Rituals were overlooked, implies Golden Temple Head Granthi Giani Raghbir Singh
Amidst allegations of breach of protocol during the initiation ceremony of newly appointed Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Golden Temple Head Granthi Giani Raghbir Singh broke his silence, albeit in a subdued manner.
Specifically mentioning that he would not like to rake up the issue yet, he indirectly stated that the norms were overlooked by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) during the customary ‘taajposhi’ (initiation) ceremonies.
Earlier, Giani Harpreet Singh, who was unceremoniously dismissed from the services of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib was vocal about the flouting of the ‘century-old Sikh maryada’ during the programmes.
The SGPC, which is the appointing authority of Takht Jathedars, had terminated the services of Giani Raghbir Singh as Jathedar of the Akal Takht and Giani Sultan Singh was relieved from the service of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. However, their services as ‘head granthi’ and ‘granthi’ of the Golden Temple remained intact.
Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj was appointed the Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and was entrusted with the officiating charge of the Akal Takht. He had quietly assumed the charges of both the Takhts on Monday.
On both occasions, Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh were conspicuous by their absence.
Talking to mediapersons today, Giani Raghbir Singh said, “I will not answer the questions that could create an uproar and dent the dignity of the Sikh Temporal seats. Yet, many telephonic queries had poured in from all over the globe about the ‘maryada’ (tenets) of initiation of Takht Jathedars which I was ready to respond to,” he said.
He explained that when the Akal Takht Jathedar assumes the charge in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the SGPC announces the ‘taajposhi’ programme, releases advertisements in the media to apprise the Sikh community, special invitations are sent to the Sikh organisations, Panth, Taksal and Dal Panth institutions, ‘udasis’, ‘nirmale’ and ‘sampradayas’ for it is a ‘celebratory’ occasion.
“As per the rituals, in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, kirtan and gurmat samagams are organised. After the ‘ardas’, the ‘hukumnama’ is taken. The formal announcement is made amidst the ‘jaikaras’ to endorse the appointment of the Jathedar of the concerned Takht. When the initiation ceremony commences, the first ‘dastaar’ (turban) is presented by the Golden Temple’s Head Granthi, followed by the representatives of other Takhts, SGPC, SAD, Chief Khalsa Diwan and representatives of various Sikh and Nihang Singh ‘jathebandis’, Taksal and Sikh ‘sampradayas’ as a mark of respect and their acknowledgement to the appointment.”
He said, “Similarly, when the jathedar of other Takhts take over the office, the ‘chithi’ (message) of ‘matta’ (SGPC’s resolution) is read out by the Akal Takht Jathedar only from the Akal Takht to deliver the message to the Sikh community.”
