Amritsar, Aug 26 (PTI) Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj on Wednesday appealed to the Sikh community worldwide to hold prayers on August 29 for the ‘Chardi Kala’ (high spirits) and release of the Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners).
He said similar to the programme planned by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the ‘Sikh sangat’ and gurdwara management committees across the world should also organise prayers at their respective places on August 29.
Recalling Sikh history, the jathedar (head priest) said that when the Sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, was detained in the Gwalior Fort, Baba Buddha Sahib and Bhai Gurdas had organised ‘Shabd Chaunkis’ (singing Gurbani in a group on the move), which helped strengthen the morale and spirit of the Sikh community.
“At that time too, Sikhs took refuge in the Shabd Guru, and today the Sikh community continues to draw strength from Guru Granth Sahib,” the jathedar said.
He appealed to the global Sikh community to express solidarity on August 29 by offering prayers for the ‘Chardi Kala’ and release of the Bandi Singhs.
He said the principle of ‘Ardas’ (Sikh prayer) holds immense spiritual power in ‘Sikhi’ and that an Ardas made before the Guru with complete faith is sure to bear fruit.
Many ‘Bandi Singhs’ have remained imprisoned for three decades or more and that the human rights of Sikhs are being violated through discriminatory policies and double standards adopted by governments, he stated.
He called upon the entire Sikh community to unite under the guidance of Akal Takht Sahib and raise its voice globally against such injustice.
He said that as part of the programmes announced by the SGPC, ‘Akhand Path Sahib’ will commence at gurdwaras on August 27, followed by ‘Ardas’ for the ‘Bandi Singhs’ after the ‘bhog’ (concluding ceremony) on August 29.
He appealed to all gurdwara management committees, apart from those under the SGPC, to similarly commence Sri Akhand Path Sahib and organise Ardas programmes on August 29.
“If it is not possible to commence Akhand Path Sahib, every gurdwara should conduct Gurbani recitation and definitely offer Ardas for the Bandi Singhs on August 29,” the Jathedar said. PTI JMS CHS NB NB
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