AMRITSAR, Dec 16 — Putting the controversy surrounding the ‘Nanakshahi calendar’ at rest, the Punjab Government has declared holidays on the basis of the ‘Bikrami Samvat’ as recommended by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. With this, yet another decision taken during the time of Bibi Jagir Kaur stands reversed.

It was the ‘Nanakshahi calendar’ authored by Canada based Pal Singh Purewal which became the basis for the removal of Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar, Akal Takht, on March 28. It is pertinent to mention here that the ‘Nanakshahi calendar’ was implemented by general house of the SGPC when Bibi Jagir Kaur was the SGPC chief.

However, Giani Puran Singh had imposed a ban on the implementation of the controversial Nanakshahi jantri’ till the issue was resolved by Sikh scholars. Despite the ban, Bibi Jagir Kaur had implemented the ‘Nanakshahi jantri’ for which she was (ex-communicated) from the Panth on January 25 through a controversial ‘hukamnama’ which she never accepted.

When contacted, Mr Harcharan Bains, media adviser to Chief Minister, and Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, SGPC Secretary, said the holidays had been declared as per the directive of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, who had asked that Gurpurbs be observed on the basis of the traditional calendar till the issue was resolved by the Sikh scholars.

On the basis of the Bikrami calendar, the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh would be celebrated on January 2 by the state government and the SGPC.

Since the Sikh scholars have failed to reach any conclusion on the ‘jantri issue’, confusion prevails among the Sikh masses over the celebrations of birth anniversaries of Gurus. Akal Takht has been receiving letters from Sikhs all over the world seeking clarification on this issue.

The issue had virtually divided the Sikhs in India and abroad last year. Though the controversial ‘Nanakshahi jantri’ was published by the SGPC during the time of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, yet it was implemented by Bibi Jagir Kaur.