‘Undercover Mosque’

“A Dispatches reporter attends mosques run by organisations whose public faces are presented as moderate and finds preachers condemning integration into British society, condemning democracy and praising the Taliban for killing British soldiers.“

“Chilling undercover investigation into the influence of Saudi Arabian religious extremism throughout the UK. Despite being considered Britain’s principal ally in the Middle East, this disturbing report reveals Saudi Arabian Islam – Wahabism – is spreading a message of bigotry and hatred to a section of Muslims and predicting an imminent jihad. An undercover reporter joins Islamic worshippers.“

To watch the video on Google Videos, click here.

Reports:

Undercover Mosque

and

Revealed: preachers’ messages of hate

Lohri

‘Lohri‘ (Pronounce: – Loh-rhi) is an annual festival in Punjab. It comes in the month of January. It is not a religious festival. The story says that a poor man named Hundo married off his daughter. Her in-laws demanded dowry, which Hundo could not give. As a result, his daughter was burnt. For this reason the daughters go begging for money from their brothers and elders so that the same does not happen to them….

The day begins with children collecting money from houses in the neighbourhood. In the evening, winter savouries are served around a bonfire. Children go from door to door singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi version of Robin Hood who robbed the rich and helped the poor. These “visitors” are given either money or gachak, bhuga, til, moongphali, gur and rewri. The festival assumes greater significance if there has been a happy event in the family during the elapsed year, like the birth of a male child or marriage.

Eating of til and rorhi is considered to be essential on this day. Perhaps the words til and rorhi merged to become tilorhi, which eventually got shortened to Lohri.

Lohri

Hoshaan Naalon Masti Changee

‘Hosh-Masti‘ is a very famous Punjabi poem, which was written by Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh Ji.

Hosh-Masti
(Bhai Vir Singh Ji)

‘Kiyon Hoya?’ Te ‘Keekoon Hoya?’
Khapp Khapp Marey Siaaney,
Osey Raah Pavein Kiyon Jindey!
Jis Raah Poor Muhaaney!

Bhatkan Chadd, Latak La Ikko,
Kheevee Ho Sukh Maaneen,
Hoshaan Naalon Masti Changee,
Rakhdee Sadaa Tikaaney.

Hosh-Masti

Unconditional Love

I feel as if I have drunk a full ocean of love. Yes, love. I have realized that love is not merely a feeling, but it exists in physical form also, same as air exists.

We cannot see air, but it is there. It is necessary for us. We cannot live without air. Sometime, for various reasons, the air becomes polluted. Oxygen is a part of this air around us. And we know what happens if air gets polluted. If air is polluted, it means lack of pure oxygen. If air is polluted, we cannot have proper breath. People, those live constantly in polluted environment, face many health problems, for example asthma, lung cancer etc. We cannot see oxygen, but it exists. If we do not get sufficient oxygen, we face physical problems.

Similarly, we cannot see love in a physical form. But it exists. I have felt that love too, like oxygen or air, is there all around us. The entire universe is made of love. We need love to live happily, to live spiritually. Unfortunately, sometime we do not get proper love. We do not get enough love. Sometime, like oxygen, this love too can be polluted. Polluted air is a big reason of physical health problems; polluted love is a big cause of mental health problems, a big cause of spiritual health problems.

We have heard stories of a few dictators. Their life-stories tell us that they did not get enough love in their life. They did not get proper love in their life. Even if they did, this love was POLLUTED. Lack of love turned them into dictators, at last. Insufficient love or polluted love made them cruel.  Polluted love caused mental and spiritual health problems to these unfortunate persons. Unnecessary anger, lust, cruelty, feeling of revenge, greed, hunger for power, sadistic nature and ego etc are mental and spiritual health deceases. And polluted love or lack of love caused all of these mental and spiritual health problems.

But what is POLLUTED love? There could be many answers to this question. But at this moment, I think that CONDITIONAL love is a POLLUTED love. As I said, there could be many answers to this question.

What is conditional love? ‘If you love me, love my dog too; otherwise I will not love you’, it is a condition. ‘Do as I order, otherwise I will not love you’, it is a condition. ‘Embrace my religion, otherwise I do not love you’, it is a condition. ‘Take Khande da Amrit from where I got it, otherwise I do not love you’, it is a condition. ‘I love you, if you do this or that’, it is conditional love. ‘If you love me, only then I love you’ is a conditional love.

True love is unconditional. See how God loves His creation. He loves us, it does not matter we love Him or not. He does not say, “I will love you, only when you love me”. His love is unconditional.

On this point, His worshiper is not different to Him. A worshiper loves everyone. It does not matter to him if all or anyone loves him or not. He cannot stop loving everyone. He loves even his haters.

Love is there around us. God loves me. His creation loves me. Today I went to Rose Garden. I sat near the fountain. I felt as if the fountain was dancing for me. It was, I felt, trying to please me. I had not eaten for 24 hours and roses of different colours were smiling and helping me forget that I was hungry. See how much these lovely flowers love me.

Oh tiny flowers, I love you too. You are too small and still you donate pleasant fragrance to everyone. You are too small and still you make the world so colourful with your lovely existence. I love you, really. I will love you forever, even if you stop loving me. Well, I know you cannot stop to love everyone. You are not so different to the God Almighty.

–Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’

‘Oh’

‘Oh‘ is a poem written by me. The Punjabi pronoun ‘Oh’ means’ ‘s/he’.

Oh
(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Phullaan Dee Mehak See Us Vich
Komal See Barha Oh
Us Noon Vekhiya
Taan Man Nirmal Ho Gya
Pyaar Umarh Aaya Seene Vich
Sohna See Oh Barha.

Oh Jadon Muskuraaya
Mere Andar Dee Dur-Bhaavna
Mitt Gyee Sadaa Lyee
Main Mantar-Mudadh Ho Ke
Us Val Takda Reha
Pyaara Lagda See Oh Mainu.

Jadon Us De Sundar Honthh Hiley
Taan Suraan De Rang Bhikharey Mere Saahmaney
Sangeet Us Da –
Meree Aatma Maan-dee Rahee
Us Pal Oh
Dev-Doot Jeha Lageya.

Main Jadon Us Nu Aavaaz Dittee
Oh Mere Kol Aa Ke Baithh Gya
Meree Har Gal Noon Dhyaan Naal Sun-da
Oh Dost Lageya Aapna Mainu.

Main Jadon Us De Palle Noon Chhoheya
Taan Mithhi Jehee Peerh Naal –
Sareer Kamb Uthheya Mera
Meree Rooh Nasheaayee Gyee
Oh Mera Mehboob See Hun.

Komal Jehe Haththaan Naal
Us Ne Chhoheya Mainu Jadon
Mere Andar Noor Hee Noor Bhar Gya
Main Us Val Takeya
Bas Takda Hee Reha
Mere Andar Bhareya Noor
Achaanak
Mere Jism Noon Raushan Karan Lagga
Main Apna Sir
Us De Kadmaan ‘Te Dhar Ditta
Oh Taan Rabb See Mera.

Oh

‘Ichhabal De Chanaar Te Noor-Jahan’

‘Ichhabal De Chanaar Te Noor-Jahan’ is a small, but wonderful Punjabi poem by Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh Ji. ‘Ichhabal’ is a lake in Jammu and Kashmir State in India. ‘Chanaar’ is the local name for tree of Platanum Orientalis (Poplar). ‘Noor-Jahan’ (Light of the World) is a personal name. Thus, ‘Ichhabal De Chanaar Te Noor-Jahan’ means ‘Poplars of Ichhabal and Noor-Jahan’.

A beautiful lady comes and touches the poet. Now, the poet, Bhai Vir Singh Ji, shares his emotions in this poem. The true love, the touch of true love is something totally different to ordinary physical intimacy. The excitement of Noorjahan’s touch is different. Other beautiful people are nothing. ‘Noor-Jahan’ is great. ‘Noor-Jahan’ is someone special. ‘Noor-Jahan’ is sacred. ‘Noor-Jahan’ is innocent. ‘Noor-Jahan’ is not merely a ‘thing of beauty’, but a ‘divine being’ who should be worshipped.

Ichhabal De Chanaar Te Noor Jahaan
-Kisey Sundree De Hathh Laun Te-

Tere Jeheeaan Kyee Ver Aa
Hathh Asaan Noon Laaye,
Pyaar Lain Noon Jee Kar Aavey
Uchhaal Kaleja Khaaye, –
Par Oh Pyaar Suyaad Na Vasda
Hor Kisey Hathh Andar,
Noor Jahaan! Jo Chhuh Teree Ne
Saanoon Laad Ladaaye.

(Poet: Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh Ji)

Noor Jahan

‘Akaali Jhandey Di Vaar’

‘Akaali Jhandey Di Vaar’ is a Punjabi poem written by famous poet (late) Vidhata Singh ‘Teer’. In this poem, the poet glorifies the ‘Khalsa Flag’ (Nishan Sahib), which is called ‘Akaali Jhanda’ also.

Akaali Jhandey Di Vaar