Anand Karaj At Banqueting Suites And Party At Gurdwara Hall Re-Arranged

[Satkaar]

Press Release & Sangat Update

UK, 3 September 2011

www.SatkaarCampaign.blogspot.com

Anand Karaj at Banqueting Suites and Party at Gurdwara Hall re-arranged

Anti-Sikh practice re-emerging in the UK

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Over the past two weeks, the UK Sikh Sangat has worked with wedding organisers, venues and family members to successfully re-arrange two weddings where the Sacred Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj was to be taken to Banqueting Suites. The weddings were scheduled for 27^th August and 4^th September in Berkshire and Surrey. We are grateful to those who co-operated and realised the importance of maintaining Sikh Rehit Maryada (Sikh religious protocol) and avoiding further offence to Sikh sentiments.

It is disheartening to realise that this anti-Sikh practice is re-emerging, the UK Sikh Sangat are urged to continue to promote wider awareness of the 1998 Hukamnama release by Sri Akal Takht Sahib forbidding the worldwide Sikh community to tolerate the Sacred Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji being taken to hotels, clubs, pubs, banqueting halls and other places where meat, alcohol & cigarettes are served and consumed. Additionally, the 2006 Sandesh states that Anand Karajs must be performed in Gurdwaras in accordance to Gurmat and the Panthic accepted Sikh Rehit Maryada.

It is also the Sikh Granthi (priest) and Gurdwara Committee's responsiblity to be aware of Sikh Rehit Maryada and advise families against doing an Anand Karaj outside of the Gurdwara. As previously experienced, there are a small number of Granthis who are willing to take the sacred saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to party halls and banqueting suites for solely monetary gains. We have also received unconfirmed reports of an Anand Karaj that took place at a banqueting hall in Ilford, around 4 weeks ago, which we are currently investigating.

Further, the Satkaar Campaign was informed about a booking for a party taken by a Gurdwara committee which had previously publically announced its decision to stop the consumption of meat and alcohol on Gurdwara property. Sevadaars undertook discussions and negotiations with the President and General Secretary of the Gurdwara committee. Through involvement from the Gurdwara Committee, this oversight was rectified and the family re-arranged their party to another venue. Again we would like to thank all those involved who co-operated and realised the importance of maintaining Sikh Rehit Maryada.

The Satkaar Campaign's Sevadaars feel that it is now more important than ever that the UK Sikh Sangat unites to voice its concern that the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib is being undermined and Satkaar for Sri Guru Granth Ji Maharaaj is deteriorating. As we have said all along, it is the duty of every Sikh to be alert on these issues. Collectively, nothing can stop the UK Sangat on this issue, since Gurmat is firmly on our side.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

[genie]

Ignorance by people is amazing. Arent these fools taught the basics of Sikhism?

Get those who organise the anand karaj's and make it clear to them what their duties and where they can hold these ceremonies. Perhaps a national body / register of them would help to clamp down on anti-sikh practises.

[Lion of Punjab]

familys shoud be named and shamed -

[Khalsa04]

No families should not be named and shamed; instead they should be educated and provided proper reasoning and justification as to why this practice is wrong.

I've seen too many times that people meaning well have angrily tried to force somebody to believe their view or opinion and it leaves the other people even more determined to go against them.

We need to be professional in our approach and echo tue true sentiments of Sikhi by teaching people the right way.

[SarabhaPanjab]

most the famlies who do this are just naive, and see sense quite quickly. Although there are some right #%@#&'s too.

The Gianis should be named and shame. If they work for a Gurdwara, and the Gurdwara authorised it, then the committee should be named and shame too.

There should be banned Giani's list, not made public, but for Gurdwaras, jathedhars etc

It's very easy for a Giani to do beadbi in london for example, and easily find a job in a Guru Ghar up north, especially in areas where there are isolated Sangat.

[good]

The family should be name and shamed on tv!

[m4ndy]

The family should be name and shamed on tv!

I agree!!!

Does anyone remember that video that was aired on raaj tv where the anand karaj took place in the party hall and everyone got exposed on TV?

Just to add how can families not know the importance of taking the sacred saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji anywhere other than the Gurdwara complex?

Those granthis that carry out such an act should be exposed for doing beadbi and sacked on his duties.

[simran345]

WJKK WJKF

No families should not be named and shamed, they should be educated, nobody is perfect, and there are lots of people out there who do not the importance of taking Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji home. So they need to be educated, the gurdwara should take up this role.

Why should the families be named and shamed when the gurdwara committee has allowed this to happen. They are the ones that should be talked to.

IF one does anything with anger and immaturitey, then that is what they will get back. It can happen to anybody, so they should be guided.

[SantLUCIFER]

These family members are naive, but those so called 'Gianis' that are approached why on earth are they not saying in each Gurdwara that sorry but we don't take Maharaaj to halls etc etc? they just want the maya!

[SinghWarrior]

Very sad state of affairs. Everyone goes on about beadbi in India, but very few people are willing to actually do anything on beadbi issues in England!