
What a blessing of Guru Ram Das to do the kirtan here. Everything sounded so specially beautiful.
This was the first time that a Sikh women translated the Gurmukhi Hukam into Spanish in this Gurdwara. The women were so moved I could see the tears of joy glistening in their eyes. All could enjoy the words of the Guru, young and old alike.
Laughter came when during Langar, Gurupdesh Singh said, and "Your presence here has brought me back to Punjab". How ironic that a Jatha of American Sikhs could inspire such a response.
Salta-Oct.23-26
After a wonderful visit at the Gurdwara and many photo's and fond fairwells and promises to return and teach, we reboarded our bus for the 2 hour drive to the city of Salta.
A very scenic picturesque city, Salta is built in the vast crator of a long ago died out Volcano. Tucked in between a range of mountains, the air was very clean and the views spectacular.
There is no Yoga Center here, but, Guru Ram Das once again brought many many people attracted by our presence in the city to our class.
Being a small city, our presence in town created quite a buzz. While sightseeing we entered a beautiful Cathedral on the main square of town. During the recitation of Mass we had people walk up to us to ask us who we were.
Some of our Jatha experienced young people walking up to them explaining that their Grandfather was a Sikh. So, we invited them to class. In fact we invited ALL we met to the class. They all came to class.
There were some Sikh families from Salta as well as students from a Hatha Yoga Studio in the next Province. More than 20 Sikhs attended class from Rosario and other far away towns again, driving for hours to be together again.
Under the starry clear night air at the Sheraton Hotel on Oct.25th we had a great class. Learning about Guru Ram Das and the Shabds was new for some and a familiar joy for others. Even the Folkloric dancers, most of them children, who came to perform meditated and chanted to Guru Ram Das.
After the class the young Folkloric Dancers gave a spirited and elegant dance performance.
This marked the beginning of Guru Ram Das work in Northern Argentina.
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