Akal Takht announces new martyrdom day for Guru Teg Bahadur
By ANITuesday, November 23, 2010
AMRITSAR - Akal Takht has put off the original date of martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth spiritual master of the Sikhs.
According to the Nanakshahi calendar the Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur was to be celebrated on November 24, but the Jathedar of Akal Takht has asked the community to observe it on December 10.
The reason behind the change of dates is that the Sikhs have just now celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak dev on November 21.
This was the second time the date of the Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur has got changed by the Akal Takht the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs.
The Sikh bodies including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) the primer body of the Sikhs has opted “Nanakshahi Calendar” to avoid confusion over the dates of the Sikhs occasions.
“Change of date was made after Akal Takht has got several request across the world and this change is for the current year only,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh, the Jathedar of Akal Takht informing that the SGPC is observing the Martyrdom day tomorrow.
It is pertinent to mention that the government of Punjab and even the SGPC earlier declares Guru’s martyrdom as holiday on Nov. 24 but the announcement of the Akal Takht Jathedar the state government may change it to December 10.
Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and many institutions that have made the arrangements for tomorrow would be observe the martyrdom day tomorrow.
DSGMC chief Parmjit Singh Sarna, while talking to Asian News International (ANI) said that the change in original dates creates confusion in the community however the DSGMC would observe the day on its original day at the historical Sikh shrines “Sisganj Sahib” tomorrow.
“Any change that was made in the Nanakshahi Calander, which was adopted in 2003, could not be accepted by the community till the due processor would taken,” said American Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (AGPC) Convenor Dr. Pritpal Singh.
He categorically said that change of the original dates of the Sikh occasion would prevail the confusion.
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Commiittee (PSGPC) is also observing the Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur tomorrow. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)
