Sikh Council Uk - Anand Karaj

[StarStriker 1,062]

Gurdwaras Agree on Anand Karaj

At a meeting held at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Southall, Gurdwaras today agreed on a number of issues regarding a consistent approach towards booking of Anand Karaj in Gurdwaras.

Sikh Council UK facilitated a meeting in partnership with Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Southall of Gurdwara parbhandaks to discuss protocols regarding Anand Karaj ceremonies.

Over 180 representatives of Gurdwaras from across the UK attended in person with written submissions from many other Gurdwaras, organisations and individuals. In a session lasting over three hours and with contributions from over 50 representatives decisions were reached on several resolutions by consensus. Resolutions agreed allow Gurdwaras to develop a consistent approach towards booking Anand Karaj ceremonies. The meeting began with Sikh Council UK Secretary General circulating and announcing details of proposals that had been put forward and that were to be debated.

Resolutions agreed include:

That all Sikhs, whether those involved in Gurdwara managements or those who have been involved in protests are all ultimately working to achieve the same ends.

That only a Sikh in accordance with the Sikh Rehat Maryada definition is allowed to be married in accordance with the Anand Karaj ceremony

That a person of non-Sikh origin who accepts the Sikh faith should demonstrate formal acceptance of this by including Singh or Kaur in their name.That any person of any community which has a historical tradition of following many tenets of the Sikh Faith and regularly engage in religious ceremonies and contribute to the Gurdwaras should be accepted for the Anand Karaj ceremony without question.Gurdwaras agree there should be put in place appropriate processes, procedures and resources to allow for education and reflection by couples prior to Anand Karaj booking being confirmed.

Sikh Council UK is requested to coordinate the development of appropriate education processes, procedures and resources for use by Gurdwaras. Sikh Council UK will involve organisations and individuals including youth organisations in this developmental work.

Those Sikhs who are involved in protests at Gurdwaras are requested to refrain from any further protests for a period of six months to allow education processes, programmes and resources to be developed and implemented by Gurdwaras.

Sikh Council UK will continue working with Gurdwaras, organisations and individuals to resolve community issues through dialogue in the best interests of the community.

-----------------------------------------

Gurinder Singh Josan

Spokesperson and

Head of Political Engagement

Sikh Council UK

E: gurinders.josan@sikhcounciluk.org

W: http://www.sikhcounciluk.org

Heres A Video Of The Events aswel

https://www.facebook.com/kul.singh.758/videos/10156047897495354/?hc_location=ufi

[Singh559 2,646]

Brilliantly done.

[Ranjeet01 2,141]

Let's just hope this resolution is followed through rather than mere lip service.

[Cisco_Singh 564]

Let's just hope this resolution is followed through rather than mere lip service.

Therein lies the problem. Rogue corrupt Gurdwara commitees who carry out sham and karaj ceremonies for monetary gain, are fully aware that there is no enforceable consequences.

I.e: sikh council, sikh federation etc are only advisory bodies that can provide guidance. If these corrupt Gurdwara commitees choose to ignore this guidance there is no legally enforceable consequences. Which is why they keep doing these sham weddings, the Akal Takht hukumnama 2007 already clarified the anand karaj issue, but these rogue masand commitee members carry on flouting the rules.

Noticeably some of the Gurdwaras this'd are the biggest offenders of sham marriages didn't even send any of their representatives to the meeting where these guidelines were agreed.

Also there are rogue individuals with there own private Gurdwaras seeing the opportunity to make some money here and offering to carry out inter faith anand karaj.

What's the solution to rogue anti panthic Gurdwara commitees ? Should Akal Takht blacklist and excommicate these Gurdwaras and their commitee members ?

[Ranjeet01 2,141]

Therein lies the problem. Rogue corrupt Gurdwara commitees who carry out sham and karaj ceremonies for monetary gain, are fully aware that there is no enforceable consequences.

I.e: sikh council, sikh federation etc are only advisory bodies that can provide guidance. If these corrupt Gurdwara commitees choose to ignore this guidance there is no legally enforceable consequences. Which is why they keep doing these sham weddings, the Akal Takht hukumnama 2007 already clarified the anand karaj issue, but these rogue masand commitee members carry on flouting the rules.

Noticeably some of the Gurdwaras this'd are the biggest offenders of sham marriages didn't even send any of their representatives to the meeting where these guidelines were agreed.

Also there are rogue individuals with there own private Gurdwaras seeing the opportunity to make some money here and offering to carry out inter faith anand karaj.

What's the solution to rogue anti panthic Gurdwara commitees ? Should Akal Takht blacklist and excommicate these Gurdwaras and their commitee members ?

These types are mere sociopaths and have no conscience in their wrong doing. What these types do care about is "showing face" and their wallets.

This is where I think these types need to be punished. They need to be publicly outed so their bhesti is done and the Gurdwaras should be fined in the tens of thousands, and commitee members personally should be fined as well.

Ultimately I think there needs to be structural changes made in types of governing institutions that run gurdwarae.

[garch 235]

Therein lies the problem. Rogue corrupt Gurdwara commitees who carry out sham and karaj ceremonies for monetary gain, are fully aware that there is no enforceable consequences.

I.e: sikh council, sikh federation etc are only advisory bodies that can provide guidance. If these corrupt Gurdwara commitees choose to ignore this guidance there is no legally enforceable consequences. Which is why they keep doing these sham weddings, the Akal Takht hukumnama 2007 already clarified the anand karaj issue, but these rogue masand commitee members carry on flouting the rules.

Noticeably some of the Gurdwaras this'd are the biggest offenders of sham marriages didn't even send any of their representatives to the meeting where these guidelines were agreed.

Also there are rogue individuals with there own private Gurdwaras seeing the opportunity to make some money here and offering to carry out inter faith anand karaj.

What's the solution to rogue anti panthic Gurdwara commitees ? Should Akal Takht blacklist and excommicate these Gurdwaras and their commitee members ?

Leamington and havelock rd didn't attend, 3 guesses where they stand on the issue.

I can see somebody eventually getting hurt for their act of beadbi.

Akal takt jathedar really ought to summon the offenders or issue an edict for sikhs to boycott these committee members (by name) before singhs need to take matters into their own hands.

[Cisco_Singh 564]

Also interesting that the Sikh council press release outlined that protests should be halted for a six month period , why ?

To appease the corrupt committees that have already taken money for interfaith marriages to take place , and to get the current tax year or of the way ?

These corrupt masand commitee members don't want to return the money they have already taken, ... They might not be able to build that extension on their house or buy that new Mercedes...

[DTF 160]

True.

Rather than having the income go towards the upkeep of our Gurdwara's and the propagation of Sikhi ...

Let's instead ensure that all such income goes instead to Mandirs, Churches, Derawad followers and corrupt Masands

[Cisco_Singh 564]

True.

Rather than having the income go towards the upkeep of our Gurdwara's and the propagation of Sikhi ...

Let's instead ensure that all such income goes instead to Mandirs, Churches, Derawad followers and corrupt Masands

The sanctity of Sikh religious ceremonies and rehit maryada are infinitely more important than the illusion of Maya I.e: money, cash, greed.

Those that forsake their ethics, principles and dharam for Maya are indeed lost.

[DTF 160]

I agree Cisco Singh that the sanctity of a Gurdwara comes first before money.

But pushing people away from Sikhi to get their marriages blessed at Mandirs and Churches and Dera scams is totally self-defeating for us as we enrich our enemies and strengthen their populations whilst weakening our own Panth's.

[StarStriker 1,062]

The new guidlines that will be implemented will be brilliant and WELL WELL overdue. Prior to anand karajs, each couple, sikh/non-sikh, will be doing a anand karaj course/test if u will, and will be tested on knowledge at the end of it. Should they not have sufficient knowledge of sikhi, gurus and anand karaj itself, they will be told no! This way, ppl who say "why shud panjabis born into sikh families get to have anand karaj, simply coz theyre born in sikh household" will have no leg to stand on, when they pull out the "discrimination" card. Also those who r non-sikhs, having been educated on sikh dharam n purpose of anand karaj will inevitably convert to the dharam, hence more educated singhs/kaurs, more converts, future kids will be sikhs and LESS/none beadbi n sham marriages. Its wat jagraj singh (BoS) has been saying for ages. Thank god its finally being implemented.

3-6 months prior to a potential anand karaj is ample time to learn and appreciate this sacred ceremony, which has been made mockery time n time again. Catholic churches and jewish synagogues have been doing this for ages, and have far more control on sanctity.

[Cisco_Singh 564]

I agree Cisco Singh that the sanctity of a Gurdwara comes first before money.

But pushing people away from Sikhi to get their marriages blessed at Mandirs and Churches and Dera scams is totally self-defeating for us as we enrich our enemies and strengthen their populations whilst weakening our own Panth's.

They are not being pushed away, they are being given the opportunity to put their ego to one side and join the path of Sikhi, if Anand Karaj is so important to them I'm sure they'll make the required commitment.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj has already outlined the level of commitment required from those that wish to walk the path of Sikhi

"'If you desire to play the game of love,

then bring me your head on the palm of your hand,

Having stepped on this path,

give your head and pay no heed to public attention'

(Guru Nanak Dev jee : Guru Granth Sahib Jee) "

[DTF 160]

They are not being pushed away, they are being given the opportunity to put their ego to one side and join the path of Sikhi, if Anand Karaj is so important to them I'm sure they'll make the required commitment.

D = If only it was that simple Cisco Singh Ji but yes i 100% support the Sikh Council's approach of education prior to marriage for all couples who desire an Anand Karaj (as that was a no-brainer advocated by many including myself long ago) with the minimum fallback position of a Sikh Marriage Blessing at a Gurdwara should sufficient knowledge or commitment not be there from one half of a couple. The key thing for us is avoiding alienating the couple and future children away from Sikhi and the local Gurdwara Sangat and thus pushing the couple away to go to Mandirs and Churches etc, which is something the Sikh Council proposal can potentially achieve from the sound of things.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj has already outlined the level of commitment required from those that wish to walk the path of Sikhi

D = Don't forget that Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj's Anand Karaj with Mata Sulakhani Ji was the first example in history of a former non-Sikh spouse being bought into Sikhi via Anand Karaj.

[Ranjeet01 2,141]

I agree Cisco Singh that the sanctity of a Gurdwara comes first before money.

But pushing people away from Sikhi to get their marriages blessed at Mandirs and Churches and Dera scams is totally self-defeating for us as we enrich our enemies and strengthen their populations whilst weakening our own Panth's.

Is there any evidence that couples from mixed relationships that have been declined Anand Karaj have had got married in Mosques, churches and Mandirs and the Sikh partner no longer goes to the Gurdwara and has changed their religion.

[DTF 160]

Is there any evidence that couples from mixed relationships that have been declined Anand Karaj have had got married in Mosques, churches and Mandirs and the Sikh partner no longer goes to the Gurdwara and has changed their religion.

Ranjeet Singh Ji i personally don't have any statistical analysis to support the common sense inference.

But let's take the case of the Walsall marriage that was blocked recently this month.

The couple just went ahead and got married at a Hindu Mandir subsequently without issue or protest.

I would hazard a guess that they might feel more welcomed by the Hindu community as a result.

And that they might feel happier bringing up their children attending Mandirs in the future as a result.