News August – September 2019
Agricultural Pilot Project
As reported in March, a model project in alternative agriculture had been started on four hectares of land in Kirpal Sagar. Teak trees, fruit trees and vegetables have since been planted in a special sequence in order to increase agricultural yields on a small area. The plants were placed in a special nutrient-rich soil. They are supplied with water and home-made organic fertilizer by drip irrigation. After the harvest, the fruit and vegetables will be processed into juice, jams, essential oils, etc. .
This pilot project contributes to the food supply in Kirpal Sagar on the one hand and will be a practical example for the farmers in the Punjab on the other. They can learn how to secure self-sufficiency and increase the yield even with little land.
In addition, training courses and seminars on organic farming will be offered for farmers interested in new, sustainable methods.
Cultural Heritage Centre
The Cultural Heritage Centre was opened this year in April and is the extension of ‘Women Empowerment’, an idea which was very important to Biji Surinder Kaur.
Mrs. Sarabjit Mangat has been working on the realisation of this centre for several years now and it is inspired by her enthusiasm and great commitment.
The centre houses a small exhibition on Punjabi culture, including a newly added traditional Indian cooking area. Visitors are always welcome and the students of Kirpal Sagar Academy have a place here to learn old cultural techniques, be creative and to take part in weekend courses, which also contributes to their personal development.
In August, two well-known musicians from Punjab were invited to give a concert at the Kirpal Sagar Academy. In September, there was a cooking course for interested students, where the children got to know the South Indian cuisine.
Celebrations in August and September
Every year in summer, the Sarovar is emptied and then thoroughly cleaned by helpers from East and West. The border tiles are cleaned of lime, the area of the ‘ship’ that lies under water is resealed with waterproof paint and the Sarovar floor is treated with hard brooms to remove any remaining algae.
On August 15th, the Sarovar is ceremoniously refilled. Some water from the last filling, which had been stored in five brass vessels, was poured into the Sarovar from the bridge. On this occasion the Indian women sing very beautifully, and with a small speech one is reminded of Sant Kirpal Singh’s last lecture before his disciples on Indian Independence Day 1974. This was the prelude to the programme for Sant Kirpal Singh’s death anniversary, which, with recitations, hymns and spiritual lectures, continued on until August 21st. During this time, the Sarovar was again completely filled with water and disperses coolness and peace in Kirpal Sagar.
The celebrations marking the day on which Dr. Harbhajan Singh left the body, September 25th, 1995, follow soon after. This year they began on September 21st. As every year, the Ramayana and the Guru Granth Sahib were recited, with a small ceremony at the beginning and at the end of the reading. On September 24th, there was the first spiritual lecture, followed by a film showing pictures and scenes from the life of Dr. Harbhajan Singh and Sant Kirpal Singh. On September 25th, the highlight of the celebrations, different speakers from India gave speeches on diverse aspects of spirituality, supplemented by the Shabads (hymns) – an impressive programme which made clear that spirituality is the main part of our life.
