|
November 24, 2010 | Sikh bodies divided over change in Guru Tegh Bahadur martyrdom date |
Amritsar:Representative institutions of the Sikh community are divided over a move by the Akal Takht to change the original date of the day Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh spiritual master, was martyred.
According to the Nanakshahi Calendar, Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom was to be
celebrated on November 24, but Giani Gurbachan Singh, the Jathedar of the Akal
Takht, has asked the community to observe it on December 10. Giani Gurbachan Singh
said that the change of date was made after the Akal Takht had received several
requests from across the world. He said the change was only applicable for the
current year only. He also informed that the SGPC is observing the Guru Tegh Bahadur
Martyrdom Day today. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and
several other institutions have made arrangements to observe the martyrdom day
today. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Commiittee (PSGPC) is also observing
Guru Tegh Bahadur martyrdom day today. The reason behind the change of date is
that Sikhs have just now celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on
November 21, and the Akal Takht and some members of the Sikh community were apparently
not keen on observing a martyrdom day three days later. This is the second time
that the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur has been changed by the Akal Takht,
the Sikh community's highest temporal seat. Sikh bodies, including the Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), the main body of the Sikhs has opted to
refer to the "Nanakshahi Calendar" to avoid confusion over dates for all Sikh
occasions. In view of the Akal Takht's decision, the Punjab Government is now
expected to declare December 10 as the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur and
not November 24. The day will be a holiday. Dr. Pritpal Singh, the convener of
the American Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (AGPC) said: "Any change made in the
Nanakshahi Calender, which was adopted in 2003, could not be accepted by the community
till due process is taken". He categorically said that the change of original
dates of various Sikh occasions creates and spreads confusion.
|
|
|
|
Visit Indian Travel Sites
Goa,
Kerala,
Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh,
Delhi,
Rajasthan,
Uttar Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh,
Assam,
Sikkim,
Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh,
Jammu & Kashmir
Gujarat
Puducherry
|