Sikh Diaspora objects as SGPC makes changes in NanakShahi Calendar

Amritsar, Jan.11 (ANI): Heads of various Gurdwaras situated in the United States and Canada have expressed their resentment over the changes made in the NanakShahi Calendar, the only Sikh calendar, by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak committee (SGPC), the premier body of the Sikhs, in meet held at Fremont (San Francisco) on Sunday.

The meet lasted for three hours, during which the heads of various Sikh organizations expressed their objection to the changes made by SGPC recently in NanakShahi calendar.

Following the meet, a resolution was passed by the heads said that as far as more than 25 Gurdwaras' head that were unable to reach at Fremont Gurdwara for the meeting have sent their consent to the resolution.

The organizers claimed that they are consonantly in touch with other heads of the organizations situated in various countries of the world.

The resolution says that the various Gurdwara out rightly rejected that the amendments made to the NanakShahi Calendar, which was made without taking appropriate processors. In a meeting all the heads agreed to observe all the Sikh gurpurbs according to the old NanakShahi calendar that was adopted by the Sikh panth (community) on April 14, 2003.

Talking to ANI from the U.S over phone, Dr. Pritpal Singh, convener American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) said, "We would urge Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, to reconsider the appeal of the Sikh Diaspora to cancel the amendments which was recommended by the SGPC since neither the consensus was made in the community nor the right processor was adopted before the changes were made in the NanakShahi calendar."

Dr. Singh informed that the AGPC, with the assistance of other organization, is holding an international seminar on March 13 where internationally renowned experts on the calendar including Pal Singh, the founder of NanakShahi calendar, Mr. Casside from Berkeley would participate. He informed that they would celebrate the New year on March 14 as per the Nanakshahi Calender adopted in 2004. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)