September 8, 2008 Espanola, New Mexico. Dignitaries from the State of New Mexico joined with friends, colleagues and students of the late Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji (also known as Yogi Bhajan) to commemorate his birthday. The gala event took place at the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das ashram in Espanola, New Mexico, on Saturday evening, August 23rd.

Nearly 800 guests attended, dressed in their finest, to remember and celebrate the life of this remarkable man. Included in the guest list were such notable New Mexico dignitaries as Congressman Tom Udall, who is currently running for the U.S. Senate; Ben Lujan, the speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives; and Joseph Maestas, the mayor of Espanola, New Mexico.

The Honorable Gary King who serves as the Attorney General for the state of New Mexico was also in attendance. In addition to serving as the Attorney General, Gary King is also a wonderful saxophone musician. As a special tribute to Yogi Bhajan, he entertained the guests with a saxophone performance with his band. Gary King is the son of Yogi Bhajan's life-long friend Governor Bruce King.

Dr. Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, the wife of the late Yogi Bhajan and the current Bhai Sahiba for Sikh Dharma International, was also in attendance with her children Kamaljit Kaur and Kulbir Singh. Dignitaries from Sikh Dharma International joined the family in remembering and celebrating Yogi Bhajan's life - including S. Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa, the Siri Sikdar Sahiba of Sikh Dharma International, and Dr. Sat Kirpal Kaur Khalsa, the Secretary General of Sikh Dharma International.

The evening was fun-filled with a dance performance by the Izzat da Punjab Bhangra Troupe, and musical performances led by Snatam Kaur Khalsa and Dev Suroop Kaur Khalsa. The evening also featured small clips of home movies depicting Yogi Bhajan's life.

The commemoration and remembrance of Yogi Bhajan continues in September where a special memorial Akand Path I being held in his honor this week at his residence in Espanola.

Yogi Bhajan, also known as Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, was a master of Kundalini Yoga and a devout Sikh. He came to the West in the late 1960s to share these spiritual teachings with the world. In 1969 the non-profit 3HO Foundation (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization) was founded to serve humanity through Kundalini Yoga and meditation. Through Yogi Bhajan's personal efforts, Sikh Dharma was officially recognized as a religion in the USA in 1971. In 1971, in acknowledgement of his extraordinary impact of spreading the universal message of Sikh Dharma, the president of the SGPC (governing body of Sikh Temples in India), Sant Chanan Singh called him the Siri Singh Sahib, Chief Religious and Administrative Authority for the Western Hemisphere. He was given the responsibility to create a Sikh Ministry in the West by the Akal Takhat, the Sikh seat of religious authority in Amritsar, India. He was honored with the title Bhai Sahib by the Akal Takhat in 1974.

From 1968 until his death on October 6, 2004, Yogi Bhajan traveled, taught, and inspired millions around the world. His work had such far-reaching impact that after his death, a special bipartisan Joint Resolution was issued by the United States Congress honoring his life and work.

Photo description: Kulbir Singh, youngest son of Yogi Bhajan, addresses the guests. To his left: Dr. Bibiji Inderji Kaur, wife of the late Yogi Bhajan and the current Bhai Sahiba of Sikh Dharma International. To his right: Kamaljit Kaur, the daughter of Yogi Bhajan.