Now, book ‘akhand path’ at Golden Temple online

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 9

In a first, the SGPC has introduced an online booking facility for ‘akhand path’ at the Golden Temple.

Earlier, only manual booking process was being followed. Now, a new website has been launched by SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, who insisted on keeping a special provision for the online booking of ‘akhand path’. “The SGPC was already running an online facility for the sangat to book rooms at the ‘sarai’ (inn) on the Golden Temple premises but now, it will also be possible to book ‘akhand path’ on the new website. Apart from this, the sangat will also be able to book in advance the service of ragi jathas online,” the SGPC president said. The move will also put a cap on ‘obliging’ the VVIPs by giving them out-of-turn opportunity to hold prayers as well as control corruption as the process will be more transparent. The ‘bheta’ (offering) for booking the 48-hour ceremony performed by the Sikh priests on behalf of the devotee is Rs 8,500.

Golden Temple manager Mukhtiar Singh said the online link had been added on the new website — www.sgpcamritsar.org — but it would take at least two weeks to get the process fully functional.