For those of you unable/unsure to come to Lalkaar 2012 - Building Begampura: Confronting Caste - hear some the thoughts of our participants and find out what you're missing out on!

Day 2 of Lalkaar 2012 complete.  After early morning Nitnem, the conference began with a powerful video documenting the quotidian apartheid that occurs in our Gurdwaras, villages, hearts, and minds.

The first workshop called for "deconstructing the divisions." Participants were challenged to re-think where we get knowledge about caste from, how it influences our thinking, and what are the ramifications for our community in the future. 

The second workshop, titled "confronting caste" sought a historical understanding by re-looking at the institutions that shook the basis of "untouchability" in Punjab.  The Gurus gave us a "spirit" with the institutions of langar, khanda di pahul, Singh/Kaur, and even calling for Sikhs to discard caste and pay no attention to it in marriage.  Discussions revolved around Gurbani, Rahit Literature, and selections from Jagjit Singh's The Sikh Revolution.

Here are some pics:

Keep reading below the fold for the rest info on the rest of the day!

For every Lalkaar conference, things have to go exactly right and it requires enormous coordination from a large team.  Most participants interact with their facilitators and spend most of their times in various groups, rarely thinking about all the pieces that make a successful conference.  

They don't see staff sevadars like Jasmine doing the exhausting work of filling the buckets for drinks and keeping stocks high to serve nearly 150 participants.

The opening ceremony of Lalkaar always begins at the Gurdwara.  For years in Fresno, but for the past 2 years West Sacramento Guru Ghar has been home to us.  Here's some pics from last night!  (Special shout out to our videography/photography team - Navi/Aman/Aman/Ajay)

Yesterday, the fabulous Lalkaar Committee, staff, and Facilitator Class of 2012 converged upon Davis, CA. The facilitators are busy going over materials and making sure they are ready, competent, and capable.  The staff is dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's, making sure that all aspects of the conference will run smoothly.  We'll continue live-blogging and keep all interested, updated.  Looking forward to all the participants joining us this afternoon.  Then inaugurating the conference at the Gurdwara this evening.  Stay tuned.