Chandigarh: Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary prevails confusion among Sikh Community. Confusion prevails over the date of birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh due to the calendar row. As per the original Nanakshahi calendar, Gurpurb falls on January 5, but as per its amended version, the occasion falls on December 25. As an exception, the SGPC wants to extend this date to January 5, as December 25 coincides with the martyrdom days of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons.
Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh said Gurpurb was fixed on ‘Poh (Sudi 7)’, which falls on December 25 and it would be celebrated at Patna Sahib with fervour. He cautioned the SGPC not to interfere in Patna Sahib affairs which was a separate entity. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has called up the clergy meet on November 13 in which the issue would be discussed. President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Kirpal Singh Badungar, had recently proposed to the Akal Takht to thus change the date of the birth anniversary to January 5.
According to the Nanakshahi calendar that was introduced by the SGPC in 2003, Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary falls on January 5. However, this has been opposed by Giani Iqbal Singh, jathedar of Takht Sri Patna Sahib, one of the five temporal seats of the Sikhs, that is in the city where Guru Gobind Singh was born. Meanwhile, Harnam Singh Dhumma, who has long advocated to observe the days as per the Bikrami calendar, is silent over the issue.