Sona :: Golden & Beautiful*

Sona :: Golden & Beautiful*, originally uploaded by theurbannexus.

Sikhism is a religion of great beauty and simplicity. Launched originally as a revision to Hindu principals and beliefs that were not felt to be humanistic and against one-ness (eg. casteism), its followers later became the defendants of the Hindu faith under attack from the Mughals of Agra and Delhi. It was the sixth of ten Sikh Gurus, Guru Hargobind who militarised the Sikhs after his own father's (Guru Arjun Dev) was martyred defending the faith.

Under Guru Gobind Singh, Sikhism was declared a distinct religion from Hinduism - the Khalsa was born. Amrit, or the Sikh baptism was created (occurring in 1699), and the five Ks of Sikhism the signs of a Amritdari (or baptised) Sikh. Thus was born the newest formal religion in the world.

One of the most beautiful elements in Sikhism has a lot of similarity with Hinduism, Ik Onkar - One God - a core belief of Sikhism. It is derived from the Sanskrit ekomkara which is a sound combining ek (one) and omkar (the name of the Aum syllable). Aum is often known as Om in the West. Together this refers to 'the One Aum"; that is, the single cosmic consciousness.

Though in 1984 there was much pain between Hinduism and Sikhism, sporn out of political insensitivity and persecution of Sikhs post assassination of Indian PM Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, there was a longstanding tradition of bilateral closeness between these religions in the Punjab. During the period where the Sikh Army defended Punjab and North India, the eldest son in each Punjabi Hindu family was made a Sikh, and fought in the Guru's army to defend the land, and the faiths. Many Hindu families in the Punjab visit and have visited Sikh places of worship, and either regard the Ten Gurus reverently or have some respect for the religion.

This is dedicated to my Sikh friends, predominantly in WA; for bringing me into their lives and keenly teaching me about their religion, culture and traditions; it was through them that I was inspired to learn more about my Punjabi heritage, and taught myself the language.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

*This and all shots at Harmandir Sahib were taken without flash, and with full respect, to show the beauty of the Punjab, the peoples of the Punjab and the beauty of the Sikh religion.

Sona means 'Golden', or in colloquial use, 'beautiful' in the Punjabi language.

The Government Museum & Art Gallery, Chandigarh

The Government Museum & Art Gallery, Chandigarh , originally uploaded by theurbannexus.

This is the main historic repository of Chandigarh. Many of the pieces reflect the ancient history of the area, and include works from the Indus Valley Civilisation, Gandhara Period and Harappan Civilisation. These were formerly housed in the Central Museum, Lahore - which was the former capital of undivided Punjab.

After partition, 60% of the pieces remained in Lahore, and 40% were moved to India, where they moved several times until this centre, and Chandigarh were built.

The museum was opened in 1968 and is notable as it was personally designed by Le Corbusier, who also designed the main plans for Chandigarh.

About Chandigarh:
The first planned city in India, it was named for the Chandi Temple, some 15km away from the modern city.

Chandigarh is the dual capital of the States of Punjab and Haryana. It lies in the middle and is a Union Territory of India (like the Australian Capital Territory). It was made necessary during the Partition of India (and in this context, of Punjab), when the former capital of Punjab was lost to the Punjab state of Pakistan - this was Lahore.

Today Lahore is only 25 km from the Border with India at Wagah/Attari in Pakistan/India respectively. Amritsar is a similar distance across into India.

More about the CIty of Chandigarh, and its status and history can be found at the official website: chandigarh.nic.in/

Open Hand, Chandigarh*

Open Hand, Chandigarh*, originally uploaded by theurbannexus.

Le Corbusier, the designer of the modern planned city of Chandigarh created this motif - the open hand, to symbolise that humanity had choices, and did not have to accept the falsities of the world around oneself.

He proposed this symbol to represent non-alignment to the two power blocs at the time, in the context of the Cold War.

"This sign of the Open Hand is a sign of peace and of reconciliation," Le Corbusier said. "The Open Hand is meant to receive the created riches, and to distribute them to the peoples of the world. That should be the symbol of our epoch."

Chandigarh is the dual capital of the States of Punjab and Haryana. The first planned city in India, it was named for the Chandi Temple, some 15km away from the modern city.

It lies in the middle and is a Union Territory of India (like the Australian Capital Territory). It was made necessary during the Partition of India (and in this context, of Punjab), when the former capital of Punjab was lost to the Punjab state of Pakistan - this was Lahore.

Today Lahore is only 25 km from the Border with India at Wagah/Attari in Pakistan/India respectively. Amritsar is a similar distance across into India.

More about the CIty of Chandigarh, and its status and history can be found at the official website: chandigarh.nic.in/

*PP on my macbook with glossy screen; I am unsure of colour fidelity on this machine...; still off me legs - found my entire India trip RAW collection on my iPod :)