Sat Nam. I departed Seattle, Washington on December 23rd and arrived Christmas Eve, December 24, 2016, in New Delhi, India.
Preet Kaur and Satpal Singh picked me up and took me to where I was to stay from the 24th to the 26th -- Bangla Sahib Gurdwara. I met Nam Prakash Kaur from England who roomed with Preet Kaur at the Niwas.
The next day I went to the Gurdwara Sahib to bow my head at the feet of the Guru.
Satpal Singh invited me to attend an interfaith event near the International Krishna Consciousness Mandir in New Delhi.
After this event, I went with Satpal Singh to meet with Sardar Tarlochan Singh ji.
On the morning of the 26th, folks from China, U.S., Canada, Russia, Argentina arrived. Our group then traveled to the Indira Gandhi International Airport to travel to Amritsar. Bahadur Singh ji and Parminder Kaur joined us as well. It was the first time I flew into Guru Ram Das International Airport in Amritsar.
We traveled to Guru Teg Bahadur Niwas about 2 miles from Darbar Sahib. We boarded a large bus and were dropped off about quarter mile from the newly constructed “Mall” to the Harimandir Sahib.
We all went into the Golden Temple but didn’t stay long due to crowds. I’ve never seen so many pilgrims at Harimandir Sahib in all my visits.
As we walked back to the waiting bus to take us back to the Niwas, I spotted Ong Kar Kaur and Guru Amrit Singh as they were walking towards Darbar Sahib. It was nice to see siblings, they being Hari Singh and Kaur Bird’s daughter and son-in-law.
Each morning we were able to do morning Sadhana, which all Yatris enjoyed. We were also joined by Ramanjeet Kaur and Simarpreet Singh, both Ragis who were very interested in Kundalini Yoga and the Sadhana practiced by our group. Navroop Singh also joined out group to help. He roomed with me for the remainder of the Yatra. Narinder Pal Singh was very interested in the Yatra also. He had heard lectures of Siri Singh Sahib ji and was asked by Satpal Singh to join us.
More folks met up with us in Amritsar. During our stay in Amritsar (12/26-12/31) we met with SGPC Secretary General and other folks. Nam Prakash Kaur, Preet Kaur, Satpal Singh and myself were interviewed by the Times of India.
We visited the Gurdwara where the 3rd Guru (Siri Guru Amar Das) held Darbar before Siri Guru Ram Das created Amritsar.
At Goindwal (Boli Sahib) we entered the well where the 3rd Guru drew water to take to Siri Guru Angad. We had Langar and shared the day with humble Sevadars.
We were shown the throne Lehna built so many times for SIri Guru Amar Das. From that test Lehna, became SIri Guru Ram Das.
New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2016, we arrived around 11pm and walked as a group to Darbar Sahib where at least a quarter of a million devotees had arrived to offer prayers and Bole Soni Hals.
At 11:20pm, we were on the Parakarma. We chose to sit by Baba Budha Bir (tree) at across from Sarovar tank from Darbar Sahib. There were so many people. The tank was like glass. Within ten minutes, around 11:30pm, our brothers and sisters from the SDI Yatra (Sikh Dharma International), arrived with the MPA, Miri Piri Academy, youth.
As Sada Sat Simran Singh and Jagat Guru removed their Cholas (Kurtas) and entered the water, I noticed that SSS Guru Amrit Kaur and SS Gurujot Kaur wanted to be near the edge of the tank so I got up and assisted them as they tried to balance themselves walking over the throngs of people sitting on the marble.
So here we were, one big Khalsa family, around 100 Sikhs raised by Siri Singh Sahib ji, and guided and protected by Guru Ram Das ji.
It felt as if the “Siblings of Destiny” had our affairs arranged by the Spirit of our beloved Teacher and our Guru Sahib.
At the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2016-January 1, 2017 -- everybody chanted Bole Soni Hal! Sat Siri Akal! This was a special moment for everybody! Wahe Guru!
On January 1st, our Deg Tegh Fateh Yatra climbed aboard a bus donated by Baba Gurnam Singh from Goindwal, and arranged by Bahadur Singh ji. We stopped in Sirhind at Fatehgar Sahib where the two younger Sahibzadas were martyred along with their grandmother, Mata Gujri.
We traveled to other historic Gurdwaras and arrived in the evening at Anandpur Sahib where the SGPC President arranged for us to stay at the Niwas and where we were served Langar and breakfast.
We then walked to Keshghar Sahib where we were treated with the ethereal voices of Rage Jatha lead by our brother, SImarpreet Singh ji. We all wanted to stay there and never leave.
In the afternoon Satpal Singh had arranged for DTFY to visit the new Sikh Museum and Siri Singh Sahib ji’s home in Anandpur Sahib where we were fed a full meal by the Sevadar who takes care of the estate. Our attendees felt the vibration of the Siri Singh Sahib. We all walked the grounds.
We drove back to Amritsar to prepare to leave the next day.
We went one last time to Siri Harimandir Sahib, the Golden Temple.
We were tired but troopers we were, as our Yatra was invited to a Sikhs home where a Smagam was taking place. Saropas were bestowed, and hospitality was shown to our entire Yatra.
On the 4th of January we checked out and we were bussed to Guru Ram Das International Airport.
As we were checking in everyone’s baggage, a person I hadn’t seen in years, Dr. Alan Singh, walked up to me and threw his arms around me, saying, "Sat Nam SatHanuman Singh!" Then more folks came up to the counter from the SDI Yatra -- some saying hello.
It was a great joy to see everyone. We all flew on the same flight to New Delhi on our way to Patna Sahib.
We stood and sat in the waiting room. I then said to Preet Kaur, lets take our DTFY attendees over to meet the beloved wife of Siri Singh Sahib ji. So we took them in small numbers to meet Bibiji. We would all be on the same flight.
We finally departed and arrived in New Delhi. We began the check in process. Again, both groups were united on the same flight to Patna Sahib.
We all sat waiting at the gate. Folks showed up from Millis, DC, LA, Espanola, Herndon. Our joint Yatras flew to Patna.
The first day, after checking in, we went to the Takhat (Harimandir Sahib). Then walked to the Gurdwaras. It was a long but happy journey. It was filled with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, as it was in Amritsar.
Our group again set up Sadhana with the assistant of the manager of the hotel. Each morning we did a few asanas. Then we practiced the Aquarian Sadhana with the MSS Livtar Singh version of Sadhana.
On the 6th of January we arrived along with a couple of million Sikhs from around the world, again joined by our siblings from Sikh Dharma International Yatra at the same place. We sat in the Court of the Guru while listening to the Chardi Kala Jatha sing the basis from the 10th Master.
More interviews from Indian Newspapers and Punjabi TV.
That evening we visited the Gurdwara at a camp. We were joined again by the Patna Sahib Jathedar and dozens of Nihangs. Bibiji and the SDI Yatra presented a Siri Sahib as a gift to honor the birth of Siri Guru Gobind Singh ji. Both Satpal Singh and Bibiji spoke about the Guru.
On January 7th we were bussed to the Patna Airport to fly back to New Delhi. Again, the two Yatras merged as ONE. Our Teacher’s Spirit and Guru Ram Das kept us connected. Our final journey together was the one hour flight to Indira Gandhi International Airport. We hugged and took more photos. The Spirit of the Guru was felt by all, for at that time we were truly One in Sprit, One in the Lord.
Our DTFY group was then bussed to Niwas at Bangla Sahib and we spent that evening resting. That evening our Yatra was invited as special guests to an event chronology of Siri Guru Gobind Singh at an auditorium in New Delhi. Special seats were held for our Yatra.
The next morning, January 8th, we jumped on a bus to Sis Kanj Gurdwara Sahib in Old Delhi where the 9th Guru was martyred. We road by the Red Fort with all its history.
Our group returned to the Niwas and departed to different destinations around the world. Some remained in India to tour additional historic sights.
On the morning after bowing our heads where Guru Tegh Bahadur gave his head for all of Hindustan, Satpal Singh and I were asked by the President of the Delhi Gurdwara Committee to meet the Finance Minster of Canada and take him on a tour of Bangla Sahib.
We spoke briefly to the President about teaching Kundalini Yoga at Khalsa Colleges and Universities going forward. He was very cordial. He said he was open to discussing the future.
That evening Preet Kaur, Satpal Singh and I flew back to Amritsar and attended the wedding of Bangla Sahib Granthi’s son. Preet Kaur and I did Bhangara. She was better than I.
On the 9th, I flew home after connecting in New Delhi one more time.
Our DTFY Yatra was a busy trip, touching many souls, and inspiring many. It wasa constantly moving experience of blessings by touching the “dust of the saint’s feet”.
It was amazing that 35 people from 10 different nations, speaking at least 10 different languages with little interpretation, were able to do Sadhana, travel together and always, always Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh!
I know from the trip our Khalsa family from the East and West was still connected even though at times it appeared there were challenges. One vibration kept us United. One word -- EkOngKar (13).
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh!
SatHanuman Singh Khalsa
Jathedar
I have been on many retreats. I've gone to Summer Solstice Sadhana many years, and I have been a taken part in Sat Nam Rasayan retreats, but I never felt such a close familly bond with everyone. I miss you guys. It's really amazing how I feel like we are a familly now.
You and Satpal Singh were so informative about Sikh history. I wanted to hear everything I could. I wanted to learn all I could. The Yatra was some of my favourite moments.
Yes, India was challenging, but I expected that. You can't grow without challenge. You and the other members were so patient with us, and I know it wasn't always easy, LOL. I hope I was dignified and a good example most of the time.
I have been in touch with Jaideep Kaur and Shakta Kaur. We have made some plans to get together in the future. I hope your wife is happy with her gifts, which were also a bit of a challenge in India with the whole money problem. I think India can only be a lot easier on future Yatras.
I would love to hear your recap on each Gurdwara, the history and the Guru associated with each place we went. The more I hear, the more I will remember. I've even thought about going to the Gurdwara here. It's not like the ones in India. It's just in a building. Just want to call there first, and see if I can just go. I want to feel the Guru's connection.
Bye for now.
Siri Sat Kaur
MySense By Chari Long
Chari Long (Jaideep Kaur)
Sat Nam! What a wonderful experience! I can’t wait to do go on a Yatra again.
We bowed at many Gurdwaras and learned so much about Sikh Dharma, Culture and Indian history.
I am grateful my 4 year old son was able to experience this life changing journey. We will cherish the memories for our lifetime and I know it will shape him in becoming a prosperous and happy Singh.
We were treated with respect by everyone in India and we were able to project the unity of the world as we formed bonds that broke language barriers with all the other Yatra participants. I have made friends for life and we together brought the message of love and unity to India, and India reciprocated by not only welcoming us, but celebrating our Yatra and reporting on our unity in various media outlets.
The Yatra was much bigger than us, it was an experience shared by all we met along the way. What a journey!
I am looking forward to returning to India and working with ACT, Akal Committee 13. I want to help take Kundalini Yoga back to its roots, and provide SuperHealth, Kundalini Yoga for Addictive Behavior.
It was such a beautiful, outstanding experience, which had a deep impact on me and my spiritual journey. To be in India was like coming home to a place I was longing for, for such a long time! It was magic, lifechanging, beyond words!
Visiting all those sacred places with this wonderful group, listening to the explanations of our guides, hearing the stories about the Sikh Gurus, walking where they once walked, lived, meditated and spread their wisdom – what an incredible blessing!
Never will I forget how we were welcomed so warmly by the local authorities, which we never could have met without the guidance of ACT; how we celebrated Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday together with so many sisters and brothers from all over the world. How beautiful it felt to be with so many likeminded people and focus on what unites us and not on what separates us.
To stand on the riverbanks of Holy Ganga and feel the joy and ecstasy of the crowd; listening to Kirtan in Anandpur Sahib; and being so profoundly touched. Feeling the emotions while bowing to the Guru in all these different Gurdwaras; the bliss of the Golden Temple; and witnessing the stunning Sukhasan ceremony at Bangla Sahib in Delhi.
When I let all the memories pass in front of my inner eyes, it seems like a wonderful, incredible dream. I have the deep desire to return as soon as possible to those magic places, to learn and to study more about Sikhs, and to contribute to building bridges, and to foster tolerance, equality and inclusion. I feel so deeply thankful that I came into contact with Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma, it helped me so much in a moment when I needed it most. Nothing could make me more happy than to pass this on to others in need. WAHEGURU!
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! 
Preet Kaur and Satpal Singh picked me up and took me to where I was to stay from the 24th to the 26th -- Bangla Sahib Gurdwara. I met Nam Prakash Kaur from England who roomed with Preet Kaur at the Niwas. 
