I believe videos have power to let viewers to mirror visually what its creator wants you to see in his/her creation through his/her own sight. When you read books, you use your own imagination to form a picture in your mind on the basis of the written words offered to you by the author. In this page, I have posted my own videos as well as hand-picked videos from other fellow creators. Before posting work from other fellows, I watch it, feel about it, discuss with close friends, and then share on my website.
Being yourself should be plain and simple! Acceptance, inclusion and kindness will make the world healthy, safe and wonderful for everyone.
A message from Whitehorse (Yukon, Canada) on the Pride month!
Watch it on YouTube:- https://youtu.be/ERe4g4pgFRA
Check out new style of advertising! I appeared in Air North video. It became viral on Facebook. Air North is Yukon, Canada’s airline.
It was the month of January in the town of Dawson City of the Yukon, Canada. It was cold. It was actually really very-cold. The fire was out as well. Then the people of Dawson decided to dance Punjabi folk-dance Bhangra to warm themselves up. And it worked.
Gurdeep Pandher trained local people to dance bhangra and then choreographed it in the Dawson streets to fire up the energy of the bodies.
People enjoyed dancing to bhangra and it also created pure happiness along with the rich-warmth of dance energy.
The Councillor with the City of Dawson government, Billy Kendrick and his team, brought cameras to film it.
And so true, in Dawson City, people found gold and we have found “golden hearts” there.
Dawson City is located in the Yukon Territory of Canada. It the place where Gold Rush happened between years 1896 and 1899. The area is also known as the Klondike region of the Yukon. Dawson City is also known for the marvelous writings of the Yukon poet Robert W. Service.
Bhangra is the folk-dance of Punjab.
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Direction, Choreography, Editing:- Gurdeep Pandher
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Bhangra:- Gurdeep Pandher and the Residents of Dawson City
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Opening Scene:- Wendy Cairns, Monique Chatterton and Shelley Brown
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Camera:- Billy Kendrick
Assistant Camera Crew:- Tessa Rex and Jake Bellew
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Location:- The Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) and Dawson City Streets, Yukon
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More info:- https://www.gurdeep.ca/dawson-city-bhangra-video/
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Copyright:- Gurdeep Pandher | Gurdeep.ca
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Je ma boli nun bhull jawonge
Kakhan vich rull jawonge
Oora aara eeree sassa haha, saadi jaan hai
Sadi pachhan hai
Saadi jind jaan hai
Kakka khakha gagga ghagha ghanyna, kanth kariyo
Ehde naal khadio
Ehnoo nitt padiyo
Chacha chhachha jajja jhajha nayeeya, dilan ch rakhiyo
Nanak de bachiyo
Dashmesh de bachiyo
Tanka thatha dadda dhadha naana, chardi kala hai
Har ikk da bhala hai
Sarbhat da bhala hai
Tatta thatha dadda dhadha nanna, nirbhayo riho
Har ikk nun jaa kiho
Boli nun saambh liyo
Pappa faffa bhabha bhabha mamma, ma Punjabi hai
Sadi ma Punjabi hai
Ammi Punjabi hai
Yayeeya rarra lalla vava rada, bachiyan nu dassiyo
Parivaar nu dassiyo
Nagar ch dassiyo
During the Pink Shirt Day, on February 28, 2018, at Watson Lake Secondary School in the Yukon, Canada, Gurdeep Pandher and school students wore pink shirts and danced Bhangra together under the slogan “Nice Needs No Filter”. This special event was held to raise anti-bullying awareness in our schools, homes, workplaces and online. We all need to stand together against bullies.
Sometimes, mental health conditions or unhealthy upbringing or peer pressures can create bullies too. So, we need more mental health education and practitioners to study the behaviour so that the best measures are adopted to prevent it.
Everyone deserves safe spaces to live their lives to the fullest.
Starring:
Gurdeep Pandher
Other Participants:
Sue Rudd, Tarah Boone, Seth Boss, Adam Cook-Lamha, Amber Dickson, Christopher Dickson, Trynaty Durante, Kate Durocher, Cassandra Hanchar, Jennifer Kroeker, Marshal Law, Jordan Lehune, Eric Lewis, Levi Lutz-Dennis, Taylor MacLeod, Brett Marko-Wolftail, Philippe Mass, Juanita Olson, Racheyll Stewart, Mitcheal Stubenberg, Nicole Tibbett, Shilo Ouellette, Michelle Bakos, Sue Chief, Terri Lee Skerry and Max, Laurel Cole
Music and Lyrics:
Gurdeep Pandher
Vocals:
Gurdeep Pandher, Sue Rudd and School Students
Lyrics:-
Nice needs no filter
It really needs no filter
Nice means embrace all
Love all and respect all
All colours are beautiful
All choices are beautiful
It’s Ok to be different
It’s OK to feel different
Be unique Be yourself
Dance together and create friendships
Treat others equally
Think about your words and actions
Don’t be a bully
We all are people
We all are the same
Love everyone for who they are
Live without judgement
Love all people
Let’s stop bullying
Let’s end bullying forever
Nice needs no filter
https://www.facebook.com/GurdeepPandher/videos/2021128481250920/
This film is a collaboration between Gurdeep Pandher and the Yukon’s Fiddleheads to celebrate Canadian cross-cultural friendship. When we share our cultures with each other, we understand each other better, and make cross-cultural connections stronger. In this short dance and music film, we included Bhangra dance, fiddle music, Punjabi musical instrument Tumbi, highland dance, Sikh culture, and some other cultural and aesthetic arts. Cultures have been an integral part of human evolution and also kept us connected. Every country, region, faith or group have their cultures, which they celebrate and also remains a good formation of their life style. Cultures created events, festivals, folk-fairs, house-concerts and other reasons for people to come together at one place and celebrate doing fun activities which keep them entertained, make them motivated, keep them connected with their roots, remind them about their folk-traditions, and also unite them with theirs and other cultures.
Gurdeep Pandher is grateful to Keitha Clark, the head of Fiddleheads, for a wonderful team-work during the making of this film and playing a great role in this collaboration.
One of other major thanks is due to Gurdeep’s dance partner Monique Chatterton for learning and dancing bhangra along him.
The whole film team is very much thankful to Yukon Transportation Museum in Whitehorse for donating their space for free to shoot this film.
About Fiddleheads:- The Fiddleheads are celebrating 20 years of entertaining Yukon audiences this season. Founded in 1998 by Trish Barclay, the group creates original theatre productions, organizes barn dances, hosts jams, and works with other youth fiddle groups in the territory. The Fiddleheads have provided a first experience for many young Yukon musicians to develop their talents and expand their skills. Through the years, the group has performed everywhere from the Canada Winter Games to the Commissioner’s Christmas Party. Last year they released A Yukon Fiddle Celebration, an album of tunes from the repertoires of traditional fiddlers from across the territory.
About Gurdeep Pandher: Gurdeep Pandher is the Whitehorse (Yukon, Canada) based Bhangra artist and author. The works of art he created in order to bring people from all backgrounds together and promote inclusivity and diversity have gone viral and been published internationally. His performances and videos crossed many borders and were watched by millions from all over the world. Gurdeep’s works have been published by BBC News, CBC National, The Globe and Mail, Global News, CTV News, USA Today, SBS Australia, Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun, Russian state media, Reuters News Agency and many international media organizations.
Last note: This is our multicultural Canada – we have different roots, cultures and backgrounds, but at the end of day we are all ONE CANADA.
The video can viewed from the following social media links:-
Fun collaboration between two the Yukon friends Stephanie Dixon and Gurdeep Pandher doing Punjabi Bhangra dance and fun swimming to normalize what may not be considered normal in some sections of our society. The video is about living a passionate life even if your normal is different than other people’s normal and celebrating difference, because different doesn’t mean less than.
The video has gone viral with more than a million views from all over the world!
Stephanie Dixon has 19 Paralympic Medals (7 Gold, 10 Silver and 2 Bronze) from 3 Games (2000/2004/2008) and has set Multiple World Records. She continues to be an ambassador for inclusive sport in Canada. For Stephanie’s detailed bio, please check pages like CBC or Swimming Canada or Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame!
Gurdeep Pandher is an author and Bhangra artist. The works of art he created in order to bring people from all backgrounds together and promote inclusivity and diversity have gone viral and been published internationally.
“Let’s start seeing people as people,” adds Gurdeep Pandher. “Let’s stop putting them into different classes. Any kind of classification, whether it is racial, cultural, lingual, orientational, or related to our bodies is wrong. If someone looks different than yourself, it should be just normal. For me a turban is just a symbol of change. For instance, when you see someone with a different appearance or style than yourself, you shouldn’t have no problem in accepting that person’s choices in the way you accept you or yours. And the same applies to our bodies.”
“Let’s normalize different bodies and cultures,” says Stephanie Dixon. “Different doesn’t mean less than. When we set aside assumptions, we can see the whole person. The video is about two friends having fun.”
Video, Editing, Music and Background Singing by: Gurdeep Pandher
Bhangra with the staff of Yukon College in the city of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Bhangra is a rhythmic and powerful dance-form. It is also a great and hard-core fitness activity. Bhangra dance was originated in Punjab.
Yukon College is located in the city of Whitehorse, which is the capital city of Yukon Territory.
Yukon College offers certificates, diplomas and degrees through 6 academic areas – (1) School of Business and Leadership, (2) School of Trades, Technology and Mining, (3) School of Health, Education and Human Services, (4) School of Science, (5) School of Liberal Arts, and (6) School of Academic and Skill Development. The college also provides the first two years of university transfer and is a respected member of the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer.
Yukon College campuses include: Faro Campus, Whitehorse Correctional Centre Campus, Teslin Campus, Watson Lake Campus, Mayo Campus, Ross River Campus, Pelly Crossing Campus, Carmacks Campus, Haines Junction Campus, Carcross Campus, Old Crow Campus, Ayamdigut Campus (in Whitehorse) and Dawson City Community Campus. The Yukon Native Language Centre is housed at Yukon College’s Ayamdigut Campus.
Yukon College is also all set become Yukon University.
Yukon College traces its history to the Yukon Vocational and Technical Training Centre founded in 1963. College status was granted in the spring of 1983 and since that time Yukon College has grown to include 13 campuses throughout the Yukon Territory.
This broad range of programming allows Yukoners to stay in the north while pursuing postsecondary studies. It also accommodates contract training demands by local industry and government in a range of specialties. Programming is delivered from campus to campus, across the Yukon, through video-conferencing and on-line learning technology. The President’s Committee on First Nation Initiatives with representatives from all fourteen Yukon First Nations, influences programming and services delivered at the college.
With respect to research and development, the College is leading the way as home to the Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre and the Northern Research Institute, conducting innovative research and development specific to Canada’s north.
Yukon College is an integral part of the community, social, cultural and economic life of Yukon.
Being away from loved ones in India can be hard, especially during festivals like Diwali. Many send money to their loved ones in India to make sure they enjoy the festival of lights. If you do, check out Remitly and their great exchange rates. Happy Diwali to you and your families!
Note/Disclaimer: This is an advertisement work for Remitly, not an endorsement by Gurdeep Pandher or other actors.
Starring: Gurdeep Pandher/ Krisandra Reid
Lake Laberge, near Whitehorse (Yukon, Canada), is “nature’s gold”! This beautiful Yukon lake definitely inspired many resonant words in celebrated Yukon poet Robert Service’s poem, “The Cremation of Sam McGee”. There is a lovely farm on the lake’s banks, where my friend Sarah grows her organic vegetables. While filming subtle elements of farming life, with the beautiful lake waters so close to us, Isabella and I were inspired to do a heart-warming dance to a melodic Punjabi song. Luckily, Bhangra dance from Punjab has many branches, which allow for the expression of every kind of feeling. One of its branches is called Jhoomar. So, we danced Bhangra in the Jhoomar style in order to express the intensity of emotions which would be experienced during the reunion of two lovers. This reunion takes place in the beginning of the song. Later on, the dance evolves to reflect pure joy. We worked very hard to create this video and we hope that you love it!
Performed By: Gurdeep Pandher and Lara Isabella
Directed, Choreographed and Edited By: Gurdeep Pandher
Song/Music Credit: Amrinder Gill
Location: Lendrum-Ross Farm on Lake Laberge near Whitehorse (Yukon) Canada
I do not believe my faith is better than yours and vice-versa.
~ Gurdeep Pandher
For me, a turban is a symbol of change. Let me make one point clear – I am not trying to make the whole world wear turbans or asking the entire world to embrace the Sikh faith. I do not believe my faith is better than yours and vice-versa. All faiths are great, equal and this means that yours is great and beautiful, too!
What I am doing is working towards acceptance and inclusiveness. I am working towards creating love and harmony within our communities. I am working towards tolerance. For example, when you see another person who has a different sense of style than you do, I believe that you should accept that person with an open heart and mind.
The turban is a medium with which I can share my belief in equality with the world.
If someone looks different than you do, please let your heart smile with the beautiful thought, “How cool and lovely is it that this person is different from me! We are all on our own path and everyone should be able to express self and beliefs through clothing and accessories, whether they have religious significance or not.”
This is the type of attitude which will lead to a healthier, safer and more wonderful world, for each one of us.
I have personally been penalized for choosing to wear the Turban as a symbol of my commitment to my faith. I’m well-educated and I have a range of skills to share with employers and co-workers.
Despite this, I’ve lost a lot of great opportunities because of my choice to wear the Turban. For example, one day in Whistler, my supervisor asked me to shave off my beard, even though wearing a beard had no impact on my ability to do my job effectively.
I refused, simply because I’m comfortable with how I look. I like myself! After I refused, he offered me alternatives to working at his company. He pushed me to quit. I didn’t, but work life became harder. More and more rules were imposed on me for no good reason. In time, I did have to leave. This is one example of several.
If you like the way that you present yourself to the world, why not accept and appreciate other people’s choices?
Skin colours, races, regions, religions, genders, age, disability, economic statuses, type of bodies, style of clothing, sexual orientations, borders, marital statuses, quantity of possession of materials, etc. – it is meaningless to separate people based on any, a few or all of these criteria.
I do believe that we may show pride and love for our respective cultures while crossing the walls and learning about each other’s cultures. While our cultures give us roots, other cultures keep us connected. We are all citizens of the universe.
Nothing should separate us as people. We are all human beings with equal value. Despite being different, we are all the product of one source. The different looks and styles just make the world more colourful and more beautiful, just like several colours of flowers look beautiful in one pot. The earth is our pot and we are flowers in different colors and shapes.
Imagine how boring the world would be without all these assorted hues and forms!
We are ONE human race. Period.
As fear is the primary root cause of hate in the world, and most fear is founded in lack of knowledge and understanding, learning about different cultures is the secret of becoming familiar. It’s the key to becoming more comfortable with other ways of life. This familiarity reduces fears and allows us get closer to other people. By learning constantly, with positive attitudes, and opening our minds and hearts, we may connect with others in a deep and meaningful way.
It is beneficial to learn things about the unknown and then remove any fears via heightened understanding. I am sure that once you are familiar with another person who practices customs which are unknown to you, you will gain the capacity to walk forward together, holding hands.
After 9/11, Sikhs across the world, especially in the US, were subjected to racism due to their turbans. Many were killed too. Just because they were wearing turbans which had some resemblance to the headdresses worn by Bin Laden, these innocent and peaceful Sikhs became targets.
It makes me sad that people assumed the worst and never tried to learn about Sikhs. Sikhism is a different faith, from a different country, with totally a different history. Clearly, unfamiliarity and/or lack of education bred hate! Otherwise, so many precious lives would have been spared. Education was all that was needed.
The aftermath of 9/11 gave me even more reason to embrace the Turban as a powerful symbol of peace. It’s about using the Turban to spark more awareness and education.
I had the same experience in Whitehorse, Yukon, when someone called me Saddam Hussein. This bizarre encounter was hurtful to say the least and it inspired me to wear my turban even more often, with a mind to spreading awareness. Those people didn’t try to learn that Saddam Hussein was from Iraq, rather than my home country, India.
Saddam Hussein was Muslim and I’m a Sikh. We came from different continents -Saddam Hussein represented the Arabic world and I represent Asia. However, the mere presence of a turban on my head made it seem to the person who insulted me that I was representing Saddam and Osama. I would also like to make clear that, for me, Arabic or Muslim world is equally adorable, in the same way the other world is, and my point is not to create an animus towards Arabic or Muslim world. My main point is just to let people know that there is a huge difference between Arabic/Muslim world and my Sikh/Punjabi world from Punjab, India.
If this person had more familiarity with my culture and my faith, this offensive and misguided incident could have been avoided. The person who made the comment did not know that Sikhism was started about 600 years ago, in Punjab, India, by Guru Nanak and that equality, kindness and humanism are core elements of this faith.
Being compared to Saddam Hussein confirmed my opinion that more work needs to be done to make the world aware of my minority faith, which has so often been a subject of misidentification. This, and some other incidents, motivated me to spread awareness about my turban and I am glad that the turban has become a great symbol not only of awareness about the peaceful Sikh faith, but also about so many other things, such as love, harmony and equality.
Despite our different backgrounds and different looks, we can do things together, we can work together, we can play music together, we can dance together and we can form relationships together. All religions were created as guides to better and higher paths, so that we may become good people. However, all people from all religions sometimes forgot the purest essences of our chosen faiths. They were created in the spirit of love and peace and our personal interpretations may occasionally interfere with our interpretations of our faiths.
The sun gives the same light to everyone. Does it discriminate on basis of anything? Sunlight doesn’t need a visa to cross borders. The same applies to moonlight, water, air, and earth.
We can learn so much from nature. I must say that nature should be our supreme guiding god. The sun gives us all the same light with the same purpose. It is we as people who receive it differently. We cannot blame the sun if we do not want to choose the path of universal family.
At the end of the day, doesn’t matter, what the style of clothing is, everybody is just a fellow human being with the same feeling inside the heart.
~ Gurdeep Pandher
We need more love in the world to counteract hate. I do not think there is another tool which can defeat hate but love itself.
Just accept people the way that you accept yourself!
Life is a journey. Let’s understand the purpose of it all, which is universality and love, and then enjoy the experience of our great journey within the world, before we all depart for the spiritual realm.
This experience of love through learning is why we are here…we are not here to hate!
A smile is the best gift that you may offer to the world around you! So, why not open up your world by learning different cultures and embracing different things? Share your culture and faith to create understanding and to breed joy. However, avoid forcing it on other people. Love your culture and faith without forgetting love for other cultures and faiths! Also, be open to learning and receiving via other cultures and faiths! Let all the colours around you make the world look like a priceless masterpiece by a legendary artist. It’s all about your attitude.
At the end of the day, doesn’t matter, what the style of clothing is, everybody is just a fellow human being with the same feeling inside the heart.
I am happy that with my video, which features Whitehorse mayor Dan Curtis learning the art of wearing the turban and trying some bhangra dance steps, has gone viral. Thanks to this video, I reached 20 million people (12 million on BBC News, 1.2 million from my Facebook page Facebook/GurdeepPandher and the rest from other networks across the world)!
It has been fulfilling to spread this message of love and acceptance. I am thankful to the world media, including BBC News, BBC World Service, CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Service), The Globe and Mail, Global News, The Huffington Post (Canada), CTV News, USA Today, SBS Australia, Mic, Toronto Star, Canadian Press, RT (formerly Russia Today), Quartz Media, Religion News Service, Reuters News Agency and many other publishing/broadcasting services.
These media sources have my gratitude, for publishing my work, supporting and spreading my message and giving me a voice which assists me in sharing my vision for humanity with the world.
World media organizations…I am truly thankful to you for reaching out to me! I am also truly thankful to many other organizations, such as Canadian embassies and human-rights organizations, for helping me to spread this valuable message of diversity.
I am ending my article with my poem:
Let me preserve all my sanity
Let my race be humanity
Millions of stars, but one universe
I’m a your part, still being diverse
Not body or dress, look into my eyes
In tiny mirrors, same laughs same cries
Hug me and let me hug you back
The source of fears, we can trace
One source, one journey, and one end
Flowers in a pot, let them blend
Sincerely,
Gurdeep Pandher
http://www.Gurdeep.ca