The Sikh historic occasion of “Guru-Ta-Gaddi Divas”, the day the Granth Sahib was anointed Gurudom, to be celebrated in Nanded in Maharashtra, has run into controversy.
CHANDIGARH: The Sikh historic occasion of “Guru-Ta-Gaddi Divas”, the day the Granth Sahib was anointed Gurudom, to be celebrated in Nanded in Maharashtra, has run into controversy. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandak Committee (SGPC) and the Takht Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, are divided over the date of the auspicious day.
Going by the Nanakshahi calendar, which the SGPC implemented quite a few years ago, the anniversary falls on October 20. But the Takht Hazoor Sahib, which has been hosting the celebrations, wants to go by the traditional Bikrami calendar and hold it on October 30.
This has divided lakhs of Sikh devotees participating in the month-long celebrations, as hectic preparations have been going on in this historic city. Worst off are the Sikhs coming to participate from Canada, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Italy.
The SGPC has the support of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) for celebrations on October 20. But the Takht Hazoor Sahib, the seat where Guruship was bestowed upon the holy scripture, and several other shrines like the Takht Patna Sahib, Damdami Taksal, institutions of the Sant Samaj and certain Nihang factions have decided to go against the Nanakshahi calendar.
Takht Hazoor Sahib, venue for the main celebrations, is likely to see a galaxy of VIPs, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. This clergy and management at the Takht Hazoor Sahib have refused to follow the Akal Takht’s June edict asking all Sikhs to collectively commemorate the tercentenary as per the Nanakshahi calendar.
Former Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, who issued the edict, regrets that the Takht Hazoor Sahib authorities are not coming around to accepting the Nanakshahi calendar. “Anyhow, the community would now celebrate the occasion first in Punjab, and then at Takht Hazoor Sahib,” he added.
Former DSGMC president Harvinder Singh Sarna said they would celebrate the day in Delhi on October 20 and then join the celebrations at Takht Hazoor Sahib 10 days later.
Akal Takht acting jathedar Gurbachan Singh said this was no time to fan the controversy; the occasion would be celebrated with full religious fervour on both dates. Former Akal Takht jathedar Ranjit Singh blamed “hasty implementation” of the Nanak-shahi calendar for the divide.
b_ajay@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}