GOLDEN TEMPLE HEAD GRANTHI, HAZOORI RAGIS BURY HATCHET

AMRITSAR The standoff between Golden Temple head granthi Giani Jagtar Singh and hazoori ragis (permanent traditional gurbani singers), that had carried on for months, ended on Monday.

The ragis had two main grouses. One, the head granthi used harsh words for them, even inside the sanctum sanctorum and second, he interrupted them even in the middle of a kirtan.

Upset Hazoori Ragis had formed a ‘Shiromani Ragi Sabha’ against the ‘rude’ behaviour even complained to the Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh. On Monday, however, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal convened a meeting of both sides at the Golden Temple and sorted out their issues.

After the meeting, the head granthi embraced all present and presented them ‘siropas’ (robe of honour).

“The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. Differences have been resolved with the grace of Guru,” Longowal said.

Bhai Onkar Singh, who led the ragis, said, “We had some issues related to the behaviour of the head granthi. These have been settled. Misunderstandings are natural as the set-up to manage affairs of the holiest Sikh shrine is vast. We will continue to perform kirtan with the same spirit.”

“All ragis are my children and brothers. They had grievances against me, which have been addressed. I resolved all misunderstandings,” said Giani Jagtar Singh.

All ragis are my children and brothers. They had grievances against me, which have been addressed. GIANI JAGTAR SINGH, Golden Temple head granthi