- Jathedar, Akal Takht Sahib gives message to Sikh Qaum
- Panthic personalities including SGPC President Advocate Dhami attended congregation
Amritsar: Bandi Chhor Diwas was celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib. The Sangat (pilgrims) from the country and abroad expressed their devotion and reverence towards the Guru after paying obeisance. During the Gurmat Samagam (religious congregation) dedicated to Bandi Chhor Diwas, prominent raagis, dhadis, kavishars, preachers and poets connected the Sangat with Gurbani Kirtan and history at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall.
On this occasion, like every year in his address from Darshani Deorhi Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh congratulated the Sikh community on Bandi Chhor Diwas and gave the message to fight the challenges facing the Sikhs with unity.
Jathedar said Sikhs living patit lifestyle (not following the Sikh code of conduct), drugs, the declining Sikh population in India, and migrating trend of Sikh youth are signs of a future crisis, about which, the community has to be aware.
He said the so-called pastors are spreading pakhandwad (exorcism) in the guise of Christianity on the land of Punjab, and are converting and exploiting innocent Sikhs physically, economically, and mentally and the government's silence on this matter is a serious concern.
Giani Harpreet Singh also emphasized the need to work together for the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners) and said that to open closed ears of the Indian government, the non-resident Indian (NRI) Sikhs should hold protests besides making efforts for the release of Bandi Singh through their governments.
He also asked all the Panthic sides to work together for strengthening Sikh organisations against the government's attempt to weaken the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). He said that the religious, educational, and humanitarian activities of SGPC are strengthening the society and efforts are necessary to make them more substantial.
Jathedar, Akal Takht Sahib said that for Panthic unity, only political unity is not important but all sides of Panth should start constructive work/projects to take the Sikh community forward with a minimal work plan.
He questioned the misuse of social media and said that if it is not used to defame each other, then only good work can be possible.
Giani Harpreet Singh said the governments failed to stop the deadly attack of drugs on society and therefore, there is a need to form village-level committees to solve this problem of failure of governments to stop the use of drugs and break the drug trade's organizational structure. "It is a matter of serious concern that the Centre and Punjab governments have not succeeded in stopping trade and use of drugs despite using all of their means and power", said Giani Harpreet Singh.
Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh also asked everyone to fulfill their own responsibility against caste discrimination, environment preservation, and social evils.
Expressing concern about the low interest in reading among Sikh children, he said that Panthic institutions should encourage children so that they succeed in competitive examinations and join the administrative, armed force, foreign, and other high services in the country and abroad, to be the honour of the community. He also asked to fulfill Panthhic responsibility by helping needy children for their higher education.
On this occasion, Head Granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib Giani Jagtar Singh and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh congratulated the pilgrims on Bandi Chhor Diwas and informed them about the history of this day and inspired them to contribute to work for the Chardi Kala (rising spirit) of the Panth in the light of Sikh traditions and customs. Meanwhile, Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh honoured the leaders and representatives of Nihang Singh organisations and sampradas at Akal Takht Sahib.
Present on this occasion included SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, Shiromani Panth Akali Buddha Dal head Baba Balbir Singh, chief spokesman Giani Sukhdev Singh on behalf of Damdami Taksal head Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, Baba Nagar Singh on behalf of Baba Nihal Singh Harian Velan, Dal Baba Bidhi Chand head Baba Avtar Singh Sursingh, head of Tarna Dal Baba Gajan Singh, Baba Manmohan Singh Baranwale, Baba Naurang Singh, Lakha Singh, Baba Jassa Singh, Bhai Amarjit Singh Maskin, head granthis of Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurmukh Singh, Giani Malikit Singh, Dhadi Giani Tarsem Singh Moranwali, SGPC members Surjit Singh Bhittewad, Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Bhai Ajaib Singh Abhyasi, Jagsir Singh Mangeana, Amarjit Singh Bhalaipur, Gurnam Singh Jasal, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, additional secretary Sukhminder Singh, Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, Bijai Singh, Harjit Singh Lalughuman, Gurmeet Singh Buttar, Manager Sulakhan Singh Bhangali, superintendent Malkeet Singh Beharwal, in-charge Shahbaz and more.