Anakh Punjab Di Intro Video '09

[Danny]

Here's our intro video for March Madness (r2b2, csun, socal, fusion)! and won BEST INTRO VIDEO at Fusion this year!

NOTE: The one at Detroit Bhangra Fusion had changes made due to the 1 minute limit (That one included my broskii's Jaspreet, Aman, and Sandhu) and was made much later than this one, but same thing!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBSczOi81KM

enjoy! 8)

 

[Raji]

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun! I'm a little envious I wish I could go to all those comps and kick ass like you guys did! Great job.. good luck in the future!

 

[chijatt]

Nice vid dude. Y'all been killin it.

What instrumental did you use for the intro?

 

[vaibhav]

thats a sick video! =)
i saw last years too both were great
are ya guys postin yare videos frm comps or after bruin?

 

[nb0913]

sick logo

 

[Danny]

the instrumental i have no idea....it was made and sent to me by one our own Meeti Mouse

he's into krumping and all that hippity hoppy stuff if i can get the original ill try and post it!

 

[Laddi]

Sicc Video!

 

[faizan]

I love your logo, but maybe it's time to get more colorful outfits? You boys are great though!

 

[rashwind]

GOOO DANNNYYYY !!! :-*

bare sick intro

 

[HarmanSingh]

What exactly do you guys like about the logo? The fact that they are incorporating Sikhi into their logo or that they manipulated a Sikh emblem? Faizan, if it were the Star and Crescent thrown onto someone's uniforms except the symbol was altered to write out a name would you still think it is sick?

 

[faizan]

harman, the star and crescent have nothing to do with islam...in fact, the idea of making a star and crescent can be said to be haram in Islam...so i wouldn't mind at all...but i get your point...it looks good for aesthetic purposes, but I can also understand why it is offensive.

 

[kinnell]

What exactly do you guys like about the logo? The fact that they are incorporating Sikhi into their logo or that they manipulated a Sikh emblem? Faizan, if it were the Star and Crescent thrown onto someone's uniforms except the symbol was altered to write out a name would you still think it is sick?

Should intent be taken into account as well? I'm pretty sure APD wanted to rep their religious heritage with their team. Having a religious symbol in your logo may not be the safest way to go, but the intentions were only good. I'm not Sikh and I am curious, Harman. How sacred is the khanda? (Please do correct me if I am mistaken. The name for the Sikh emblem is Khanda, right?)

If I got a T-shirt with a pink khanda which said "Sikh Pride", would it be offensive if it was pink? I've seen wallpapers of khandas on fire - is that offensive? APD is trying to represent Sikhism in their own way just like teams that wear the khanda on their arm sleeves on their vardiyaan. I kinda admire APD for doing it. But I'm not sure whether its offensive to Sikhism or just offensive to you?

Just curious Harman, would altering the khanda be like like drawing the Prophet Muhammad in Islam?

 

[kinnell]

Harman - Is this offensive to Sikhism as well?

 

[faizan]

The image of the khanda is a sense of pride to the Sikhs and a symbol of their faith, no doubt.

At the same time, it is also a representation of the Sikh religious doctrine. While it is the official representation, it is also an arbitrary rendering. It is not decreed by Sikhism. The Khanda has not always been around in Sikhism. The official symbols have changed over the centuries. Similarly the official symbol of Islam is not the star and the moon. These are also man made symbols. There is no Islamic decree that this symbol should represent the religion. My point is, theologically, the Khanda is a representation of the Sikh faith, and THIS is what makes it important, not because it is tatoo'ed on people's arms and because it is the most identifiable symbol to Sikhs, or because it is written anywhere in the Sikh holy books that there should be a Khanda.

By APD chanding the symbols to reflect their team name two things have happen.
1. they have deleted in part the representations for which the Khanda was made for.
2. They have (it can be argued, disrespected) a symbol, and religion that I am sure that set out to highlight with their symbol.

In the hopes of this not turning into the POL Khalsa Junction debates, I hope that we can be constructive and understand APD's intent. At the same time, I totally understand why people are offended. While I would not be offended if someone modified the star and moon, (because these are not religious decrees), the Khanda is a direct representation of Sikh principles and thus, I do not believe it should be altered.

 

[HarmanSingh]

Kinnell,

The Khanda is a representation of all that is Sikhi. The Chakkar (circle in the middle) represents the timeless and and encompassing nature of God and unity and connectedness of humanity. The 2 Kirpans represent Miri and Piri (temporal and spiritual elements of Sikhi). The Khanda is a symbol of the martial and spiritual history of Sikhs as Saint Soldiers who fight to control Kam (Lust), Krodh (Anger), Lobh (Greed), Moh (Attachment) and Ahankar (Ego) and fight to preserve justice and equality in the world regardless of the consequences.

It is certainly something which all Sikhs respect and is not to be pimped out and displayed as a fashion statement which seems to be the case here. It is silly for a team to wear Khandas on stage while they dance to songs about drinking and whatnot, especially when the actual dance has nothing to do with Sikhi. I feel the same way with people who throw on necklaces with huge khandas just to "rep" it and call themselves "Jatt Sikh" as if that means something...either you are Sikh or not..their is no qualifier. The flaming Khanda you described is ridiculous as is a Khanda I saw which was made out of AK47s rather than Kirpans. It is disingenuous and disrespectful because what is TRULY is, is a person trying to pimp out something they truly do not understand for the sake of fashion and false pride. APD deleted and edited the Khanda for their own benefit, ignoring the symbolic nature of it and not caring that it is not simply a random picture, but something Sikhs look to with pride and honor, as a symbol of what they should strive to become and what their history is.

The picture you posted is perfectly fine..because the Khanda is still in tact and not manipulated. The actual color doesn't matter..its just a matter of using good judgment. Just as people have made the Cross into a meaningless symbol by tattooing it all over themselves and stuff as a way to act cool or hard, people are now doing with the Khanda.

I don't know the APD guys personally, but it looks like pure ignorance and a sad attempt to incorporate Sikhi into something it has no business in. If you are hell bent on putting a Khanda on your outfits, then you sure as hell better rep it to the fullest by not drinking/smoking/etc and living to the standard of a Khalsa. But hey..they were coached by Khalsa Junction..a team which is def. not Khalsa but used that name because it sounded cool.

And by the way, I speak for myself here..not all Sikhs. Obviously I can not tell someone they should be offended or not, but for me this is not so much offensive as it is ignorant.

 

[Basim]

Kinnell,

The Khanda is a representation of all that is Sikhi. The Chakkar (circle in the middle) represents the timeless and and encompassing nature of God and unity and connectedness of humanity. The 2 Kirpans represent Miri and Piri (temporal and spiritual elements of Sikhi). The Khanda is a symbol of the martial and spiritual history of Sikhs as Saint Soldiers who fight to control Kam (Lust), Krodh (Anger), Lobh (Greed), Moh (Attachment) and Ahankar (Ego) and fight to preserve justice and equality in the world regardless of the consequences.

It is certainly something which all Sikhs respect and is not to be pimped out and displayed as a fashion statement which seems to be the case here. It is silly for a team to wear Khandas on stage while they dance to songs about drinking and whatnot, especially when the actual dance has nothing to do with Sikhi. I feel the same way with people who throw on necklaces with huge khandas just to "rep" it and call themselves "Jatt Sikh" as if that means something...either you are Sikh or not..their is no qualifier. The flaming Khanda you described is ridiculous as is a Khanda I saw which was made out of AK47s rather than Kirpans. It is disingenuous and disrespectful because what is TRULY is, is a person trying to pimp out something they truly do not understand for the sake of fashion and false pride. APD deleted and edited the Khanda for their own benefit, ignoring the symbolic nature of it and not caring that it is not simply a random picture, but something Sikhs look to with pride and honor, as a symbol of what they should strive to become and what their history is.

The picture you posted is perfectly fine..because the Khanda is still in tact and not manipulated. The actual color doesn't matter..its just a matter of using good judgment. Just as people have made the Cross into a meaningless symbol by tattooing it all over themselves and stuff as a way to act cool or hard, people are now doing with the Khanda.

I don't know the APD guys personally, but it looks like pure ignorance and a sad attempt to incorporate Sikhi into something it has no business in. If you are hell bent on putting a Khanda on your outfits, then you sure as hell better rep it to the fullest by not drinking/smoking/etc and living to the standard of a Khalsa. But hey..they were coached by Khalsa Junction..a team which is def. not Khalsa but used that name because it sounded cool.

And by the way, I speak for myself here..not all Sikhs. Obviously I can not tell someone they should be offended or not, but for me this is not so much offensive as it is ignorant.

Very well stated Harman. Thanks for explaining what each piece of the Khanda symbol represents, very insightful information.

The statement in bold above is the highlight of your post and I totally agree with it. I find it odd/disrepectful/wrong for a team to have any religious symbols (whether that be: the Sikh Khanda, the Hindu OM, the Christian Cross, the Jewish Star of David, etc etc) incorporated into a cultural dance, such as Bhangra.

Regarding the Star and Cresent symbols and their relation to the Islamic religion, I believe Faizan already provided a good explanation. Just to expand on it a bit further:

Surprisingly, the [Star and Cresent] symbol is not Muslim in origin. Rather, it was a polytheistic icon adopted during the spread of Islam, and its use today is sometimes controversial in the Muslim world. The crescent and star are often said to be Islamic symbols, but historians say that they were the insignia of the Ottoman Empire, not of Islam as a whole.

Source: http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/symbols.htm

Hope that helps,

~ Basim

P.S. - Just to stay on topic, I loved the intro video overall. It was very well made, so props to the video editor(s). Keep up the great performances APD!

 

[Manjot]

intro vid is sickk
and i like the logoo

 

[VaRun59]

id get what the big deal is about using a khanda...i realize it is of religious importance...but why is it offensive?? because the same guys smoke and drink while using the logo?? who cares?? if ur sikh.. and drink and smoke when ur not wearing a khanda...does it make it any less of an offense?? u can do anything u want unless if ur wearing a religious emblem?? God, history, and respect should be in ones heart. The point of an emblem and icon is to remind us of our faith+history..not for us to worship it. Respect should be in one's inner self...not for show. Sikhism should not be threatened by sumone altering an emblem and using it to look cool. Hitler altered the swastika which is an icon of ganeshji for hindus/ I was once wearing a chain with it and a cop pulled me over and told me
"i understand this is of religious importance to u...but i advise u not to wear it for ur own safety" did i freaking make a big deal?? no..i took it off and put it away. i believe in god...doesn't mean i have to show it or pray to an emblem, one must adapt to the surroundings, realize people aren't as knowledgeable about religion or saintly as they use to be Big deal if APD altered the logo...did they really threat the culture or religion... is ur religious belief so weak that u find such a little thing offensive??

btw APD i think u have the sickest logo...and i really wish AEG had thought of that before u guys did

 

[HarmanSingh]

id get what the big deal is about using a khanda...i realize it is of religious importance...but why is it offensive?? because the same guys smoke and drink while using the logo?? who cares?? if ur sikh.. and drink and smoke when ur not wearing a khanda...does it make it any less of an offense?? u can do anything u want unless if ur wearing a religious emblem?? God, history, and respect should be in ones heart. The point of an emblem and icon is to remind us of our faith+history..not for us to worship it. Respect should be in one's inner self...not for show. Sikhism should not be threatened by sumone altering an emblem and using it to look cool. Hitler altered the swastika which is an icon of ganeshji for hindus/ I was once wearing a chain with it and a cop pulled me over and told me
"i understand this is of religious importance to u...but i advise u not to wear it for ur own safety" did i freaking make a big deal?? no..i took it off and put it away. i believe in god...doesn't mean i have to show it or pray to an emblem, one must adapt to the surroundings, realize people aren't as knowledgeable about religion or saintly as they use to be Big deal if APD altered the logo...did they really threat the culture or religion... is ur religious belief so weak that u find such a little thing offensive??

btw APD i think u have the sickest logo...and i really wish AEG had thought of that before u guys did

Varun, you are really confused my man. I never said I felt threatened by what they did. In fact, my last sentence was: "but for me this is not so much offensive as it is ignorant." So your entire rant is kind of unnecessary.

I said it reflects a level of ignorance to bring a Khanda into your BHANGRA outfits because it serves no purpose and has no reason to be on dance outfits. It is a problem because it continues the growing shift to where people associate Punjab with bhangra and bhangra with Sikhi. This entire line of thought serves to hurt Punjab, bhangra AND Sikhi because Punjab is suddenly minimized to a dance and bhangra is then thought to represent Sikhi. However, the truth is bhangra is so far from Sikhi that it need not even be stated.

I don't feel threatened by this, nor is my faith shaken by this. However, as a person who tries his hardest to respect every person's beliefs..whether Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Atheist..I would expect some sort of respect back.

The truth is, these kids probably don't even realize what they are doing and altered the logo thinking it looked "hella sick", unaware that they are vandalizing something they probably claim to have respect for. It is childish and not necessary to edit a religious emblem for fashion. I am sure ideally you would like to wear your Swastika and do not appreciate that Hitler took the logo and turned it into something so evil and inhumane. The same way, I do not appreciate kids taking a religious symbol, manipulating it and flipping it into something they think looks cool and in turn marketing themselves as representations of Sikhi while on stage.

 

[VaRun59]

well the khanda has become sumthing that people use for fashion....big ass chains.. tattoos...i have also seen that ak47 khanda ur tlaking about....but idt it should be offensive...its one's own belief about the religion... if one thinks Sikhism is violent and should be represented by AK-47 then be soo... if they thinks its something kool and fashionable..well then let it be..leave it to them their parents and their parish...many people do this with th OM too...i dont think its sumthing u can change..neither do i bellive that APD did this to be arrogant...sumone probably thought of it and were excited about the fact that they could incorporate a khanda with there team name...the member's themselves surely don't believe bhangra=Sikhism after this has been an issue on BTF for a while now
i just dont have a tolerance for people causing drama because sumone put a khanda on their vardi...logo...video or w/e the case may be

my bad on misunderstanding u...but i definitely have seen sum people being "threatened" by this lol