Mehar Singh doing Kirtan on Ontario Khalsa Darbar stage at the 2007 Toronto Smagam
Brampton, Ontario (KP) -- A controversy was stirred at Ontario Khalsa Darbar, also known as Dixie Gurudwara, in Brampton, Canada last week when local samagam organizers put a kirtani on stage who has previously violated an Akal Takht Sahib Hukamnama that forbid the holding of Anand-Karj in hotels banquet halls.
The controversy began when Mehar Singh, an elderly Kirtani from Delhi was invited to do Kirtan at an Annual Akhand Kirtan Samagam in Toronto.
Mehar Singh helped create a GOI sponsored group setup to rival the traditional Akhand Kirtani Jatha, known as the Prabandaki Panchain. This pro-Badal Panchain is now headed by ‘Deputy’ Baldev Singh, who is also spearheading SGPC’s Dharam Parchar Committee.
Mehar Singh performs 'Anand-Karaj' ceremony at Radisson Hotel in Huntsville, Alabama
Several individuals in the back row are sitting on chairs, another violation of Panthic Maryada
Original Photo copyright by : Photoreflect.com and repective photographer
According to information and evidence obtained by Panthic Weekly, in April of 2004, Mehar Singh along with some of his associates performed an ‘Anand-Karaj’ wedding in the banquet hall of a Radisson Hotel in Huntsville, Alabama. The wedding was reportedly between a Radhaswami couple, but this information could not be independently verified. Mehar Singh performed the lavan in the presence of a saroop of Guru Granth Sahib Ji that was brought into the hotel banquet hall specifically for that purpose.
Due to such violations, since March of 1998, Sri Akal Takht Sahib has prohibited anyone from organizing an Anand-Karaj inside hotels and ‘marriage palaces.’
Hukamnama issued on March 16th, 1998 forbids an Anand-Karaj at Hotels and Marriage Palaces
According to Respect for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Campaign (R4G), an organization of volunteers in the UK and abroad that monitor such violations:
“This Hukamanama instructs that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikh Holy Scriptures treated as the living Guru) must not be taken to a hotel, banqueting suite, club, pub, bar etc for Anand Karaj’s (Sikh religious wedding ceremony) as this is direct abuse to Sikh Principles. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji must not be present where alcohol, meat or tobacco is served or consumed.”
“This decision was made with unanimous agreement from the Jathedars (Sikh Leaders) of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Sri Patna Sahib, Sri Damdama Sahib, Sri Keshgarh Sahib and Sri Hazoor Sahib.”
“All Granthis (Sikh Priests), Ragis (Sikh Minstrals), Gurdwara (Sikh Place of Worship) Committee Members and Organisers of Sikh Related Programmes must not partake in this sacrilegious act. Sikh Rehit Maryada (Sikh Code of Conduct) must be maintained and adhered to in all circumstances.”
“Those who act in direct conflict to this Hukamnama will face Pesh (penalty) from Sri Akal Takht Sahib.”
Members of the Khalsa Alliance, an organization that has assisted R4G efforts in the Western United States, had forwarded information pertaining to Mehar Singh violating the Akal Takht Sahib’s Hukamnamas to Sangat members in Punjab and abroad. They have also passed this information to several Gurdwara committees in the Toronto, Brampton area. “The organizers of the samagam, and the Gurdwara committees, including Rexdale and Dixie Road, are well aware of Mehar Singh’s wrong doings,” stated a Khalsa Alliance representative.
According to PW sources, the samagam organizers were initially warned by Dixie Road management to not allow the controversial Kirtani on stage. However, on July 7th, according to an insider, a closed door meeting was held by samagam organizers where they decided to “forgive” the Panthic Maryada violations of Mehar Singh without any involvement from Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
This news has incensed various members of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha who feel that the samagam organizers have gone above and beyond their capacity. An insider, who did not wish to be named, said he was present in one meeting and spoke with others who were present in other meetings that were held in regards to the controvercy. “They (samagam organizers) have no authority to review violations of Sri Akal Takht Sahib maryada, but they clearly said there is no reason to send him (Mehar Singh) to Akal Takht Sahib. These peple are giving the Akhand Kirtani Jatha a bad name.”
Several Jatha members stressed to Panthic Weekly that the decision allowing Mehar Singh to do Kirtan on stage was not made by the Jatha itself or the Sangat, but by a handful of local smagam organizers who were not concerned about Panthic Maryada. They insisted that those who allowed this violation should appeal to Sri Akal Takht Sahib for forgiveness.
According to the insider, the organizers said that Mehar Singh was elderly and deserved leniency, the wedding in 2004 took place because there was no gurudwara in Alabama, and the numerous attendees of the wedding sitting on chairs were “elderly.” Despite their efforts to clear themselves amongst the Sangat, very few are willing to accept the excuses of these organizers.
PW has requested press statements from Ontrario Khalsa Darbar Management and the organizers of the Toronto Smagam in relation to the violations, but have not received any direct feedback from either party.
