[Updated] There are at least four Sikh camps running or about to take off from now till the year end in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
The largest among them, the Annual Gurmat Parchaar Samelan organised by Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM), will begin on Sunday (Dec 14). See earlier report here.
Across the straits, Singapore’s Bahadur Bachey five-day camp stars today (Dec 10). Organised by Sikh Sewaks Singapore, it caters for youth aged between 4-16 years.
In Australia, a six-day Annual Family Gurmat Camp 2014, organised by Melbourne-based Sikh Sewaks Australia (SCA), will begin on Dec 21 at Knyeton, Victoria.
The fourth camp, which will conclude tomorrow (Dec 11), is taking place at the cool hills of Cameron Highlands in the Malaysian state of Pahang. The Simran Group Samelan, led by lawyer-parcharak Kulvinder Singh (aka Kemey Verji) and running for the 10th year, began on Dec 5. (For updates, see Facebook handle ‘Simran Group Samelan – Cameron Highland’).
The camp in Cameron Highlands attracted some 280 participants and another 100 sewadars (volunteer camp facilitators).
The SNSM camp, which will the 51st annual camp by the Sikh youth organisation, is its largest annual youth camp welcoming Sikh youth not only from Malaysia but also from overseas.
This year’s camp will be held at the quaint town of Bentong, Pahang, about 80 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur.
The week long signature events for SNSM, first started in 1963, is held during the year-end Malaysian school holidays.
SNSM Jathedar and Samelan 2014 organising chairman Pavandeep Singh said this year’s edition is expected to receive 800 participants from the host country as well those from Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.
On top of that, some 200 sewadars (volunteers) from throughout the country will also be on the grounds to help in the smooth running of the event.
