Chandigarh: Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj took charge as the jathedar (leader) of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab’s Rupnagar district on Monday. This important ceremony was attended by the ‘Panj Piaras’, a group of five beloved Sikhs. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had previously announced Kuldeep Singh Gargaj’s appointment on March 7, and he will also act as the jathedar of the Akal Takht in Amritsar, the top authority for Sikhs.
The SGPC decided to remove Giani Raghbir Singh from Akal Takht and Giani Sultan Singh from Kesgarh Sahib. This decision was met with anger from many Sikh leaders, including senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
Both Akal Takht and Takht Kesgarh Sahib are two of the five key religious seats in Sikhism. Before taking on his new role, Kuldeep Singh Gargaj prayed at Takht Kesgarh Sahib. During the ceremony, the head Granthi (priest) Giani Joginder Singh led an ‘ardas’ (prayer), and the ‘Panj Piaras’ honored Gargaj by giving him a special turban. Other SGPC members also presented ceremonial turbans to him.
In his speech, Kuldeep Singh Gargaj urged the Sikh community to come together under one ‘Nishan Sahib’ (Sikh flag) during these challenging times. He thanked the 10 Sikh Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib for this honor. He shared that he is proud to serve the Takht, despite growing up in a humble Sikh family. After starting his journey as a ‘Pathi’ (reader of prayers), he pledged to continue spreading the teachings of Sikhism.
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