The Panj Pyaras (five beloved ones of the guru), who have been reinstated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), will continue to perform the ‘amrit sanchar’ (baptism) ceremony. However, they won’t be a part of the baptism ceremony to be held on Wednesday at the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism.
On some media reports about they have been transferred to the ‘Dharam Prachar’ section of the SGPC, Giani Satnam Singh Khanda, one of the Panj Pyaras told HT: “We are very much a part of the ‘Dharam Parchar’ committee like others who are involved in baptising the ‘sangat’. So the question of transferring us doesn’t arise?”
The Panj Pyaras won’t be on duty for the ‘amrit sanchar’ ceremony this time. On last Sunday too, another set of Panj Pyaras had performed the ceremony.
Khanda said their duties are not just limited to the Akal Takht and they can go to any other gurdwara for performing the ‘amrit sanchar’ ceremony. On October 29, they will be going to a shrine in the Malwa belt for performing the ceremony, he added.
Apart from Khanda, the other Panj Pyaras include Giani Mangal Singh, Giani Major Singh, Giani Satnam Singh and Giani Tirlok Singh. They were suspended by the SGPC on October 21 for having summoned the five Sikh high priests, including Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbahan Singh, for their role in having pardoned the Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a blasphemy case. Following pressure from the community, the SGPC had to reinstate the Panch Pyaras on October 25.
{{/usCountry}}Apart from Khanda, the other Panj Pyaras include Giani Mangal Singh, Giani Major Singh, Giani Satnam Singh and Giani Tirlok Singh. They were suspended by the SGPC on October 21 for having summoned the five Sikh high priests, including Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbahan Singh, for their role in having pardoned the Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a blasphemy case. Following pressure from the community, the SGPC had to reinstate the Panch Pyaras on October 25.
{{/usCountry}}Khanda confirmed that so far they have received no written communication from the SGPC headquarters on their suspension or their reinstatement. “Whatever we have come to know is through the media,” said Khanda.
While they were under suspension, the Panj Pyaras had met at the Akal Takht and directed the jathedars, including Giani Gurbachan Singh, to resign, go home and do repentance. They had also directed the SGPC executive to secure the resignation of the jathedars. The SGPC, however, is yet to take a final call on it.
‘No question of transfer’
On media reports about they have been transferred to the ‘Dharam Prachar’ section of the SGPC, Giani Satnam Singh Khanda, one of the Panj Pyaras told HT: “We are very much a part of the ‘Dharam Parchar’ committee like others who are involved in baptising the ‘sangat’. So the question of transferring us doesn’t arise?”