The Miracle in Connecticut - Power of Faith
We, a small group of Connecticut Sikh families, have been assembling for Kirtan (Prayers) and religious
discourses since May 1996 on the second floor of a building we have been renting at 220 Main Street, Ansonia,
Connecticut, USA. Everyone in our Sangat was pleased with our Gurdwara. We called it The Guru Nanak
Darbar. Our children were especially encouraged to assimilate the teachings of our Gurus and learn to practice
the Sikh way of life.
Sadly, on Tuesday, October 20, 1998, our Gurdwara building suddenly caught fire. The fire, that is suspected
to have started from malfunctioning of the heating system in the basement, quickly engulfed the whole building.
The fire became so fierce that the firefighters from three adjoining towns were called in to fight the blaze. It took
32 hours of struggle by some one hundred firefighters to extinguish this stubborn fire. All three floors of the
building collapsed and fell to the basement. It is estimated that 1.5 million gallons of water were poured on the
building to contain the fire. The Connecticut Sangat lost their place of worship, they called The Guru Nanak
Darbar.
The members of our congregation, who helplessly watched the building burn down, were stricken with a deep
sense of grief and resorted to Prayers, to ask for Waheguru's forgiveness. Some members were literally crying.
There was no hope that they will ever be able to see Sri Guru Granth Sahib and other religious books that were
in a small room where Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were reposed.
On Wednesday morning, the whole world saw that everything in the building was reduced to ashes except the
small room where Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was reposed. Even the Chandoa Sahib (the canopy over Guru's
bed) was intact and still in place. The firefighters, and Mrs. Nancy Valentine, Mayor of Ansonia, respectfully
passed our Scriptures, and other artifacts to the President of our Association, Hargurpreet Singh.
The Mayor of Ansonia, the firefighters, the television, and press reporters that were gathered at the site, all
looked at the scene with total surprise and wonderment, some of them calling it a miracle. Who protected the
Guru's room from the blazing fire that lasted so long? All these folks could only imagine the scene of joy and
happiness that the congregation of the Connecticut Sikh Association felt when they got their Sri Guru Granth
Sahib back. This incident has strengthened our faith and especially our children's faith in the Guru.
We, a small group of Connecticut Sikh families, have been assembling for Kirtan (Prayers) and religious
discourses since May 1996 on the second floor of a building we have been renting at 220 Main Street, Ansonia,
Connecticut, USA. Everyone in our Sangat was pleased with our Gurdwara. We called it The Guru Nanak
Darbar. Our children were especially encouraged to assimilate the teachings of our Gurus and learn to practice
the Sikh way of life.
Sadly, on Tuesday, October 20, 1998, our Gurdwara building suddenly caught fire. The fire, that is suspected
to have started from malfunctioning of the heating system in the basement, quickly engulfed the whole building.
The fire became so fierce that the firefighters from three adjoining towns were called in to fight the blaze. It took
32 hours of struggle by some one hundred firefighters to extinguish this stubborn fire. All three floors of the
building collapsed and fell to the basement. It is estimated that 1.5 million gallons of water were poured on the
building to contain the fire. The Connecticut Sangat lost their place of worship, they called The Guru Nanak
Darbar.
The members of our congregation, who helplessly watched the building burn down, were stricken with a deep
sense of grief and resorted to Prayers, to ask for Waheguru's forgiveness. Some members were literally crying.
There was no hope that they will ever be able to see Sri Guru Granth Sahib and other religious books that were
in a small room where Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were reposed.
On Wednesday morning, the whole world saw that everything in the building was reduced to ashes except the
small room where Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was reposed. Even the Chandoa Sahib (the canopy over Guru's
bed) was intact and still in place. The firefighters, and Mrs. Nancy Valentine, Mayor of Ansonia, respectfully
passed our Scriptures, and other artifacts to the President of our Association, Hargurpreet Singh.
The Mayor of Ansonia, the firefighters, the television, and press reporters that were gathered at the site, all
looked at the scene with total surprise and wonderment, some of them calling it a miracle. Who protected the
Guru's room from the blazing fire that lasted so long? All these folks could only imagine the scene of joy and
happiness that the congregation of the Connecticut Sikh Association felt when they got their Sri Guru Granth
Sahib back. This incident has strengthened our faith and especially our children's faith in the Guru.
| Gurdwara Sahib Sunway |
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