Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures

Festival of world Cultures, (2006) has become one of biggest annual event ever since it started in 2001. Last year over 200,000 people flocked to Dun-Laoghaire to experience the cultural diversity which it promised to showcase. Number of visitors is said to be much more this time. This year was special b'cose small, but vibrant sikh community in Ireland made their presence felt in the festival. On Saturday, there was talks session on sikhism.

Bhai Sukhwinder Singh fromUk gave a brief presentation about Sikhism covering core beliefs and cultural part also.

Audiences - turnout was bit low than what we expected b'cose of location of canteen where talks were organised, but whosoever came were taken care of.

Tea Party with bread & paneer wale pakore.....and discussion!

(Singh Pakoreya to bina kisse naal kar ke razi nahi)

Dhan Guru Dhan Guru de Sikh!

Bhai Jarnail Singh jee & Bhai Ragbir Singh jee.

Rambo and His wife with Bhai Jarnail Singh jee

Singh Arranging shashtars

Singhs seeking Guru's Sahib's kipra by doing Ardass

Bhai Jarnail Singh Jee with Nishan Sahib. On the other side is Bhai Ragbir Singh jee. These three elder Gursikhs (Bhai Jarnail Singh, Bhai Ragbir Singh and Bhai Pritpal Singh jee) were the main attraction for the media and other irish people, who kept on clicking photographs...as if they are from other world!

Young Khalsas (from Baba Deep Singh Gakta Akhara, Dublin) performing sword fighting. Ferocity with which these young khalsa's traded swords was just amazing!

Gudu Veer Jee (R) Vs Gurmeet Singh or 'Gill Bhaji' from Baba Deep Singh Gatka Akhara Dublin.

Bhai Prithipal Singh (uk) performing with King-Size Tega!

Singh from Baba Ajit Singh Gatka Akhara (Uk) putting up brave face to others singhs.

As the singhs were performing with beats of dhol, more and more people were coming to see the singhs in action. when it was about to finsih, event manager has to stop the gatka demonstration midway, bcose he did not have enough security staff to controll the crowd. people had started to climb the walls erected on sea side!!!!

Irish Sikh Council Jindabaad!

Bhai Sahib from Uk and other Singhs With Irish Sikh Council banner. Majority of Singhs in the picture are active sevadaars in ISC. It just has been bit over two years that ISC is founded, since then it is doing commendable job with Guru Sahib's Kirpa.

Every time Bhai Sahib come to Ireland, most of us feel honorned to see off them! it is really a blessing to have sangat of these Gursikhs.

Singh Is King!

Indian (SIKH) soldiers of the United Nations force in southern Lebanon , known as UNIFIL, stand at an observation post along the Lebanese-Israeli border across from the northern Israel town of Manara Friday Aug. 25, 2006.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was trying Friday to persuade European nations to contribute troops to the United Nation's expanded peacekeeping force for Lebanon, building on the momentum created by France's promise to provide 2,000 more soldiers. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Trip 2 Galway - Day Two -Burren & Aran Island

On 2nd day we had plan to visit Aran island and cliffs of moher. But as we going to aran island we also spent time at Burren. The Burren lies south of Galway in County Clare, Ireland. The name Burren is from the Irish - bhoireann meaning a stony place. Its formation has lain unspoiled since the ice-age and is composed of karstic limestone, the largest area of such in western Europe.

Bharpreet answering nature's call !

As we driving for aran island, we had to stop near a place called Burren, for reasons obvious to everyone now! We didn't had any plan to stop here, we were just finding a place where we can park our cars without blocking the traffic. As everyone got out of cars, we found out sea on one side & white rock on the other side of us.

The Burren code is an intiative designed to inform people as to appropriate behaviour when visiting the Burren. The people who live in the Burren depend on the landscape for their livelihoods based on agriculture and tourism. The limestone pavement, flora and built heritage are the resources on which tourism in The Burren thrives. Respecting and conserving this resource will sustain the community’s wellbeing.

hasda...khelda.....Bodi wala Japnitt

Bharpreet, Sachman, & Gurpreet sitting on rock.

Clibing the hills

You can see cars parked on the road.

Kirandeep, Hardip, Karanjit, Ranjit, Phulpreet, Gurvinder, & Satwinder, while coming down from top.

Having Group Photo while sitting on Stones.

Here the unfolding layers of limestone form terraces on the slopes of the hills

(L2R) Harpreet, Harkiran Kaur, Satwinder, Kirandeep, Hardip, Phulpreet, Karanjit, Gurvinder, Gurmeet Singh

The Burren is a limestone plateau occupying an area of over one hundred square miles in North Clare.

Pani naal takkar lainde hoye! Kirandeep almost had a bath.

In the picture below...ranjit and hardip running out to save themselves.

SuperSingh -Karanjit Singh

Bhai Gurvinder Singh jee

Coming back to road - Bhai sahib leading the battalian

Runner up prise! Rab jane ke...where did he get coloured mushroom?

Family Photograph!

after so much adventure, everybody was sahi -salamat

Then we drove to ferry port. we reached there at exactly 2pm and ferry was about to leave. Took tickets immediately and went upto ferry staff to ask them to wait for few mintues as some of us were still finding the place for parking. As everybody came we boarded the ferry and set off to aran island.

Hardip, Karanjit and Phulpreet Singh

Ferry was very small and was shaking very badly

Bhai Harpreet Singh

Aran Island is 14 kms in length and 3.8 kms in width. Aran is a walker's paradise. Aran is full of wildlife and has some 437 varieties of wild flowers. One can hire a bike or take a pony and trap, or a guided tour with a modern minibus, from the pier. Alternatively,you can also see Aran on horseback alongwith live commentry!

Taking pictures on ferry wasn't easy.

Harkiran with Japnitt & Jaskiran Bhabi jee.

As we reached Aran Island, first thing we did, to find a place where we can take lucnch.

Enjoying alloo - gobi wale paranthe.
Pulpreet veer je and Kanval Bhabi je.

Attention please!

Singhs taking care of Langar.

Bringing kids out of cold walter..........Burrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhh!

Island has a small sandy beach, with Crystal clear water. Water seemed 100% free from pollution.

Glider in the sky! Aran Island has glider airport! infact very near to where we had our lunch.

"Run sachman run...!" Bhai Harpreet singh coming out of water.

Rescued!!

Kirandeep on fort wall

You can see houses in the back. this island has papulation of 1218 in 2006. People depends on fishing for their survival and speak irish language.

ISC brigade kilhe te ............!

Morcha fateh!

After that we joined others back our base station and went to take ferry back.

Trip 2 Galway - Day Two - Cliffs of Moher

After coming from Aran Island, we went to see cliffs of moher. It was half an hour's drive from aran island and we reached there around 5pm. After parking our cars we went to see cliffs. Situated in County Clare and bordering the Burren Area, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most spectacular sights.

Gurvinder Singh entering tourist Centre.

Sachman enjoying the view.

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most visited attractions and when you've been there, you'll know why.

Singhs waiting for other people to come.

There is lot of construction going on to develop the place for tourists!!

Cliffs are 230 metres above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. On a clear day, one can see the Aran Islands as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara!! A walk along the cliffs is not to be missed. One has to be very careful as there are no safety barriers and sections of the cliff sometimes give way. Those with a brave heart can easily walk to the edge of the cliff and view the Atlantic Ocean below.

"Smile please.....", photographer, ...& putting a smile on face is most difficult thing while standing on the edge!

Jaspal, Satwinder, Kirandeep,Gurmeet, Hardip and Karanjit Singh.

(L2R) Sachman, Gurvinder, Karanjit, Gurmeet, Satwinder, Hardip & Phulpreet Singh

Karan Bhaji putting up brave pose for picture.

if you can see a tower (very small, straight up to Karan's dastar). The Tower was built by Cornelius O' Brien, to impress female visitors at that time!

Jaskiran Kaur & Sachman Singh

(L2R) Harkiran, Jaskiran & Harpreet Kaur

A small shop near the car park, which sells souvenirs.

Bhai Harpreet Singh in car park. After we drove back to Galway, it took around two hours to be back at home. Everybody was dead tired.

Langar Preparation - Ranjit Singh inspecting Fulka (Roti).

Jaspal Singh 'Bhatti' making some witty remarks.

Harpreet Kaur, Gurmeet and Hardip Singh preparing dinner.