And this year’s creativity contest winner is…Chand Kaur!

A message from Chand:

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! 

My name is Chand Kaur Kodial. I am sixteen years old and from Buffalo, NY. My submission for this year's SYWA creativity contest was inspired by the many principles Ik Onkar can teach us through symbolic representation. 

In this gold wire sculpture, the symbol of Ik Onkar is featured in the center. The trunk rooting from this message splits into various branches with many beads on the ends. This depicts the principle of connection, for the creator and creation are one entity and inseparable, much like how a tree is composed of its trunk, branches, and leaves. 

In this sense, this metaphor also promotes the principles of equality and unity. As you can observe from the beads, there are a variety of colors and sizes. This was my attempt at illustrating an important lesson that everyone --- regardless of age, race, religion, etc --- is created equally to one another. Embracing this principle encourages us to not only embrace our similarities, but also celebrate one another’s rich cultures, traditions, and histories.

By reflecting on the teachings of Ik Onkar, we all can strive to develop a deep sense of respect towards one another, our environment, and cultivate a rich and inclusive community.