Sikh Arts & Film Festival celebrates cinema, community heritage, technology in city

 According to  Tribune “ Chandigarh’s Tagore Theatre turned into a vibrant cultural crossroads on Saturday as ‘Sikhlens: Sikh Arts & Film Festival 2026’ blended international cinema, technology and heritage into a single high-energy event, screening 25 films.

From the moment the doors opened at 11 am, the venue reflected a seamless meeting of local tradition and the global Sikh diaspora. Hosted by Pinaka Mediaworks and Sikhlens, the festival marked a milestone by bringing together directors from the US, UK and Canada — Bicky Singh, Gurpreet K Singh, Nikki Gill and Harinder Singh — on one stage in India for the first time.

With free entry for all sessions, students from Panjab University were seen sharing rows with international innovators and diplomats, all immersed in the same cinematic journey. The morning began with the meditative strains of the Tanti Saaz, traditional string instruments such as the ‘saranda’ and ‘dilruba’, performed by Sri Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kendar. The “Harmony Symphony” created a reverent atmosphere before the spotlight shifted to the launch of “The Legend of 1972: Life Hockey and Beyond”, the biography of Olympian Kuldeep Singh Bhogal, who represented Uganda at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Bhogal’s presence as guest of honour highlighted the global reach of Sikh excellence.

Adding diplomatic weight to the event was Major Guneet Chaudhary, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for the region, who attended as special guest. Tejwant Singh Gill, president of Guudwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Sector 34, also attended the event.

A major highlight was the Indian premiere of the documentary, “Crafting Legacy”, which showcased the journey of Bal Choda, lead engineer and inventor associated with the iconic British brand Aston Martin. The film traced his inspiration back to childhood.

“My grandad bought me a matchbox Aston Martin when I was 7 years old,” Bal shared. “I looked at that car and said one day I will work there, this is my dream.”

The festival also served as an informal learning space for aspiring filmmakers, with several professional directors interacting with the audience.

One of the most captivating moments unfolded on stage during the gatka performance by Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji Gatka Akhara. The martial art was presented under theatrical lighting, with children as young as four to six performing with striking precision with proud parents watching from the wings.

Seventeen exhibitors transformed the space into a living museum. Highlights included the 2026 calendar art by the Singh Twins from Liverpool and the intricate “Seed, Memory & Soil” exhibit by Aman Singh Gulati, who etches detailed historical narratives onto tiny seeds. Currently based in Gujarat, Aman noted his long association with the festival. “Each tiny art piece has taken me more than 15-20 hours to complete,” he said.

Collectors such as Narinderpal Singh displayed rare coins and artefacts from the Sikh empire. A key moment of the ceremony was the presentation of the prestigious “Seva – Sarbat Da Bhala – Chardi Kala” Award to 41 artists for their contributions to art, culture and humanitarian service.

Speaking about the vision behind the festival, founder Bicky said, “Panjab is our home, we always wanted to bring this festival here. There are stories of our culture, religion, faith and community which we wanted to take globally for our diaspora and vice-versa.”

The festival closed on a high note with the powerful gatka performance by Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University gatka team.

Iowa Becomes 21st U.S. State to Include Sikhi in School Curriculum

 According to Sikh Siyasat “ In a landmark move for inclusive education, the Iowa Board of Education has officially adopted new social studies standards that include Sikhi in the state’s K-12 curriculum. With this update, Iowa joins 20 other states in ensuring that the Sikh faith and history are accurately represented in public classrooms.

A Path to Inclusion

The shift follows a strategic push by the Sikh Coalition, which began engaging with Iowa education officials in late 2025. By providing specialized resources and consulting with state experts, the Coalition successfully advocated for Sikhi’s inclusion, specifically within the seventh-grade modern world history standards.

Why This Matters

According to Savleen Singh, Senior Education Manager at the Sikh Coalition, this milestone is a proactive defense against the bullying and misrepresentation often faced by Sikh students.

“This milestone sends a clear message that our identities and histories matter,” Singh stated, noting that the move fosters safer, more inclusive environments for all students.

The Bigger Picture

Iowa’s adoption means that over 26 million students across the United States now have access to a curriculum that includes Sikhism. The Sikh Coalition plans to continue this momentum, with eyes set on ensuring similar inclusion in Texas later this year.

The new standards will now move into the implementation phase, with the Sikh Coalition providing ongoing support to the Iowa Board of Education to ensure the transition is seamless and effective.

‘Sikh Empire’ exhibition centre of attraction at Punjab craft mela

 According to the Indian Express “ Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday inaugurated the exhibition titled “The Sikh Empire (1710-1849): Perspectives of International Artists and Authors” at the ongoing Punjab Sakhi Shakti Craft Mela at Sheesh Mahal. “The Sikh Empire Empire” exhibition has garnered significant attention from the visitors. The exhibition will continue till March 2.

This is the 14th exhibition organised by the Panjab Digital Library (PDL). This is also in collaboration with the archives department. The Punjab State Archives Department has put up such an exhibition after nearly two decades.

The archive department (Chandigarh and Patiala) officials said this exhibition showcases the department’s valuable documents. They said the archives have displayed materials such as Khalsa Durbar records from 1839-1840 and 1841-1846 Toshakhana (treasury) records, the Punjab Gazette of 1857, the royal court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Tawarikh-e-Raj Khalsa, a map of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s kingdom, the royal genealogy, military records of the Khalsa Darbar, and the first book written about Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1840. 

On this occasion, Punjab Digital Library’s Outreach Director Dalbir Singh and coordinator Geetanjali said the exhibition presents the perspectives, in the form of documents and portraits, of foreign artists and authors who visited Punjab during the Sikh Empire. 

It offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience original archival materials, historical artifacts, and rarely-seen perspectives in the royal heritage atmosphere of Punjab, and artistic and literary connections between Punjab and the Sikh Empire, the officials said.

This exhibition was prepared by the interns of the Panjab Digital Library. 

Dalbir also said with the digitization of 100 million pages, PDL is the world’s largest repository of Punjabi heritage. He said that this allows Punjab’s history, memory, and cultural richness to be shared globally.

At the venue, the Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Career Hub of Punjabi University has also set up an exhibition of traditional items crafted by students under the sub-group of Rural Tourism & Traditional Arts.

SGPC donates Rs 43 lakh for fees of Sikligar Sikh children of Andhra Pradesh

 According to Punjab News Express “ The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has released an amount of Rs 43 lakh 3 thousand (about $47,500 USD) for the school/college fees of Sikligar Sikh children in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada of Andhra Pradesh.

Under the instructions of Shiromani Committee President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, this assistance amount was handed over to the schools by Shiromani Committee members Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, Surjit Singh Bhittevad, Secretary of Dharam Prachar Committee Balwinder Singh Kahlwan in the form of fees of Sikligar children studying in various places of Andhra Pradesh.

It is noteworthy that the Shiromani Committee has decided to pay the fees of the children every year to make Sikligar Sikh children self-reliant. Under this, the Shiromani Committee has sent the fees for the academic years 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Speaking in this regard, Shiromani Committee member Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta said that Sikligar Sikhs living in different states are an important part of the society and the Shiromani Committee is constantly striving for the education of their children. He said that the purpose of paying these fees is to educate Sikligar Sikh children to make them self-reliant, so that in the future they can stand on their own feet. He said that it is a matter of happiness for us that many children are getting jobs after studying with the help of the Shiromani Committee, which will become the support of their families.

Giving information in this regard, Secretary of Dharam Prachar Committee Balwinder Singh said that as per the instructions of SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, the fees of Sikligar and Vanjara Sikh children studying in various schools and colleges of Andhra Pradesh have been directly handed over to the schools and colleges.

First Sikh in Pak army now Lt Col

 According to Tribune “ Harcharan Singh, the first turbaned Pakistani Sikh, who made history by securing a place in the Pakistan army has now become the first Sikh to be decorated with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He was born in 1987 in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak. His promotion to Lieutenant Colonel was approved after rigorous selection board evaluation conducted in late 2025. Minorities have faced a hard time finding space in the Islamic framework of statehood in the neighbouring country.

Confirming this, Pakistan Punjab’s Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora said though many Christians have served in the Pakistan army, no Hindu or Sikh ‘could qualify’. Singh had joined the Pakistan army in 2007 at the age of 20 as Captain. Initially serving in the Ordnance Corps, Singh later volunteered for a combat role and was posted to the 12th Battalion of the Baloch Regiment where he served in demanding operational and border areas while being at the rank of Major.

“Lt Col Singh’s achievement has proved that there is no barrier for the minorities in Pakistan, and that only talent speaks and sets the parameters for success. Lt Col Singh is an example of equality of all religions and unity in Pakistan. We, as part of the Sikh community, will give him a rousing welcome when he visits his hometown next,” he said.

Delighted at his brother’s success, Mastan Singh, the former president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) said, “Lt Col Singh is the pride of Baba Nanak’s city and the whole Sikh community, as well,” he said. At present, Lt Col Singh is posted at Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

University Langar hopes to serve more than 2,000

 According to BBC  “ A community kitchen organised by the University of Birmingham's (UoB) Sikh Society hopes to serve free food to more than 2,000 people.

In Sikhism, Langar offers free vegetarian food to anyone, regardless of social class, gender or religion.

It has been organised by the society for more than 20 years, and will take place on Monday from 11:00 to 15:00 GMT.

"Beyond providing free food, the event serves as an educational and cultural opportunity, helping attendees gain a deeper understanding of Sikh principles and fostering inclusivity across the university," UoB said. A community kitchen organised by the University of Birmingham's (UoB) Sikh Society hopes to serve free food to more than 2,000 people.

In Sikhism, Langar offers free vegetarian food to anyone, regardless of social class, gender or religion.

It has been organised by the society for more than 20 years, and will take place on Monday from 11:00 to 15:00 GMT.

"Beyond providing free food, the event serves as an educational and cultural opportunity, helping attendees gain a deeper understanding of Sikh principles and fostering inclusivity across the university," UoB said.

World Bank group chief Ajay Banga pays visit to Gurdwara Panja Sahib

 

According to Abb Takk “ World Bank Group President Ajay Banga on Sunday visited the revered Sikh religious site, Gurdwara Panja Sahib, in Hasan Abdal, accompanied by a high-level delegation.

Upon his arrival, the District Police Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Attock received the World Bank chief. Ajay Banga paid his respects at the gurdwara, participated in religious observances, and later joined the community meal at the langar hall, where he praised the hospitality and arrangements.

As a mark of respect, members of the Sikh community honored him with a traditional siropa.

Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and Punjab’s Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs, Ramesh Singh Arora, were also present during the visit.

Plantation Drive held at Sonari Gurudwara on Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji’s Prakash Purab

 According to the Avenue Mail “ On the auspicious occasion of the Prakash Purab of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, Sikh Youth of Sonari, Stree Satsang Sabha, and the Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee, Sonari jointly organized a plantation programme within the premises of Sonari Gurudwara.

The event was held to honor the teachings of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, who strongly emphasized compassion, environmental protection, and living in harmony with nature.

Members including elders, women, and youth, actively participated by planting saplings across the Gurudwara premises. The initiative symbolized a collective commitment toward creating a greener and healthier environment.

Organizers stressed that preserving nature is a sacred responsibility and urged the community to take care of the newly planted saplings. They also highlighted the importance of adopting sustainable practices in daily life.

The plantation drive not only enhanced the greenery within the Gurudwara campus but also spread awareness about environmental responsibility among devotees, inspiring many to contribute towards protecting the environment for future generations.