Sikh News

Nanakshahi Calendar issue is in focus again: Pakistan Gurdwara Committee to convene ‘Sikh Convention’

November 21, 2014 | By Parmjeet Singh

Amritsar, Punjab: The issue Nanakshahi Calendar is once again in focus. The Pakistan Sikh Grudwara Prabhandal Committee (PSGPC) is reportedly preparing to hold a ‘Sikh Conference’ at Nankana Sahib this issue. PSGPC was set to hold the convention on Parkash Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Ji but it was postponed after the participants faced visa issues.

PSGPC member Gian Singh said that PSGPC has decided to revive it’s plans to the ‘Sikh Conference’ on the issue of Nanakshahi Calendar. He said that the dates of the conference will be announced soon.

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.

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Related Topics: Nanakshahi Calendar, PSGPC, SGPC, Sikhs in Pakistan

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