Amritsar – Following the incidents of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib across Punjab, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to celebrate a subdued Diwali at the Golden Temple and other gurdwaras under its control this year.
Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC president, said, “Harmandar Sahib will not be illuminated in the manner it used to be on festive occasions nor will there any display of fireworks. Only earthen lamps will be lit up. The step has been taken following the recent sacrilege incidents, which have pained the entire community.” Diwali otherwise used to be an occasion to watch out for at the Golden Temple.
It was celebrated with pomp and show, which included major illumination at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar (Golden Temple) and a grand display of fireworks.
After ‘Black Diwali’ of 1984, this will be third time when there will be no celebrations at the Golden Temple. Diwali coincides with Sikh festival of Bandi Chhor Divas (Day of Liberation) which attracts large number of Sikh Sangat from across the world.
In 1984, ‘Black Diwali’ was observed in protest against Operation Bluestar. The festival was also not celebrated at the Golden Temple in 1992, the year in which Shaheed Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha, the assassins of Gen A S Vaidya, were hanged.