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Great Pictures Indi.k !! Cheers !

There are very few examples of old punjabi female portraiture - In my family up until the 1950s unmarried women were not allowed to have their photos taken - a mixture of patriarchial Society and fear for Family Izzat if the photos got into the 'wrong' hands !!! There are very few depictions of the Gurus' wifes - Only BeBe Nanaki seems to be favourite subject for portraits - Sikh women apart from depictions of Rani Jind Kaur don't seem to 'exist' when you look at portraits ! So an analysis of dress is quite hard to do - Nonetheless a few examples do exist ; Here is a portrait of Bibi Bhani - The wife of Guru Ram Das from the 18th Century - in Jaipur style from the collection of Bhai Suchet Singh - Vill. Bhai Rupa, Moga It shows Bibi Bhani wearing what appears to be a Ghagra. *taken from The Sikh Heritage - Dr Daljeet -2004 This picture is titled as 'Singhani' - Sikh woman soldier - it is from the early 20th century - she is wearing salwar kameez *taken from Dr Daljeet 2004 This picture is from a sketch by Keher Singh - court painter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh - It shows 2 ladies with what could be Keskis - or could be high Top Knots - They are wearing salwar kameez and thin dupattas. *taken from Marg - Vol XXX 3 June 1977 This document is a quote from Giani Gian Singh's Panth Prakash. It documents when Baghel Singh walked unopposed into the Red Fort Delhi in 1783 - The Singhs were accompanied by their Singhnis - their dress is described - while some are dressed as 'warrior men' the rest are described as wearing salwars of 20 yards , silver ornaments weighing 10 ser ( 2 pound weight) and their hair was in 'Chundian' top knots one and a half hands high (Dedh gith) and their kurte (tops) were embroidered *taken from Panth Prakash - Giani Gian Singh - Bhash Vibhag Punjab - 1987 , pg 1152 This last picture shows a Nihang and Nihangni - probably from a Keher Singh sketch - The Nihangni appears to have her hair in top knot (maybe a keski ?) wears a salwar and kameez and carries a chakar and mala around her neck and a Mala in her hand. * taken from The Sikhs - T S Randhawa 2000 Perhaps someone else can add more ?

On the Lawns of the Red Fort - Delhi

Eyeball to eyeball !!

ਤੁਰੀ ਸੰਖ ਬਾਜੇ ॥ ਮਹਾ ਬੀਰ ਸਾਜੇ ॥ The trumpet and conch resound and the great warriors look impressive. ਨਚੇ ਤੁੰਦ ਤਾਜੀ ॥ ਮਚੇ ਸੂਰ ਗਾਜੀ ॥੧੯॥ The swift-running horses dance and the brave warriors are excited.19. (Sri Dasam Granth Sahib pg 50)

AAWWW Bless ! - that kirti picture is sweet ! Here are some of my Favourite pics of Nihang Babas Loving the 'Top Gun' shades ! Cheeky Smile - Impressive set of whiskers ! Baata Squeezing the "Sher Kan" - Shaheedi Degh preparation A painting depicting Nihangs 1885

I have received lots of mails about the pictures I posted of the Akalis at Amritsar - obviously a topic everyone is interested in ! - Here are some more photographs - I tend to save and collect pics when ever I see them - sometimes I forget to note the source - usually because I am so excited about the pic !!! ( Sad aren't I ! ) - some of the websites these pics come from no longer exist or I have long forgotten them - Sorry ! * A Bombay Sikh - Photograph taken by Colonel A C Yate in 1904 * A picture - described as 19th century - I found on ebay - it shows 3 Akalis by a river - perhaps taking ishnan - The photo sold for a lot of money - out of my league ! * A slightly damaged photograph from The Gertrude Bell Archive - taken in 1903 it shows Akalis with very tall Dastar Boongas with numerous shasters and Chakars around their necks - on the walkway walking towards the Harmandar Sahib * An Akali Baba - 1860s * A Nihang - note the small kirpan on a gatra rather than in the kamarkasa - also note the checked chadar or Loi - in the illustrations published in 'sicques,tigers or thieves' it can be seen that Tara Singh , Bhag Singh and Amar Singh are all wearing checked 'Loi' or kamarkasa - and in some accounts Nihangs are described as wearing checked garments.- is this an example ? - I have a friend whose Grandad is a Nihang - when he visted England in the 1980s all he wore throughout his stay was what he wore in India - Dumalla , Large Kachhera and Loi (big shawl) - regardless of how cold it got - he never wore a kurta / shirt. - I remember he used to do katha of the Hukumnama - he had a beautiful voice - He's still well and healthy in his nineties! * Portrait of an Akali - taken by Col. Willoughby Wallace Hooper in the 1860s - found on the Sothebys website * An akali - sometimes referred to as 'The Patiala Akali' - from the Bell Archive - taken at the Delhi Darbar 1903 * From the Royal Archives - The visit of The Prince & Princess of Wales to Amritsar in 1905 * From the Bell Archive - 'The Sikh Tamasha' held in Chandni Chawk Delhi on the Shaheedi purb of Guru Tegh Bahadur - in 1903 - it coincided with the Delhi Durbar- If you look closely in the foreground is an Akali on a pony - he has his back to the camera - but you can see his impressive Dastar Boonga and 'Farhra' - flag like farla - he is surrounded by Sikh Troops and Nobles of the Phulkian States. I believe it is Akali Jai Singh. ENJOY !!! *** Sincere Apologies if I have 'stolen' anyones 'intellectual property' - I have been asked to post any pics I had - I thought as this is an awareness promoting 'Community' rather than a money making endeavour it would be OK - * Admin Please remove the pics if they contravene any forum or copyright rules . Thanks .

In this post I hope to get SA members thoughts about 'puratan' Langar - in other words what was the langar served during puratan times ? . Langar differs where ever you go - in the pind it is usually one dal or sabji served on a large 'manday' chappatti with 'kheer' served on the same chappatti- the sangat served while sitting in 'pangats'- lines . In urban India it is more elaborate, paneer and more 'dishes' - sometimes a 'birthday cake' if it is a Gurpurb celebrating the birth of a Guru Sahib. In the UK it is like Urban India, lots of dishes with salad etc served on metal trays in a canteen style. My sisters live in the USA and I have seen langer served like 'Sunday Lunch' - a buffet laid on a table and everyone serves themselves using disposable plates - some going for 'second helpings' - some of the kids call it the ' one dollar buffet' - a reference to the money you give when you 'matha tek' - here you also have lots of dishes and elaborate desserts. I have seen in 'American ' Sikh gurdwaras 'pot luck' langers were sangat all bring a dish so you get different types of food - mexican italian etc. Those of us in the UK will all be familiar with the Saturday 'Chips and Beans & Icecream Langar !! I would like to know what was langar like in the 16th to 19th century ?- We have one reference to Kheer in the Guru Granth Sahib - which is also the only mention of a female contemporary of the Gurus - Mata Khivi - the wife of Guru Angad Dev ji - (Ramkali ki war - Satta & Balwand) - they mention Mata Khivi bountifully giving rice pudding enriched with clarified butter to all the Sangat. We also have the sakhi of Mata Ganga taking food - Desi village food- Lassi and onions - to Baba Buddha We also have the sakhis from Guru Gobind Singh's life - the stories of Bala Preetam - such as the Raja Fateh Chand and Rani of Patna - into whose lap Guru Sahib sat and was called Bala Preetam - She gave Chhole and Puri to Guru Sahib - I believe the Gurdwara that commemorates this still serves Chhole Puri . We also have the story of an elderly lady of Dina Pur who served Kichhori - lentils to Guru Sahib - When she asked when she would see Guru Sahib again - Guru Sahib said whenever you serve Kichhori to the poor and needy you will see me. We also have the so called ''Controversial' jhatka ragra references in Panth Prakash. Does the sangat have any thoughts? If you look at the average 'Jat jimindar' family - they would have very simple food dependent on the season - like my Bibi would say -" we only bought Cha Patti - tea - every thing else was made or grown at home - Butter,veg, oil, clothes. - it was a treat to have masaley (spices)" -- This brings in the colonial factor - many things we believe as being crucial to punjabi food were brought to Punjab by others - one example being the Portuguese who brought tomatoes , Paneer, Chillies. and the British who brought and grew tea. Potatoes are quite recent - can you imagine no Aloo Parauthe !! or Saag without chillies !! - the main spice would have been Black pepper . This post could go on forever - I'll stop it there - Please add your thoughts - What was langer like in Puratan times ? - Many Thanks Here is the Picture for this picture post !!! -- It shows Guru Nanak Sahib's visit to ManiKaran in the Kulu Valley - Bhai Mardana is shown cooking chappatties on a stone warmed by a Hot Spring - you can still visit these hot springs today - and people cook rice and bathe in the hot springs. * a 1800s illustration from a Janam Sakhi - in the Sabi & Amrin Marwah Collection (Ontario) - Taken from The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms,The Canadian Collections - Seema Bharadia - ROM - 2000

I have been sent some info about the crescent shaped arrow - saying it is for hunting - because the arrow doesnt have a point - when hunting around trees - it wont 'pin' the 'target' to the tree , making it hard to retrieve, it will 'knock' the 'target' out of the tree thereby making it easier to retrieve. Many Thanks - any more info much appreciated !

Before anyone asks NO they are not for sale - I love them too much !!!

I bought these arrows a few years ago , in an antique shop in Nottingham UK. At the time I thought that was quite apt as Nottingham is the Home of the archer Robin Hood - I originally bought them because there were Five of them and they reminded me of the five arrows 'punj teer' given by Dasmesh Pita Ji to Banda Bahadur. I think they are beautiful - whilst reading Guru Sahib's Shaster Nam Mala I noticed references to 'Sasbaan' - a crescent shaped arrow - I believe this arrow is usually aimed at the head as it causes maximum damage if aimed at the skull. If you look at the picture there are 2 half moon arrows - is one of them a 'Sasbaan' ? I would be grateful if anyone could identify all the arrows - do they have special names ? The arrows are made entirely of carbon steel (though I could be wrong) as can be seen they do not have wooden shafts or flights - just notches at the ends - the seller said they were indo-persian probably 100 - 200 years old. I would be grateful if any one could confirm if one of the arrows is a 'Sasbaan' Many Thanks ! The arrow heads The arrow ends / flights The reference to 'Sasbaan' and other types of arrow in the Shaster Nam Mala *taken from Dasmesh Bani Darpan - Harjinder Singh Kanwal -Well Wish - 2002

Dear Shaka Nyorai Bhai Sahib, With respect, isn't the reference to Narimar - that is the 'R' being 'rhaarhaa' - the 35th letter, not 'raaraa' the 32nd letter of the 'penti' - A reference to 'hookah' smokers not female infanticide ? However I am not a philologist !! - apologies if this sounds a bit like I'm trying to 'score' points - I am not - just a genuine interest in language.

Gurfateh! I have just gone through all the acknowledgements in the book - it appears that the document is in the collection of Navjot and Preeti Randhawa - once again very vague information - Sorry !

Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh ! Unfortunately the author makes no reference it - neither does he say where it is located, even the description for it is very vague - " The authorized method of preparing amrit for the Khalsa" - All of which is quite frustrating ! It forms the endpapers of the book. The biographical notes about the author give his full name as Tejinder Singh Randhawa - he is a senior officer in the Indian Administrative Service and based in New Delhi - The publishers address is ; Prakash Book Depot M-86, Connaught Circus, New Delhi tel; (011) 3326897 so I guess it may be possible to track him down ? Sorry, other than that I don't have any other information - If you do manage to find out where it is located - please post the location - I would also like to know where it is ! !

* taken from 'Pure Longing Fulfilled' - Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa - Akal Publications - 1999

One for all the Bhangra lovers *taken from The Sikhs - T S Randhawa -2000 Note how the Dholi is in the middle and the dancers form a circle - this is the way bhangra was performed in fairs etc. - with the circle getting bigger as more people joined in - Now bhangra is more of a stage show - which is why it is performed faster and in a row - a straight line facing the audience with Dholi at one side. Note how all the men are wearing 'tambe' / 'Chaadre' / 'lungi' not pajamey.

* Taken from - The Sikhs, Images of a Heritage - T S Randhawa - 2000 A scene from a Mela - local fair with wrestlers, fairground rides,Vanjaaras selling bangles , Mithai sellers with scales, liquor sellers ,a dancing bear, monkeys , a Dad carrying his son on his shoulders so he can see the wrestling and Dancers with sticks with a dholi. Almost all things you can still see at a punjabi mela. One thing I remember from punjabi melas is the 'fortune telling' white bull - usually painted blue or with blue stars and hand prints - its handler would get a 'punter' to hide something like a watch and the bull would tell who had it - or it would pick out who from the crowd would be going 'abroad' - on one occasion it picked me out - my Mama couldn't stop laughing and told them I was born abroad in UK !

Challenge_Everything as you've mentioned the 'men in orange cloaks' that reminds me of another Photograph - This one was taken by William Henry Baker in the 1870s - If you look at the third lampost on both sides there appear to be a cluster of men wearing what appears to be a uniform holding some sort of staff / weapon , there is also one by the entrance to the Harmandir - Could these be the 1870s equivilent of the 'men in orange cloaks' ? Perhaps Amandeep Bhai Sahib could comment - I'm sure I've read somewhere him commenting on this photograph . CE you're so right the walkway looks so much better without the central and side barriers - also the newer wider 'pradakshina' parikarma - that juts out diagonally is not very aesthetically pleasing - in this photo you can see that originally the 'pradakshina' parikarma echoed the shape of the Harimandir ie. it was rectangular - not the triangle on a rectangle shape it is today . - before I sound too Victor Meldrew-esque I guess the huge number of Sangat warrants the barriers and wider access ! ** another note have you noticed that in the stereoviews, above, the marble parikarma looks quite muddy and dusty in parts - compared with today where it is always spotlessly clean and sparkling - or am I just seeing things ? As it is today - note the modified wider 'triangle' pradakshina

I've been asked for clearer pictures of the stereoviews I posted - I haven't got any clearer versions - but I have got Anaglyphs of 2 of the stereoviews - the 2 with the Akalis. Anaglyphs are when the 2 stereo images are superimposed on each other. They are slightly bigger and clearer - though they do have a ghost like shadow, But you can make out more details -- Enjoy !

Stereoviews were popular from the mid 1800s to the mid 1900s - they were the 'Discovery' channel of their day - giving people a chance - with the use of a special viewer - to see 3D images of far distant lands. I found these images on the net a couple of years ago - I have since forgotten the site (Sorry!) - I have seen similar stereoviews on eBay - made by Underwood & Underwood dated around 1905. These images do not have the card borders or description - I have some of those type - though they have copyrights and watermarks on them (*Note to Admin can I post them here - or will you get in trouble ??) - These images are rare and absolutely fascinating - View of Harmandir Sahib - Note the 2 Akalis in the foreground, the lack of barriers, and the dome on the Ramgarhia Minar , which date the picture as being before the earthquake of 1905. View from Harmandir of causeway and Darshani Deori The courtyard between the Akal Takht and Harmandir Sahib - note another older Akali - and the Miri Piri Nishan Sahibs. I have seen this on ebay - described as Amritsar schoolboys in 1908 - Look at all those turbans ! - you can see the Akal Takht in the distance. These appear to be 'sadhus' - though I'm guessing that from the central figure's 'fakir's crutch' . The lack of a dome on the Ramgarhia minar dates this as after 1905 - note the boy's smart jacket and turban An Amritsari Street scene . - The boy on the left appears to be wearing a 'Fez' type hat I told you they were Fascinating !!

Once again I apologise for my partial translation - the english is a little garbled - I wrote it late last night during a bout of insomnia - caused by BigBrother and an Owl hooting very loudly in our garden !

This document may be of some help : http://sikhawareness.com/sikhawareness/vie...p?p=65368#65368

This picture shows the " Authorized method of preparing Amrit". It is dated VS 1934 (AD 1878) It was issued from The "Siri Takht Sahib Akal Bunga" and has an official stamp / mohur. It takes the form of question and answer - and covers issues such as the required qualities of the "Punj"- (they must be rehati and bibeki - not have any 'sath' with 'kurehatis' - they should be regular reciters of Asa ki war, Japji, Jaap, Rehras, Sohila. Chandi path,and 33 swayas before eating - and should not eat before reciting Anand and 'Kard Bhet' and not eat with non amrit takers - and should wear shaster in gatra.) , the method of preparing Amrit - and gives the rehat to be followed and tankahs to be avoided - Such as not to have 'sath' with the 'punj mel' - Miney, dhirmaley, Masand , kurimar and Sirgum. To practice Shaster vidia , keep shaster in 'gatra', Respect the kesh give it 'dhoop' incense, keep a kangha , Kard/kirpan in kesh and Sarb loh kara on right wrist - not to remove the kach completely - one leg at a time when changing - if the turban or kach accidently removed to seek tankah from 'Punj' - should learn Gurmukhi, Have no 'sath' with 'parai aurat' anothers wife or 'sath ' with 'Musli' - and no 'sath' or eat with 'Nari mar' or eaters of 'Kutha' meat. - Should not wear red - should learn Bani by heart and place or 'bhet' kard in food before eating it - should not eat bareheaded or before reciting Japji and Jaap Sahib.Sons and daughters should be named from Siri Guru Granth Sahib - Not to remove any hair from any 'Ang' with razor or scissors. There is no prescribed day for Amrit or place but it is best to take amrit from the takhts -Akal Takht , Patna Sahib, Kesgarh Sahib and Hazoor Sahib - however main consideration is that 'Punj' should be Rehat Bibeki Singhs - these are the 5th moving takht of Sikhs.If these 4 tankah are commited - Kesh removal, Kutha , Narimar or Musli sath - must come before one of the 4 takhts for 'Baksh' no other place can grant 'baksh' - if just one tankah commited the fine is 25 rupees - if 'baksh' is not sought 'Chaurasi ' awaits. As the script is joined up 'laridar' it takes a while to read - please forgive and correct any errors I have made. Apologies for the different sizes of picture - Thats the only way I could scan it . * taken from - The Sikhs , Images of a Heritage - T S Randhawa - Prakash Books - 2000

Shasters being removed after the ceremonial display - to be kept in the toshekhana until the next day . * from Singh & Shankar 2002

Preserved in the Akal Takht Sahib are the Historic shasters of Guru Sahib and their beloved warriors. Unlike the shasters displayed at Anandpur Sahib which are housed in a large windowed structure and can be viewed from all sides - the Shasters at Akal Takht Sahib are housed in a Gold Throne with latticed doors - though beautiful, it makes viewing the shasters difficult, and therefore they cannot be seen clearly or are missed by many of the sangat. These shasters are ceremoniously displayed to the sangat after Rehras in the Akal Takht. This beautiful collection of Shasters include The Meeri Peeri swords of Guru Hargobind Sahib- a sword of Guru Gobind Singh - daggers of the sahibzade Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh - A 10 kilo sword of Bhai Bachitter Singh - A large Khanda of Baba Deep Singh - and a large Khanda of Baba Gurbaksh Singh. Some of these shasters were damaged during the army attack of 1984 - I believe some were lost and some have been restored. Here is a darshan of the shasters - picture taken before 1984 : * taken from Des Pardes (weekly) UK - Front cover 10 Aug 1984 Ceremonial Display - from late 1970s * taken from Guru Nanak's Birthday - Margaret Davidson - Pergamon Press - 1982 The Meeri and Peeri swords of Guru Hargobind Sahib Chakars and Shasters of Baba Deep Singh Shaheed. * Both pictures taken from - The Golden Temple - Mohinder Singh, Sondeep Shankar - UBSPD & NIPS - 2002