The Sikhs in Pakistan accept the supremacy the Akal Takht and agree to go by directions from the faith's highest temporal seat in celebrating or observing important religious events, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has stated.
The statement issued at the SGPC headquarters here on Tuesday was conveyed to the committee's eight-member team on its second day of Pakistan tour. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar leads that delegation.
After meeting at Lahore on Monday, the delegation on Tuesday reached Nanakana Sahib, where the members met the region's Sikh leaders and Makkar addressing a gathering at the birthplace of Guru Nanak, explaining to it the importance of the Akal Takht.
Makkar called for consensus on the dates of important Sikh festivals and solemn occasions. "The SGPC followed the Akal Takht directions on this," he said.
The SGPC follows Nanakshahi calendar amended in 2009, while its Pakistani counterpart goes by the original datebook of 2003. Often it has confused Pakistan High Commission in Delhi when pilgrims have asked for visa to be able to visit the gurdwaras in Pakistan on important occasions.
Keen to solve the issue, Makkar and his team had called upon the Sikhs of Pakistan to accept the supremacy of the Takht. "The Sikh 'sangat' of Pakistan gave its approval," said Makkar in a message from Pakistan.
{{/usCountry}}Keen to solve the issue, Makkar and his team had called upon the Sikhs of Pakistan to accept the supremacy of the Takht. "The Sikh 'sangat' of Pakistan gave its approval," said Makkar in a message from Pakistan.
{{/usCountry}}The SGPC stated that former Pakistan SGPC presidents Mastaan Singh and Sham Singh were among the people had approved the suggestion at Nanakana Sahib in the presence of the representatives of many Pakistani Sikh groups.