Amritsar, Punjab: Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib, announced that Guru Gobind Singh ji’s Parkash Gurpurb will be celebrated on December 28 as per the amended Nanakshahi calendar.
Earlier, the Sikh Jathedars had decided to celebrate Gurpurb on January 7.
“We have received a number of e-mails, saying preparations for celebrating the event on December 28 had already been made,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh, clarifying that he was in favour of making the necessary amendments in the calendar so as to clear all confusion once and for all. He said he had already suggested setting up a panel comprising experts and Sikh intellectuals to resolve the issue.
Last week, the Sikh Jathedars had decided to change the Guprurb’ date from December 28 to January 7 in view of the fact that it coincided with the Martyrdom Day of the Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji.
Sources said the SGPC too had suggested January 5 as the alternative date for celebrating Gurpurab, but the Sikh jathedars had opted for January 7.
Nanakshahi Calendar Issue:
The Nanakshahi Calendar is a Sikh Calendar which was prepared by Sikh scholar Pal Singh Purewal. It was adopted for the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee after approval of Akal Takht Sahib in 2003. The calendar was widely accepted by the global Sikh community. Only few seminaries such as the Sant Samaj had expressed reservation over the calendar. As the Nanakshahi Calendar was considered to be a symbol of separate Sikh identity. Hindutva bodies such as RSS were also trying to dilute the significance of the Sikh Calendar.
Under pressure from the Sant Samaj, Hindutva forces and as per the directions of the it’s controlling party – Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), the SGPC drastically amended the Nanakshahi Calendar in 2010.
But a large section of the Sikhs, especially the Sikh diaspora, refused to accept the amended version. Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee and American Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee were two prominent Sikh bodies who declared to follow the original Sikh calendar.
The original Nanakshahi Calendar was based on solar calculations whereas the amended version is based on lunar calculations. After the 2010 the dates of various important events started to change ever year.
2010 Amended – a source of confusion:
According to amended version of the Nanakshahi Calendar the Parkash Gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh Ji arrived on 28 December this year which coincides the last day of Fatehgarh Sahib Shaheedi Sabha that is observed in the memory of martyrdom of younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Recently Akal Takht Jathedar change the date of Gurpurb to 7 January. As per original Nanakshahi Calendar the Parkash Gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh Ji falls on 5 January every year.
The demand of restoration of original Nanakshahi Calendar is growing stronger.