Islamabad (Jun 11, 2013): AS per information about a thousand Sikhs arrived in Hassanabdal on June 11, 2013 to participate in the 10-day ongoing “Shaheedi Jorr Mela” that is being held to observe 407th martyrdom day of fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
As per media report the government of Pakistan has made elaborate arrangements for the security of the Sikh yatrees, besides ensuring their boarding, lodging, medical and travelling facilities.
Gurudwara Dera Sahib Lahore
It is notable that Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has also sent a Jatha to Pakistan to observe the martyrdom day. Whereas the same samgam is to be held on June 16; it is learnt that the SGPC jatha would hold a separate function observing the martyrdom day on June 12. Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (PSGPC) shall observe the day on June 16.
As per media reports the SGPC jatha would return to Punjab/India on June 13 without participating in June 16 Shaheedi Samagam.
It may be recalled that Sikhs had adopted a Sikh calendar, called Nanakshahi Calendar in 2003. Some sections of Sant Samaj (an umbrella organization of Sikh preachers) had some reservations about the Sikh calendar, as they were in favor of observing traditional Bikrami calendar.
In 2011 Sant Samaj entered in an agreement with Badal Dal, ruling party of Punjab, to help Badal Dal in regaining control over SGPC and in return, inter alia, the Badal Dal shall make sure that Sikh calendar is changed to fulfil demands of Sant Samaj. In September 2011 general elections Badal Dal regained control over SGPC and the Sikh calendar was tempered with to satisfy demands of Sant Samaj.
Many Sikh sections were opposed to the amendments in the Sikh calendar and bodies like PSGPC, American Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (ASGPC) and Dal Khalsa refused to accept the amended version of calendar.
Therefore, this year two samagams are being held at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore to observe martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Sahib. The tussle between the management committees has caused confusion among the Sikh Sangat.