Punjab minister Bains cleans devotees' footwear as part of 'tankah' for Srinagar event

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains today undertook ‘tankah’ (religious atonement) at Gurudwara Shishganj Sahib in Anandpur Sahib. The "tankah" was imposed by five Sikh high priests, including the officiating Jathedar of the Akal Takht, for permitting song and dance during an event commemorating Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 350th martyrdom anniversary in Srinagar — an act deemed a violation of Sikh maryada (code of conduct).

As part of the penalty, Bains was ordered to undertake a barefoot pilgrimage: walking from the Golden Temple to Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, visiting Gurdwara Kotha Sahib and Gurdwara Baba Bakala, and offering prayers at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi. He was also directed to perform two days of sewa (voluntary service) including cleaning devotees’ footwear and sweeping the gurdwara premises in Anandpur Sahib, offer a deg (karah prasad) worth Rs 1,100, and join in ardas seeking forgiveness. Additionally, he is to repair and maintain roads leading to these sacred sites — a first in incorporating infrastructure work into such religious atonement.

Bains, accepting the Tankah with humility, expressed that as a devout Sikh, he would fulfill all directives to seek forgiveness and uphold Sikh traditions. Devotees witnessed his service seeing the act as a powerful reaffirmation of humility and reverence.