Amritsar (Punjab) [India], August 13 : Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Wednesday offered prayers at the Golden Temple after completing his religious punishment.
Bains was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) over a controversial decision concerning an event held in Srinagar to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
The five Sikh High Priests had ordered him to undertake a barefoot pilgrimage to Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal in Amritsar, the birthplace of Guru Tegh Bahadur, followed by visits to Gurdwara Sahib Patshahi Nauvin in Valla and Baba Bakala Sahib. At each location, he offered prayers and sought divine wisdom to serve the community with sincerity and integrity.
He was also instructed to perform voluntary services, including 'jodiyan di seva' (shoe cleaning) at Sri Anandpur Sahib for two days, and sponsor a deg (community food offering) worth Rs 1100 and offer an ardas (prayer of forgiveness).
Bains completed his religious punishment by offering an ardas at the Akal Takht in the Golden Temple today.
In a social media post on X, the Punjab Minister conveyed that he visited Akal Takht Sahib to offer prayers and submit a report regarding completed service following a religious punishment imposed by the five Sikh High Priests.
https://x.com/harjotbains/status/1955562625255006485?s=46
In a detailed post on X, Bains expressed remorse for his actions, saying, "My faults are many, very many, Even with repeated counting, O Lord, they cannot be numbered. You are full of virtues, O Lord, merciful Lord. By Your will, You forgive as it pleases You. We sinners are saved in the company of the Guru's Sangat. Through the teachings, the Name of the Lord liberates us."
Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated that following the orders of the five Sikh High Priests, he visited Sri Akal Takht Sahib after completing the service assigned to him. He offered prayers before the Satguru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, and submitted a report at the Secretariat of Akal Takht Sahib.
The Minister pledged to contribute Rs 20 lakh from his discretionary funds for the cleanliness and improvement of paths leading to the birthplace of the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. He also committed one month's ministerial salary as a personal offering of devotion. Additionally, he vowed to support beautification works around the sacred sites personally and through government initiatives.
The social media post reads, "Following the orders of the five Singh Sahibans from the throne of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and by the grace of Guru Sahib Ji's blessings, after completing the service, I visited Sri Akal Takht Sahib today and offered prayers before the true Satguru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, and submitted a report regarding the completed service at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. As per the orders of the five Singh Sahibans, for the cleanliness and improvement of the paths leading to the birthplace of the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji--Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, Gurdwara Kotha Sahib Patshahi Nauvin Walla, and Gurdwara Baba Bakala Sahib--I pledge to contribute 20 lakh rupees from my discretionary funds and, as a personal offering of devotion, one month's salary as a minister."
"I humbly request at the feet of the sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji, the five Singh Sahibans, and the Guru's Sangat, to forgive the mistakes I have knowingly or unknowingly made in the past and to grant me strength and wisdom to serve the faith, community, nation, Punjab, and society to the fullest in the future," Bains stated.
This follows the order issued on August 6, when Bains was declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) by Akal Takht Sahib over a government-sponsored event organised by the Punjab Language Department at Tagore Hall on July 24.
The event, held to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, faced criticism from Sikh clergy for including dance performances, which violated Sikh maryada (religious code of conduct).