Sikh high priests declare ‘religious emergency’ in Punjab, call for intensified preaching

AMRITSAR: Describing the situation in Punjab as a "religious emergency", the five Sikh high priests on Tuesday directed all the Sikh preachers to return to the state and adopt 10 villages each for preaching over the next four months.
The resolution in this regard was adopted in a meeting of the five Sikh high priests, including the officiating jathedar of the Akal Takht and jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Kuldep Singh Gargaj.
The others who participated in the meeting included head granthi of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Joginder Singh; head granthi of Akal Takht, Malkit Singh; head granthi of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Jagtar Singh; and panj pyara of Sri Akal Takht, Mangal Singh. The meeting was held at the Akal Takht secretariat here.
Expressing a dire need to intensify dharam parchar (religious preaching) in Punjab, the Sikh clergy called upon the Sikh preachers, ragis, dhadis, and kaveeshars to return to Punjab, setting aside their tours within the country and abroad and select 10 villages and dedicate the next four months to preaching in those areas with full commitment.
Aiming to impart maximum knowledge of the Sikh values to children and deepen their love for Sikhism, the Sikh high priests, in another resolution, unanimously directed every Sikh to encourage the revival of the tradition of narrating stories related to the Guru and Sikh history at home, half an hour before bedtime, along with reciting nitnem (daily prayers).
The Sikh high priests also imposed a ban on the participation of Giani Iqbal Singh, the former jathedar of Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib, in the panthic activities and ceremonies due to mistakes he committed in the past, despite his seeking forgiveness for those errors.
The Sikh priests said complaints against him continued to pour in. Consequently, they have directed him to appear before Sri Akal Takht to present his side and clear himself of the allegations.
Regarding the portrayal of revered Sikh personalities in movies, the Sikh high priests said they would hold a meeting with Sikh scholars and intellectuals in near future and make a decision accordingly.