Sikh Sangat News Celebrating Sikh culture and sharing Sikh voices
Amritsar, Punjab: Finally Akal Takht website, www.akaltakhatsahib.com has been launched. The awaited website was launched by Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh at Secretariat Akal Takht in the Darbar Sahib complex.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar who was present on the occasion said the website had been launched, keeping in mind the global demands of Sikh community.
Earlier, the Sikh clergy had decided on March 25 that the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, Akal Takht should not depend on SGPC website for conveying messages, hukamnamas to the Sikh community and have its own exclusive website.
The website is available in both Punjabi and English languages.
The home page of the website carries picture of Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht. It also carries information about the two shrines, and sheds light on importance of Akal Takht for Sikh community.
Apart from that, it carries picture of other Takhts namely Takht Patna Sahib Bihar, Takht Kesgarh Sahib Anandpur Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded.The picture gallery contains pictures and details of the current Jathedars of the Takhts and other eminent Sikh personalities.
One can also give their suggestions or forward complaints through the feedback form provided on the site.
Source: Punjab NewsLine
Thank you.
I only visited the place in March this year.I would also like to point out that one of the shoes storage facility , where wwork is being done should be closed, or a Notice put out to how far the sangat has to walk without their shoes,[don’t tell me all the stories of how Guru Ji walked barefooted as these are not Gurus times and neither the adminstrators work and conduct themselves like Guru’s message] as the entrance near by is currently blocked off due to some building work..I saw people struggling over jagged stones and dirt that lays littered along the path.
One other very important issue-considering that this is a world known centre , there is absolutely no attempt to arrange proper talks on the hour or every two hours in English for the visiting non Sikhs in a room where people can find out about Sikhi and learn contructively.
I saw some small booklets on Sikh literature written In Punjabi and English lying around on small tables, wher ethe person sitting ,if lucky cannot even speak English.I saw an American female tourist trying to ask some information and the old man instead was staring at her, and his eyes were fixed at her.He obviously could not speak English.I had to intervene as I saw this and asked her if I could help.She wanted to know something about the Harmander sahib, and I helped explain, and that is when it clicked to me how poorly arranged or non addressed these issues were.As a Sikh I was ashamed that such a rich heritage is so poorly managed.
I have no axe to grind with anyone, but these clergy and the managers of harmander sahib need to wake up and join the 21st century reality and have systems that befit and do justice to such a Holy place.
Currently, there is such a gulf between their words and their real actions, they do not walk the talk they try to dispense.It is so obvious,
How is this site going to change the uneducated and herd mentality that prevails within the clergy?
The SGPC with its site never used to respond nor communicate with Sikhs, when ever they wrote in.How is this going to change the ingrained mentality that prevails?
Reports of many complaints are coming from visitors who have gone to visit the Khalsa VIrasat.The small fellows appointed to run the sarai’s are uneducated and without any training and reaping the tourist off with little lies about the availability of any rooms for the NRIs.
Considering the Harmander Sahib is a world reknown tourist and holy site, has no body ever questioned the manner the so called guards operate and speak to the people visiting?
There is no proper orderly system of people to enter the complex of Harmander sahib, as women with babies, old, children and men que up roughly squeezed the women and children at the gate through the doorway into the Harmander sahib.
There is supposed to be a special entrance at the side by the tree to allow old women and handicapped I assume to enter, but I have witnessed personally guards allowing younger women and stopping the older ones from going through as they use their ‘fancy’ and eye the women.I have heard reports from women who have alleged the guards favour to allow younger women…how can such be happening in the house of God?
I saw a similar incident, and was very disgusted, and when I questioned the man, he ..said”..nah ji, ..and at once told the Mata ji..jao ji , lokan nu even mere galle laonge..”.after having initially refused her.
I personally left a small back pack at the entrance where belongings are stored and asked for a token, I was told by the small shokra sitting there that I don’t need the token. After three hours when I came back to pick up the bag, the same little shokra asked for the token. When I reminded him that he had refused to give a token when I left it, what token was he expecting from me…he quickly changed his tune and let me take the bag without another word.If I was dishonest I could have easily taken someone else’s bag.What type of security or arrangement is this?
At Guru Gobind Singh Sra’n my presence was ignored by a fellow supposed to be at the reception as he was busy talking rubbish to a friend.After ten minutes he asked .”haan ji…ki chahida?When I said if rooms are available as I am an NRI,he rudely replied ..’koyee kamra nahi ji’When I asked him his name…he hesitated and then ..said…JI, tusin thorra cher udeek kar lao…I was peplexed to how suddenly, he could create a room.I was later told by some, that had I offered him R500, I would have had the room without an issue.CORRUPTION, in the house God?
I am truly disappointed that no one has looked at these issues and addressed them or ever brought to the notice of these so called Sikh clergy and administrators to put such callously bad practices right and run the place with imaandari and truthfully cleanly.
I am not sure what this website will do, in pratcie to improve such issues at the Harmander sahib or the Sikh image?