AMRITSAR: Three meetings of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of its Dharam Prachar Committee, Sikh Itihas Research Board and Education Committee were held today at Sri Guru Ramdas University of Health Sciences Vallah in Sri Amritsar under the presidentship of Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami.
During this, along with the outline for preaching the Sikh faith, new publications of Sikh history literature and matters of educational institutions were discussed.
While talking to media persons here today after the meetings, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that in Sri Harmandar Sahib and other historical Gurdwaras, a large number of Rumalas (sacred cloth for covering Guru Granth Sahib) are offered by the Sangat (community + devotees) as reverence and respect, but often the quality and standard of the Rumalas are not good. And also, there is a big problem in safekeeping due to the abundance of Rumalas.
In view of this, after discussion, it has been decided that special counters will be set up inside the Gurdwaras, where the Sangat will be able to deposit offerings for Rumalas as per their will.
He appealed to the Sangat to get a receipt by depositing offerings for Rumalas as per their devotion at the counters being set up and show the receipt inside the Guru’s Darbar (sanctum sanctorum) for Ardas (Sikh prayers) offering.He said that the offering for Rumalas will be used for the bright future of the community.
He also informed that the efforts initiated in the past to ensure the use of Siropao (robe of honour) as per its spirit and religious significance will be implemented more diligently. It will be limited to religious and Panthic personalities only.
Advocate Dhami informed about other decisions that the 400th birth centenary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh's mother Gujar Kaur will be celebrated on November 22 this year at Gurdwara Gangsar Sahib Kartarpur in Jalandhar with Panthic grandeur.
In the meeting of the Dharam Prachar Committee, a resolution was passed to impose a complete ban on the online sale of Gutka Sahib and Pothis (holy scripture) of Gurbani on various e-commerce websites and Apps.
Advocate Dhami said that this matter is very serious because it pertains to the dignity and respect of Gurbani.
He said that in the resolution passed today, the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib has been appealed to issue guidelines to the community in this regard after the meeting of five Singhs (Jathedars), so that this phenomenon can be stopped.
Those present during the meetings included SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, senior vice president Harbhajan Singh Masana, junior vice president Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh Khalsa, general secretary Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, member of Dharam Prachar Committee Bhai Ajaib Singh Abhyasi, Sukhwarsh Singh Pannu, Tejinderpal Singh Ladwa, Pritpal Singh, Rampal Singh Bahniwal, Manjit Singh Bapiana, SGPC member Gurmeet Singh Booh, Ajmer Singh Khera, Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Gurbachan Singh Karmunwala, Gurlal Singh, Gurnam Singh Jassal, members of Sikh Itihas Research Board Dr Paramvir Singh, Dr Inderjit Singh Gogoani, Harvinder Singh Khalsa, Dr Prabhjot Kaur, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, secretary Sukhminder Singh, Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, dean of the university Dr AP Singh, assistant secretary Gurdial Singh, Shahbaz Singh, Gurcharan Singh Kuhala, Harbhajan Singh Vakta, assistant director education Bibi Satwant Kaur, in-charge Dr Jogeshwar Singh, Karaj Singh, Gurpratap Singh and Baldev Singh and others.