The Akal Takht has barred 'ragis'(hymn singers) and 'granthis' (priests) from carrying mobile phones while on duty at the Golden Temple or any Sikh shrine. They have been ordered to remember their hymns while performing in Gurudwaras.
Akal Takht
Akal Takht is also known as the "Throne of the Timeless One" and is one of the five takhts (seats of power) of the Sikh religion. The AKAL TAKHT is located at the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) complex in Amritsar. The Akal Takht (originally called Akal Bunga) was built by Shri Guru Hargobind Ji as a place of justice, the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa, and the place of the Jathedar, the highest spokesperson of the Sikhs. The Sikh community's highest site of authority addresses both the spiritual and temporal concerns of the Sikhs.
The Akal Takht took the decision to bar ‘granthis’ and ‘ragis’ from using cell phones while on duty, at a meeting of the Sikh high priests on Wednesday,27 May 2015. Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh presided over the meeting and told the media of complaints against ‘granthis’ who stop reading from the Guru Granth Sahib to receive phone calls.
All the Sikh shrines across the world have been ordered to implement the order. “We will hold the shrine managements responsible if we receive reports against their ‘granthis’.”
Reports that certain "ragis" performed kirtan by reading downloaded poems from their phones were taken seriously by the high priests. The Jathedar stated that while it is okay to keep hymns on the phone, it is not acceptable to read them from the phone while performing kirtan. All ‘ragis’ are required to memorize ‘Gurbani’ so they need no help of gadgets.
The meeting which took place at Akal Takht was attended by Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Mal Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib acting Jathedar Giani Gurmukh Singh, Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, and Golden Temple 'granthi' Giani Raghbir Singh. The meeting at Sri Akal Takht Sahib covered other topics as well.
Appeal for Peace and Harmony before Bluestar Anniversary
Akal Takht Jathedar still remembers the violence that broke out in the Golden Temple on June 6 last year on the 30th anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
In a clash between radicals and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) activists, 12 people were injured. To prevent a repeat, Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has urged all Sikh 'jathebandis' to maintain peace. The Golden Temple management and the SGPC have been asked to take necessary precautions to avoid such incidents.