Chandigarh, Apr 21 (IANS) — Joginder Singh Vedanti, the head priest of the Akal Takht in Amritsar, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, has approved the Nanakshahi calendar that was released on April 14 on the occasion of Baisakhi.
The calendar has got approval from the head priests of two other temporal seats, Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib in Punjab.
However, head priests of two temporal seats outside Punjab, at Takht Patna Sahib in Bihar and Takht Hazoor Sahib in Maharashtra have refused to accept the calendar due to functional difficulties.
Vedanti said if there were any differences of opinion among the head priests with regard to implementing the Nanakshahi calendar, it would be sorted out amicably.
He said the calendar was implemented after discussions among the 11 Sikh leaders. Vedanti added the head priests from Bihar and Maharashtra were also invited to the meeting but failed to make it.
“I will try to clear any doubts in the minds of the other head priests,” Vedanti told IANS, adding the new calendar would be honoured on May 10.
But Kulwant Singh, head priest of Takht Hazoor Sahib in Maharashtra, said the five head priests had resolved to follow the old calendar and this could not be unilaterally changed.
The Nanakshahi calendar, which fixes new dates for the birth and death anniversaries of the 10 Sikh gurus, was drawn up by Canada-based Pal Singh Urewal.
However, reservations have been expressed for listing as “martyrdom days” the death anniversary of the two assassins of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has also expressed reservations on implementing the Nanakshahi calendar, which shows dates for Sikh festivals that are different from the traditional Vikrami calendar.
“The Nanakshahi calendar would lead to confusion on historical days,” a Punjab government spokesman said.
Satinder Bains
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