Friday,
January 17, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Sikh clergy clears Nanakshahi calendar
Tribune News Service
Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, speaks to mediapersons on the clearance of the Nanakshahi calendar on Thursday. Bibi Kiranjot Kaur is also seen in the picture.
— Photo Rajiv Sharma
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Amritsar, January 16
The Sikh clergy today approved ‘Nanakshahi” calendar, prepared by Canada-based Sikh scholar, Pal Singh Purewal. However, birth and death anniversaries of the Gurus and other Sikh festivals would be observed in accordance with ‘Nanakshahi calendar’ while other common festivals of Hindus and Sikhs would continue to be celebrated as per old calendar till a final decision. The Sikhs who have been celebrating Gurpurbs and other festivals according to the Bikrami calendar for more than four centuries will now have a separate calendar. This decision was taken after the recommendations of the 11-member committee formed to resolve the issue at the Akal Takht secretariat. Except the author of the calendar all members were present in the meeting. Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal Takht pronouncing the decision said though no time-frame could be fixed yet it was likely to be implemented by April this year. On ‘Nanakshahi calendar’ the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee during presidentship of Bibi Jagir Kaur had virtually divided the Sikh Panth as Giani Puran Singh, then Jathedar, Akal Takht had banned its implementation on the demand of a section of the Sant Samaj till a consensus was arrived at. However, the SGPC violated the directives of Akal Takht by celebrating the birth
anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on January 5 as per Nanakshahi calendar. However, parallel birth anniversary was celebrated few days later in accordance with Bikrami calendar. The conflict led to the excommunication of Bibi Jagir Kaur from the Sikh Panth through a ‘hukamnama’ which she never accepted.
Ultimately, the pro-Bibi Jagir Kaur SGPC members sacked Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar Akal Takht.The foreword of the Nanakshahi calendar was written by the then SGPC chief Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra but the then Jathedar Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, had also directed to put on hold the final decision on the calendar. Even as a section of the Sant Samaj led by late Sant Mangal Singh had taken a clear stand against the implementation of the Nanakshahi calendar on the plea that it would divide Hindus and Sikhs who had been celebrating many festivals jointly, since ages. However, Mr Purewal had defended his almanac saying it was based on scientific concept of a tropical year and would help fix dates of important Sikh festivals and days as per various references in Sikh scriptures. The project was finalised after wide-ranging
discussions amongst Sikh scholars and the backing of Bibi Jagir Kaur and her predecessor Mr Tohra. In support of the Nanakshahi calendar, Mr Purewal had explained that currently Sikhs were celebrating all festivals as per Bikrami calendar (BC) which is based partially on solar principle and partially on lunar. “This was resulting in various festival dates being pushed further down the year with the passing of each year, thus negating association between certain festivals and prevalent seasons they are connected with,” he added.
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