Akal Takht

A cultural program organized by the Punjab government has sparked intense backlash from the Sikh clergy, following the inclusion of celebratory song-and-dance performances on a day that marks the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru. The Akal Takht, the highest authority in Sikhism, has issued a summons to senior officials involved, prompting a public apology from Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.

In a development that could have wide-ranging political and cultural implications, the Akal Takht—Sikhism’s highest temporal authority—has issued a summons to Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and the head of the state’s language department. The summons follows a controversial event held in Srinagar, where Sikh religious symbolism was allegedly misrepresented. The Takht's intervention signals deep concern over the sanctity of religious traditions and the growing sensitivity around cultural portrayals in public institutions.