CRUX OF THE CONTROVERSY

The standoff over the date of celebrations of the 351st parkash parv of Guru Gobind Singh has its genesis in the lack of clarity on calendar. The Nanakshahi calendar that was introduced by the SGPC in 2003 had fixed January 5 as the date of the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh. However, the SGPC rolled it back under pressure from Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma-led Sant Samaj, which was in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ahead of the SGPC polls in 2010. The original version was replaced with the new one which was modified as per the Bikrami calendar, but its nomenclature Nanaksahi calendar was not changed. This year, the parkash parv, which is celebrated on “Poh (Sudi 7)” as per Bikrami calendar, falls on December 25, coinciding with the sombre occasion of martyrdom anniversaries of his family members. Therefore, an appeal was made for extending the date of the birth anniversary celebrations to January 5.