Joginder Singh Malhi sits cross-legged with a pair of hand drums in front of him. His long grey beard vibrates as he thumps the larger of the two drums with the heel of his left hand. The fingers of his right-hand dance along the smaller one, oscillating between strong and light taps. He’s instructing a class of six girls who sit behind their small hand pianos as they sing in unison.
The girls are practicing kīrtan, the singing of sacred hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the primary Sikh scripture. The singers usually play small pianos with levers called harmoniums, and are accompanied by one or two percussionists with hand drums called tablas. Kīrtan is the main practice of Sikh worship in a congregational setting.
Malhi leads kīrtan classes every weekend at the Sikh Cultural Society. His classroom is located on the fourth floor in the temple’s school, which also offers Punjabi classes to its young members. The kīrtan students’ voices fill the empty halls, which are decorated with cardboard posters of drawings and sacred teachings.
In room number six, the girls read off the texts laid out on their harmoniums. Their right hands manage the keys while their left hands open and close the levers. Malhi studies their fingers with squinted eyes as he effortlessly taps his tabla. He needs to make sure the girls can perform three hymns without his instruction as they’re about to sing in front of the congregation. The performance will be in the temple’s main prayer hall, a privilege that’s only offered to students after three to six months of classes.
Students learn kirtan performance, ancient musical worship practiced in the Sikh tradition with instruments and chanting. Photo by Sara Aridi.
“This one after that!” says 12 year old Simarjit Kaur, pointing to a key on the harmonium after her neighbor plays a wrong note. On her left, Pavneet Kaur, also 12, stops for a quick moment before joining in again. The two girls are the loudest of the group and they’re preparing to join two others on stage during the service. The first hymn they practice is titled Lakh Kushiyan. Pavneet says it’s meant to be sung on a happy day, evident in its uplifting tones. The heart of the text reads:
“Hundreds of thousands of princely pleasures are enjoyed
If the true Guru bestows his glance of grace
For even a moment if He bestows his name, my mind and body are cooled and soothed
Those who have such preordained destiny hold true Guru’s feet”
Four boys practice playing the tabla in the back of the room, but can barely keep up with Malhi’s consistent rhythm. Halfway through the class, two of them catch on and join Malhi and the girls.
Though Malhi is a strict instructor, he allows a free-for-all atmosphere in his classroom. Students walk in and out while some play with the tablas peppered over the room’s ornate burgundy and beige carpet. Yet the girls keep on, determined to sing and play each note correctly. Malhi occasionally stops playing to instruct them in Punjabi before his frail singing voice brings them back where they left off.
The girls then sing a popular hymn called Deh Shiva Bar. It’s slower than the previous hymn, but equally uplifting. Nine-year-old Kamal Kaur says it’s meant to remind Sikhs to be strong and fight for their religion, which is evident in its lyrics:
“Oh Lord, please grant me this boon, this gift
That nothing can deter me from doing good deeds
That I shall not fear when I go into combat and with determination I will be victorious.
That I may teach myself this greed alone, to learn only Thy praises.
And when the last days of my life come, I may die in the might of the battlefield.”
As the class comes to an end, the remaining four students argue over who will take center stage during the prayers. “I want to be in the middle!” shouts nine-year-old Amreen Kaur. The four will divide into two pairs, each sharing a harmonium and a tabla. Malhi interrupts the chaos and speaks in broken English over the girls, trying to get their attention. Finally, Simarjit grants Amreen her wish and the girls run downstairs to lead the afternoon prayers.
The Sikh Cultural Society is located on 97th Avenue and 118th Street in Richmond Hill, Queens. The temple is open from 5am-11pm daily.