In honor of the 300th celebration of Guru Gaddi and to commemorate the establishment of the Khalsa in the West, Sikh Dharma International presented a Kalgi crown jewel turban decoration called "The Spirit of the Khalsa” to Takhat Hazur Sahib in Nanded, India on October 28. The presentation took place at 7 o’clock in the morning, and was made to Singh Sahib Jotinder Singh, the “Meet” Jethedar of Takhat Hazur Sahib. Singh SahibTarlochan Singh, Jethedar of Takhat Keshgarh and Singh Sahib Iqpal Singh, Jethedar of Takhat Patna Sahib were also present.
The gift was made by a group of International Khalsa Council members, lead by Bhai Sahiba Dr. Inderjit Kaur and Siri Sikdar Sahiba S. Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa. The 12th grade class of
The commemorative Kalgi was hand-crafted by famous Beverly Hills jeweler Angelo Castelo. Castelo served as the jeweler of choice among the Beverly Hills elite for many years. One of his clients was the late Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji (Yogi Bhajan). He brought the teachings of the Sikh Gurus to the West. Through his touch, inspiration and example thousands of people from every continent and culture have embraced the Sikh way of life. Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan founded the non-profit religious organization Sikh Dharma International. Sikh Dharma International, along with the ministerial body of the International Khalsa Council, continues the work of inspiring and sharing the teachings and practices of the Sikh Gurus with people around the world.
Catelo crafted many beautiful Sikh-themed pieces of jewelry for Harbhajan Singh Khalsa. Because of their long-standing friendship, Castelo was asked by Sikh Dharma International to craft this piece.
The Kalgi is a special style of jewelry, regal and noble, that was worn by the 10th Sikh Master Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj. Guru Gobind Singh was famous for wearing a Kalgi on his own turban. He so enjoyed this style of jewelry that he was affectionately called Guru Kalgidar.
The piece created by Castelo replicates the shape of the original Kalgi, but with a distinctive, modern flair. The piece is cast in gold, set with blue topaz and diamonds, and mounted for display on a beautiful silver base. In the tradition of gemology, gold channels the energy of the sun, silver channels the energy of the moon, blue topaz represents strength, courage and radiance, and diamonds are said to magnify the effect of the stones with which they are set.
Overall, the piece is a tribute to the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji whose courage and radiance gave life to the Khalsa nation and who passed the Guruship to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib – the Shabad Guru.
The piece is especially significant as it is a gift the Sikhs of the West and was created by donations for the Kalgi from members of the global sangat of Sikh Dharma International. During the 300th celebration of Guru Gaddi, and for the first time in Sikh history, there are significant Sikh communities among people who are from different backgrounds than India. It is an offering to Takhat Hazur Sahib and to the Khalsa nation as a way of giving thanks for the beauty and wisdom of the Guru’s legacy.
For more information on Sikh Dharma International, visit www.sikhdharma.org