Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway
Ok… it’s like 1AM and it’s been a long day, so I’ll be somewhat brief. We have been having Khalsa Council meetings all week and this afternoon we had a special ceremony to honor the memory of Yogi Bhajan. The city of Espanola and state of New Mexico have dedicated the highway which passes in front of the home of Yogi Bhajan after him. This is a great honor and recognition for all his selfless service to the world. I don’t know of any other highways in the USA which are named after a Sikh.
The New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and other guests spoke at the dedication event. Many of the New Mexico political figures have been long time friends of Yogi Bhajan (20+ years) and have great respect for him and the things that he accomplished in his lifetime.
One of the things that was cool was that originally the dedication was going to be at a different location outside, but a very unusual thing happened. IT RAINED…AND RAINED…AND RAINED. Normally when it rains you are lucky to get 2 minutes of rain. We haven’t had pretty much any rain for over 6 months and the land has been soo dry. It was as if it rained for this very occasion.
Twice a year we hold “Khalsa Council” meetings which is a leadership group of Sikhs from all over the world that come to Espanola to vision for the future. We had been having these meetings and as a result of the rain the Highway memorial dedication could not be held outside. So, instead… everyone came to the Khalsa Council meetings. So the Governor and all the other New Mexico political figures came to “meet” the Khalsa Council. Cool eh?
During our Khalsa Council Sessions
For the first times in 6+ months we got huge amount of rain!
Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico
Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, the Governor and Siri Sikhdhar Sahiba
Sat Jivan Singh saying a prayer to open the ceremonies.
People in prayer.
Gov. Bill Richardson and Bibiji
Daya Singh addressing everyone.
Gov. Bill Richardson Addressing the Khalsa Council, other political figures and friends of Yogi Bhajan.
Unveiling one of the Signs for the Highway
Bibiji expressing tears of emotion
Some of the signs on the highway
Himmat Singh and Guru Darshan Kaur
Narayan, Sarabjot and Utham being silly.
11 Responses to “Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway”
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Thank Waheguru for the heavy rain…Hope the drought will be over….
Very happy to see Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji is remembered……Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway
It is good to see a Sikh being honoured in his adopted homeland and it was good that all the politicians had a chance to be in the Khalsa Council meeting (due to the rain) there by getting exposure to many more Sikhs and thereby chance of more interaction; though I feel that the politicians of New Mexico already are well versed in the Sikhism and who Sikhs are due to a large number of American Sikh community over there.
I was wondering if the agenda and accomplishment of the Sikh Council meetings are made public anywhere, like do they have a separate website. And do Sikh authority representatives from India also participate in these meetings.
I don’t know the concept behind the yellow and white rectangular flag with the Sikh symbol in middle of it; what institution it represents or is it just a transformed version of the Saffron triangular Nishan Sahib which is the Flag of Sikh nation and is more widely seen at other Sikh institutions…
And thanks Bhai GMS jee for posting such late in spite of being busy all day.
I just got done doing my morning banis and was thinking about what Sikhs attribute to any society yet a majority of people look at Sikhs badly. Not very many step up to the plate and try to make a difference in societies opinion of Sikhs. I am very thankful for BabaJis like Yogi Bhajan and thier impact on the world not for themselves. The real Khalsas will be remembered for ever. Either being part of the Sikh Panth and helping out it image or personally remebered. That is really cool a Khalsa Highway in New Mexico named after Yogi Ji finally some recognation from the government.SatNam
Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki fateh!
Time to approach the Indian PM to name GT (Grand Trunk) road to name after YB. How about Bharat Ratna? The UN should also honour YB for his peace efforts and work for the welfare of women. Hillary Clinton can certainly help in these Panthic goals.
APS, American Psychological Society (professional organization for the advancement of scientifically oriented psychology) may also honour him for his work on deep and compassionate insight into the human condition. What we see today is just the beginning.
Sarvjeet, in a democratic society, the right to freedom of expression is crucial. an american citizen can custom-make his/her own flag if he doesn’t like the one the US has. don’t like the red color, no problem, replace it with green. don’t like too many stars, no problem, replace some with tridents.
Gurumustuk Singh Ji,
Thanks for sharing I can see you working hard during the speech taking pictures Lol. Anonymous two if you’re referring to the Nishan Sahib as a flag. Please find out the the importance and history of the symbol of the Khalsa.
mandeep
It is very nice to see a Sikh being honoured. Thanks to all who participated in making that a success.
Wahe Guru! I was told that a heavy rain happened the day of the dedication for the “Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway”. What better fitting act of God than rain in Espanola. New Mexico, the land and people he so dearly loved. “God is everywhere, but his mailbox address is Espanola!” It seems a sign that the Mahan Tantric master was there among you smiling with humility and love. May God and Guru Ram Das eternally bless the soul of Siri Singh Sahib, Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, “Yogiji”. Ong Sang Wahe Guru!
S. S. Sathanuman S. Khalsa
Portland, Oregon
WE APPRECIATE ALL WHO MAKE EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS PROUDFUL WORK, FOR NOT ONLY AMERICANS BUT ALL THE SIKHS WORLDWIDE. WE DO ARDASS TO WAHEGURU JI TO GIVE ALL OF YOU MORE CHARDI KLAA, SO THAT FOR THE PARCHAAR & PARSAAR OF SIKHI WE ALL SHOULD WORK & SUCH FRUITFUL RESULTS SHOULD COME OUT.
CHARANJIT SINGH KHALSA
MANCHESTER. U.K.
Whole sikh community should be proud of a sikh being honoured in USA. Yogi ji devoted all of his life to preach not only sikhism, but also peace for the whole humanity. He will always be remembered by the coming generations and Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway will also keep his memory alive in our hearts.
This sure is one of the proud moments for the Sikh community in America and everywhere else. Timing of this could not be any better, keeping in mind the events of September 11, especially when there is a great need for putting our differences aside and stand up for Sikh integration and unity in the World. Sometimes, I wonder how was he able to achieve so much and spread the light of Sikh Gurus to an entirely different culture. I think he was a man, way ahead of his times and I am glad and proud of the fact that he was a Sikh. There have been very many great Gursikhs in recent Sikh history that have done so much for Sikhi in today’s times. Panth Ratans such as Sant Singh Maskeen Ji and Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogi Ji definitely come to my mind, with my limited knowledge of great Sikh scholars and Gursikhs. I wish there were more Sikh Yogi Bhajans in the World that can carry on his legacy and spread Sikhism. The World needs to know what Khalsa is all about, why we pray everyday to God for Khalsa Raj and Sikhs are not bad people after all.