Amritsar/IBNS: The highest temporal body of the Sikhs, Akal Takht, has issued a circular asking gurdwaras across Punjab to ensure that the colour of the Nishan Sahib — the triangular flag made of cotton or silk cloth with a tassel, hoisted on a long pole in gurudwara complexes across the world — is either basanti (xanthic) or surmai (blue).

The move reportedly came in the wake of complaints received from Sikh organisations that in many gurdwaras, the colour being used for the cloth to cover the Nishan Sahib is kesari (saffron) instead of basanti, reports The Print.

According to the complainants, saffron denotes the Hindu religion or the Sanatan Dharma, and not Sikhism, the report added.

Following the Akal Takht's edict, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — the organization responsible for the management of gurdwaras in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the union territory of Chandigarh — is all set to ensure that the Nishan Sahib flags, hoisted on the premises of gurdwaras, carry either basanti or surmai colours.

According to a circular issued by SGPC's Dharam Parchar Committee dated July 26, the matter was taken up during the meeting of the jathedars of the five takhts (seats of power) of the Sikhs held on July 15, and it has been decided that the colour of the cloth to cover the Nishan Sahib should be in accordance with the Rehat Maryada, or the code of conduct for the Sikhs approved by the SGPC.

As per the Section 3 of Chapter 4 of the Rehat Maryada, “At a high-level site in every gurdwara should be installed the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag). The cloth of the flag should be either of xanthic or of greyish blue colour and on top of the flag post, there should either be a spearhead or a Khanda (a straight dagger with convex side edges leading to slanting top edges ending in a vertex).”

Bhagwant Singh Dhangera, manager Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple, Amritsar) said, while addressing the media following the move, that there was a lot of confusion in the Sikh community about the colour of the Nishan Sahib.

“In order to put that confusion to rest, it is clarified to everyone concerned the colour of be Nishan Sahib should be in strict accordance with the Rehat Maryada,” Dhangera said.

The Print reported, quoting Akal Takht's media communication in-charge Talvinder Singh, that in some complaints it was said that the saffron is a colour that denotes the Hindu religion or the Sanatan Dharam and not Sikhism.

“The instructions have been issued in order to ensure uniformity across the board in all the gurdwaras,” he told The Print on Monday (July 29).