Month: January 2021

Slide show

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18gQ_DKY0Onz9lJM21vhZrK0WgXmjyM1x/view?usp=sharing

Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) 

The golden temple is often just seen as a place of worship. The golden temple represents the identify and heritage of that Sikh’s a very proud of. It is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab in India. However, it is much more than that it is a place of full and enriched with history, legends, spirituality and equality. Here race, gender and religion have no meaning. Everyone is seen as a human with a soul gifted by god. The history of the golden temple first started when a Sikh Guru started digging the Amrit Sarovar (pool of water) in 1577 AD. Which was later brick lined on December 15, 1588. 

The architecture of the Golden Temple has just as much value and a significant symbol. There are four entrances leading into the Gurudwara (Golden Temple) signifying that all people of every walk of life are equally valued and welcomed. Inside the Golden Temple there is a hall where 10,000 volunteers cook meals for thousands of pilgrims. 

The golden temple is mostly identified and known around the world for the gold that surrounds the temple. The temple was made of copper and marble in 1809 and in 1830 Maharaja Ranjit Singh replaced it with gold. Which was donated by King Ranjit Singh and Hukum Singh Chimni they also donated marble to decorate the temple. It is known and recognized as the heart of Sikhism. 

Guru Arjan Dev Ji made the decision to build the golden temple at a lower level than the city of Amritsar to highlight humility. The architectural decision surrounding the Golden Temple were all made with a significant symbolism in mind. 

In 1984 under the direction of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi the golden temple was targeted and penetrated by the Indian army. During this attack thousands of people were violently murdered. Several families to this day are suffering from the tragedy they were forced to endure that day. The stories of that day are passed on from generation to generation reminding the youth what their elders fought for and appreciate the sacrifices they made. This is not the only time that the Golden Temple was targeted and damaged. It has been destroyed numerous times by Afghan invaders. 

Gurdwaras all around the world can be easily identified from the distance by tall flagpoles with an orange flag of the Khanda on it. This shrine attracts more than 3 million people a month who come from various countries around the world. The visit is said not be describable in worlds but is often associated with peace and full of serenity.

Life

Every day is a different struggle

Some fight as a force

I fight with my soul

Some see money

Others see family

But no one ever sees the struggle

Of survival

Most think of it as being aloof

Those that can see behind the façade just don’t care enough

They can’t sense the fear of survival

The survival of not just me but my entire family

The fight I wager against those who

Spit on my dreams and aspirations

I fight against power and corruption

I live for my dream and those I support

I wake up every day prepared for another battle 

Another struggle

Another fight

Another win

The particular poem “life” relates to me because of the struggles this character is facing. More often than not I have struggled to get past how others view me. Many people often think I have it all but don’t understand that I have had to work very hard for what I have. They see me behind a film of their own judgements and assumptions. This includes what I do, where I live, and who stands by me but isn’t limited to these three aspects. Being the youngest child I have always been compared to my sister and others but never to myself. Expectations are set regardless of what I want or dream of. Many think I have had it too easy, others think I haven’t got anything. Either way it is the same misconception just from different individuals. 

In the poem “What we have” by Warsan Shire the character is shown carrying around a  sense of continuous loss. Whether it is about her father, brother or men she is continuously mourning them. She is surrounded by a blanket of darkness that haunts her and others like hers past and future. The poem “life” is similar in the sense that there is a sense of loss and continuous struggle. The only difference is that unlike in the poem “What We Have” the character has everything yet the feeling of loss exists. This particular emotion exists due to the inability of being truly understood and accepted . However both consist of hope for the near future and believe that they deserve greatness in their lives. In the poem “Life” the character is fighting for the confidence and growth for himself and his families well being. Most see the face that he puts on for the world but not the internal war raging inside of him. They don’t truly see him for who he is; they see what he shows and not his soul. The similarity between the two poems is the willpower and courage to continue and hope for a better tomorrow regardless of what they deal with.