| Malaysia | 14 Oct 2016 | Asia Samachar |
As sharp 8pm, they stop whatever they were doing. In a brief moment of prayer, they would recite the mool mantar along with their family members. Some would go on for a while longer, maybe reflecting on a shabad from the Sikh scripture.
In the mid-1990s, Malaysian Sikhs were introduced to a programme called Family Paath Mala.
At the heart of the programme was a call to all Sikhs to unite, as a family, in prayer at sharp 8pm.
Why 8pm? Nothing magical. Probably the prime news that rolls out of the major television stations may have influenced the decision.
Thousands of Sikhs nationwide joined in the prayer in a programme introduced by Sukhdev Singh, then Jathedar (1995-1997) of Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM).
Over the years, the organisers have heard of many stories, both inspiring and comical, related to the programme.
“There’s this group of drinking buddies. They would not touch alcohol until after saying the 8pm prayer,” one former SNSM executive tells Asia Samachar.
“Then there was this group who had skipped alcohol for the entire duration while the Family Paath Mala was going on,” he added.
The programme is back, running for one month from 15 Oct to 15 Nov.
Again, the call to unite in prayer at 8pm remains a cornerstone. Sikhs are urged to recite five times the mool mantar and say the gurmantar for one to two minutes.
One new addition to the programme is the Thought of the Day (TOD). Everyday, the Family Paath Mala team will make available a short write-up that members can read and reflect upon.
The Daily TOD will be made available at the SNSM Facebook as well as at the Asia Samachar website.
The official launch will be held at Gurdwara Sahib Pulapol in Kuala Lumpur at 7pm onwards. It will be broadcast live on the SikhInside.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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