The arrival of a new Granthi (Priest) at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar at Medford has energized the congregation - allowing the the management and community a whole range of added prayer and community development programs.
 
The new Granthi, Gyani Resham Singh, who holds post-graduate degrees in classical sangeet, is a world renowned ragi, and has experience as a Granthi in Gurdwaras worldwide, had his inaugural kirten and prayer session on Sunday September 18, 2005.
 
Committee Secretary Gurinder Singh announced plans of the gurdwara to run kirten, tabla, punjabi language and paath recital classes. "These classes were previously run by volunteers. Now that we have a qualified and experienced professional, we will run them regularly and on a permanent basis."
 
The congregation was impressed with Gyani Resham's innaugural performance. Members of the community felt pleased that they finally had a full time and professional Granthi to take care of their spiritual and cultural needs.
 
The Gurdwara was set up in 1997, and prayer ceremonies have been conducted by either volunteers or part-timers. Bhai Santokh Singh did the Granthi services on a part-time contract basis for a few years. Dr. Karminder Singh did the service from 2001 till 2005, including conducting kirten and tabla classes.  But such part time and voluntary service meant that the Gurdwara could only open on Sundays during prayer sessions.
 
"Now the Gurdwara will open regularly on a daily basis," said Temple President Jaspal Singh.  The management is also planning to have additional prayer sessions on Friday evenings and to hold a number of Akhand Paaths (continuous 48-hour recitals of the Holy Book).
 
A member of the sangat, Mandeep Kaur said everyone was extremely pleased with Gyani Resham Singh's arrival. "We have waited for too long. The Gurdwara has grown by leaps and bounds all these years. We even have our own premises. All we needed was a full time professional priest."
 
Members of the Guru Nanak Darbar Kirten Group, who are all children and youth, were doubly overjoyed by Gyani Resham's arrival. "We learnt basic kirten from Dr. Karminder Singh for 4 years. Now we can continue learning the more complex ragas and taals and improve ourselves," said Sandeep Kaur.
 
The Gurdwara's regular Sunday program starts at 9 am with the recital of Panj Banees and Sukhmani Sahib. The Guru Nanak Darbar Kirten Group sings hymns till 12 noon. Gyani Resham Singh then does kirten and katha.
 
The management is drawing up plans to celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev in a big way. A three day session of prayer and kirten is being planned.

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