Opening Ceremony of Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar's                              New Premises at 226 Mystic Ave  Medford, MA Medford, 11th Jan, 2004.  IT WAS A CEREMONY  fit for a King. Filled with excitement to the brim, beaming with pride unimaginable, and emotions overflowing,  hundreds of Sikhs gathered at the                                       opening ceremony of the new premises of                                       Gurdwara Sahib Medford and to give a                                       splendid welcome to the Swari of the Guru                                       Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj as the Holy Book                                       entered the shrine to showers of thousands                                       of rose petals. The Sangat, which had waited impatiently almost one year for the $ 1.5 Million Gurdwara to be ready,  began pouring in as early as 8am. One hour before the opening, the entire car park was full and many had to park in the neighbouring lots. It seemed as if the Khalsa Fauj had taken over the city. The sewadars and children especially looked splendid with their Khalsa Banas and saffron Kamarkasas. One could feel the excitement of a new Gurdwara, the joy of a new Guru Ghar and the satisfaction of finally having a permanent Ashram on virtually everyone’s face.                The ceremony, which was held in the langgar hall on the ground floor,  began with an Ardas by Bhai Karminder Singh Ji at 10 am.    The stage secretary, Sardar Raghbir Singh then called upon the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gurdwara, Sardar Bachittar Singh Sodhi to present the opening ceremony paraphenelia and ribbon cutting material to the Gurdwara President, Sardar Jaspal Singh Pabla.                     Sardar Japsal Singh Pabla cut the ribbon, thus declaring open the Gurdwara on behalf of the Sangat to a roar of Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal. The Guru Nanak Darbar Kirteni Jatha, comprised entirely of children and youth then led the sangat to sing Charan Chalo Marag Gobind, Mera Ghar Baneya and other shabads. The shabad singing sangat then lined on both sides of a red carpet to welcome three Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj.                                                                                                                 At 10.30 am, the excitement of the sangat exploded into Jaikaras. All present then joined the chorus of Jithey Jahe Bahe Mera Satgur as three swaris of Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj arrived, carried by Bhai Karminder Singh, Sardar Raghbir Singh and Sardar Sukhdev Singh. Hardeep Singh, Gurpreet Kaur and Satvir Kaur followed, doing Chor sewa. Nishan Sahib Bearers:1.  Inderpreet Singh,  2. Vikram Singh, and  3. Kirenjot Kaur. Senior pyares: 1. Sardar Attinder Singh Khalsa , 2 Bibi Baljeet Kaur,  3. Sardar Gurinder Singh,  4. Bibi Manraj Kaur Khalsa,  5. Sardar Resham Singh.             The swarees were led, in a grand procession, first by five junior pyares, who beamed in their banas,  kamarkasas,  and small sri-sahibs.Junior Pyares (Left to Right in pic at left):  1. Natasha Kaur, 2. Brejvinder Singh Dhillon, 3. Amrit kaur Dhillon, 4. Simran Kaur and  5. Inderjot Singh.The Swaress followed, one by one, with the sangat joyously singing Jithe Jahe Bahe and showering the Holy Books with rose petals. Soon, the entire path of the Swaris was covered with rose petals. Next,                                   the entire procession and  swaris filled into the                                   5,500 square feet main darbar hall. There, the                                   Kirteni Jatha of Gurdwara Guru Nanak  Darbar                                   was singing Deh Shiva Bar Mohe  Ehey. The                                   Sangat filled into the darbar hall, and the Swari                                    of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was placed in full style and splendor in the 54 square feet marble and granite palki, the pride of Gurudwara. An arambhak ardas followed with resounding Jaikaras – 16 in all – one each by the junior pyares, nishan sahib bearers and senior pyares, and two by the ardasia – Bhai Karminder Singh. After the hukumnama was read out, the sangat took a full half hour to bow their heads one by one and take their seats in the sangat. 15 children and youths then sand various shabads for an hour. Bhai Karminder Singh’s Jatha then did Arti Kirten for an hour.                                                           Bhai Karminder Singh and Jatha doing Kirten. Ramanjit Singh plays the Tabla (Picture Above)    The Diwaan ended at 1.30 pm with an Ardas As a token of appreciation for the sewa of Bhai Karminder Singh in the building of this new Gurdwara premises, Gurdwara President, Jaspal Singh Pabla presented a sirapao to Bhai Ji, who in turn dedicated the sirapao to the entire sangat. Langgar was served at 2 pm. Hours later, a joyous sangat started returning to homes with the satisfaction and pride of a splendid GuruGhar, but not before taking photographs of various portions of the new gurdwara to put into their family albums. Akand path was held in conjuction with the opening on the 16th, 17th and 18th of January. More pictures available under opening ceremony in gallery section.