In an atmosphere of exhilarating spirit of religiosity, massive crowds of Sikh sangat converged at the Gurdwara Sahib, Fremont to celebrate the Bandi Chorr Diwas and Diwali in Sikhi spirit and attended the three days of diwan that witnessed best of the kirtanias, katha-kaars and panthic speakers enunciating the Gurmat principals and Gurbani.

The Gurdwara management had organized a Kirtan Darbar on October 17 to mark the Bandi Chorr Diwas where sangat waited in long queues for a turn to bow before Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji till 10:30 pm in the night. The gathering was a record one compared to previous years but what was even more appreciated was the discipline that was maintained, largely thanks to the efforts and some astute pre-planning by the management.

From 4 pm onwards, the sangat members were enthusiastically ensuring that lights are put up and illumination at the Nishan Sahib was arranged. Little children were joyfully lighting diyas and candles, and spreading the spirit of joie de vivre.

A fund raising effort to complete the ongoing and planned projects at Gurdwara Fremont Sahib also drew massive and heartening response as sangat poured out money for projects like painting of the gurughar's interiors and exterior, new carpetting, change of curtains, blinds and draperies, extending the kitchen and putting up a solar system at the gurdwara.

Totting up the figures for fund raising for this one and the last week, the management was able to raise an impressive $ 95,000, a figure many thought shamed even the fact of recession and showed that the Sikh sangat will not shy away from its duty of Daswandh even in the trying circumstances.

Mission College non-profit volunteers who inspire students for higher studies had also put up their booth while some volunteers gave their time and energies for systematically directing traffic and other facilities. Brothers Sukhwinder Singh and Nirpal Singh came in for much praise from the sangat.

Langar, tea, chole-bhature, jalebis, tikkis, samosas, and pakoras flowed in regular supply as sangat partook of refreshments. Bhai Tarsem Singh ensured that a shuttle bus service connected 7th Street, the parking place for the sangat, with the Gurughar to make the commute easier.

Managing committee president Bhai Harjot Singh Khalsa thanked the sangat, the volunteers and fellow managing committee members for successfully overseeing the religious programs, fund raisers, traffic control, langar and many other tasks that were assigned to various people and groups and said the success at this scale is always the product of mutual cooperation and collective effort.

The Gurughar also bestowed siropas on various volunteers.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Bhai Gursewak Singh was felicitated for free rolls and sewa at langar with an award of Volunteer of the Year.

* Bhai Jai Singh was also conferred with Volunteer of the Year award for his sewa of langar for more than a year and a half on behalf of the restaurant owners.

*  Bhai Lovepreet Singh Brar was honored for taking the initiative in paint venture. Bhai Rajdeep Singh Pannu for being ever available for sewa, Kabila Restaurant, Bombay Garden, Raja Sweets, Tandoor Restaurant, India Summer restaurant, Mehfil Restaurant, Bhai Gurmukh Singh, Bhai Mandeep Singh, Charter Bus Service's Bhai Tarsem Singh and veteral members of the gurughar were also honored.

* Bhai Hardev Singh Bhalwant performed sewa for 10-12 hours every day for nearly two weeks at a stretch.

* Many Hindu families regularly attended the functions at the gurughar.

* Sewadars spent a week in putting up the lights for the festivities.