Chandigarh: Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of the Sikhs, has issued a circular asking gurdwaras across the state to ensure that the colour of the Nishan Sahib is either basanti (xanthic) or surmai (blue).
The move comes in the wake of complaints received from Sikh organisations that in many gurdwaras, the colour being used for the cloth to cover the Nishan Sahib is kesari (saffron) instead of basanti. Saffron, according to the complainants, denotes the Hindu religion or the Sanatan Dharma, and not Sikhism.
The Nishan Sahib is a triangular flag with a tassel, hoisted on a long pole in gurudwara complexes across the world. The pole is also covered with a cloth. The flag design includes the symbol of the ‘Khanda’ in the centre on a xanthic yellow or a blue background. The Khanda is a Sikh symbol comprising a double-edged sword, two single-edged swords and a chakkar (a round metallic weapon). The long flagpole used to hoist the flag is also topped with a Khanda.
The circular, dated 26 July, issued by the Dharam Parchaar Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) states that the matter was taken up during the meeting of the jathedars of the five takhts (seats of power) of the Sikhs held on 15 July, and it has been decided that the colour of the cloth to cover the Nishan Sahib should be in accordance with the Rehat Maryada, or the code of conduct for the Sikhs approved by the SGPC.
Section 3 of Chapter 4 of the Rehat Maryada says, “At a high-level site in every gurdwara should be installed the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag). The cloth of the flag should be either of xanthic or of greyish blue colour and on top of the flag post, there should either be a spearhead or a Khanda (a straight dagger with convex side edges leading to slanting top edges ending in a vertex).”
Addressing media persons following the move, Bhagwant Singh Dhangera, manager Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple, Amritsar), said that there was a lot of confusion in the Sikh community about the colour of the Nishan Sahib. “In order to put that confusion to rest, it is clarified to everyone concerned the colour of be Nishan Sahib should be in strict accordance with the Rehat Maryada,” said Dhangera.
Talvinder Singh, media communications in-charge of the jathedar of the Akal Takht, told ThePrint Monday that in some complaints it was said that the saffron is a colour that denotes the Hindu religion or the Sanatan Dharam and not Sikhism. “The instructions have been issued in order to ensure uniformity across the board in all the gurdwaras,” he said.
According to Sikh historical sources, the Nishan Sahib was first unfurled by the 6th Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Singh, in 1606. It was yellow in colour to represent spirituality and the martial spirit. After Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs, instituted the Khalsa in 1699, he introduced the blue flag which continues to be the colour of the flags used by the Nihang Sikhs. Later emblems were designed on the flags. For several decades, the Nishan Sahib had a dagger, a shield and a sword on it. In the 19th century, these emblems were replaced by the Khanda which continues to be used till date.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhari)