The Journey of a Lifetime: Akal Dayal Yatra

Yatra is a holy journey. We must go into the center, the heart center. It is a journey on earth to one’s ‘Isht’ – one’s higher self, one’s altar. It is self-purification. So, we go from here to designated holy places, and we have no other work but to get up in the morning, to meditate, to go to those beautiful surroundings. Sometimes our minds hassle us, but we do conquer it. This is the purpose of Yatra. ~ Siri Singh Sahib, Yogi Bhajan

Fateh Singh from Germany shared the following about the Akal Dayal Yatra which took place November 20 – December 1, 2025.

In commemoration of the 350-year anniversary of the Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur large festivities were held in India in the places where Guru Teg Bahadur had lived and died. Sikh Dharma International organized a Yatra to participate on behalf of the 3HO community. Fateh Singh (Germany) participated as a representative of 3HO Europe.

Overall, the Yatra was a great success, to represent the 3HO family in India in a spirit of Chardi Kala. We met many Bhai Sahibs and Babas (Sikh leaders) and shared Gurbani Kirtan wherever we could. Also, it was great to be together with the like-minded to build and strengthen our bonds.

Attendees came from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Mexico, Brazil, Bali, Bolivia, India and the USA.

We convened in Amritsar where participants:

• Took a sip and a dip at the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
• Visited with the students at Miri Piri Academy
• Took classes with esteemed music teachers, Ustad Murli and Ustad Narinder Singh

From left: Manou, Gurumeet Kaur, Fateh Singh and Sham Kaur

We then traveled to Anandpur Sahib where we:

• Explored the local historical Gurdwaras
• Sang 3HO songs together at Dashmesh Sadan (Yogi Bhajan’s house), where we were pleased to discover that Sant Kaur, an MPA grad from Italy who studies singing, had a talent which left us deeply touched and dazzled.

We traveled to Kiratpur Sahib to place the ashes of our beloved Shakti Parwha Kaur, Mother of 3HO, into the river, as is the local custom. We sang at the river, and it was a touching moment for many. Some of us explored the nearby Gurdwara at the fireplace of Baba Siri Chand, the Yogi son of Guru Nanak, or the nearby Gurdwara in memory of Gurditta Singh, an accomplished Yogi and Udassi leader, who was a follower of Baba Siri Chand.

Along the way, we kept practicing our Gurbani Kirtan in preparation for playing in a local Gurdwara. In the evening, we enjoyed a drone show in the evening sky, displaying historical images of courage and martyrdom.

We were interviewed by local TV channels which received thousands of views on YouTube.

We were blessed to find the meditation place of Mata Sahib Kaur (mother of the Khalsa), and inside it was an amazing meditative space! Calm, sweet and very different to the vibes of Keshgarh Sahib, or Guru Teg Bahadur’s underground meditation space in Bhora Sahib. Some of us continued to explore the nearby fort, the Shaheed (martyr) Gurdwara, and had milky evening Chai in the Langar kitchen at Keshgarh Sahib.

Miracles started to happen.

One day, the Amrit Vela (early morning) Kirtan Singh happened to cross paths with Baba Nihal Singh in front of the Keshgarh Sahib Gurdwara, where they shared joyful moments and memories. Kirtan Singh also happened to meet Joginder Singh, head Granthi who he knew from the Gurdwara in Manteca, California (USA).

We received guests at Dashmesh Sadan. Bhai Surjit Singh from the Sukh Nagar Gurdwara in Patiala had seen us on TV and came to meet Kulbir Singh and the 3HO group. We exchanged gifts and sang a joyful Jay Tay Gang Kirtan, Wahe Guru Simran and powerful Song of the Khalsa. It was a touching moment for all to connect in the Naad.

One day, we drove to Bibaur Sahib Gurdwara where Guru Gobind Singh had composed the Benti Chaupai Bani. This is a beautiful calm Gurdwara high above the river. We surprised the village with a beautiful musical recitation of Benti Chaupai led by Kirtan Singh.

In the afternoon, some of us visited the Sikh museum (Virasat-e-Khalsa) which provided a dive into the joy of life at the Guru’s times, and also of the enormous suffering the Sikh communities have endured through the centuries. It is definitely worth a visit!

Later, we took our MPA bus two hours to the village “Hariang Vela” to meet with Baba Nihal Singh. This was a most amazing encounter and such a blessing.  After we shared beautiful “7 beat” Kirtan and listened to the Ardas and Hukam, each person received a Saropa from Baba Nihal. He then took a lot of time to share stories and inspiration with the group, to speak with Kulbir Singh about the past, and the mission. He told us about his time with the Siri Singh Sahib and shared how he became a “living martyr”.  He answered all our questions.

We ate langar, toured the Baba Nihal Singh’s village, saw many horses (all stallions) and Gurdwaras, and we had the opportunity to meditate at the sacred Sarovar (water pool) replenished by a water source Guru Hargobind had opened. All this was a blessing beyond imagination.

In the gurdwara at Dashmesh Sadan, we celebrated a beautiful Anand Karaj ceremony for Guruprasad Kaur and Kirtan Singh, followed by a festive lunch!  In the afternoon, most of the group traveled to Amritsar with our bus.

The remainder of the group in Anandpur Sahib went to visit Baba Sat Nam Singh to deliver a donation for assisting with the destruction of the Punjab due to the disastrous floods.

Because the government had not yet come through to complete the road, he decided to build a 12 km long highway to connect Amritsar to Anandpur Sahib.  All the work and materials were completely based on Seva and donations! Along the street, they will plant each kind of tree that is mentioned in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.

We shared beautiful Kirtan “Satguru ki Seva” with Baba Sat Nam Singh, which he enjoyed very much.

On the way back we visited the very peaceful village and Gurdwara Arjan Rukh Shaheed. It has a very mellow space, with the subtle sound current of Wahe Guru. We sealed our outing with a coffee break at the local Barista and then prepared for the “Nagar Kirtan” on the following day.

Early the next morning, we furnished our float with comfortable seating and microphones and drove to Kiratpur Sahib to meet Baba Nihal and a huge number of Nihang Jathas at the opening Gurdwara of the Nagar Kirtan.

This was an intense event with so many Nihangs who attended with their traditional garment, weaponry and guns. The Nagar Kirtan was beautiful. We were a ways back, among buses and cars, and blessed everybody with our devotional singing, which was very well received.

On our last day together in Anandpur Sahib, we had breakfast at the home of Bikramjit Singh. This was a moment of immense relaxation. After a very busy week of crowds, animals, dust, sounds, colors and smells, we were just so happy to sit on a normal sofa with a normal family and have a normal chat.

The experience of this Yatra was amazing for each one of us, and we let the world know that Sikh Dharma in the West is vibrant and in Chardi Kala. We saw tears in many eyes of our own group and in the people we touched.

Thank you to SS Prem Kaur, Secretary General of Sikh Dharma International, who offered the opportunity of this event, and to all who have helped to fund, prepare and organize this Akal Dayal Yatra 2025. We will be back!