Pune: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has raised strong objections against the construction of a 'pandal' resembling the Golden Temple for the Ganeshotsav in Pune's Camp area, deeming it an act that provokes Sikh sentiments.
In an official statement, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami 'condemned' the deliberate replication of historically significant Sikh religious sites, stating that such actions deeply 'offend' the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
According to reports from Sikhs in Pune, the pandal was constructed for Ganpati celebrations and closely mimics the design of Harmandar Sahib.
Dhami emphasized that replicating the Golden Temple is against Sikh traditions, customs, and principles, and urged those responsible to consider the values, beliefs, and sensitivities of the Sikh community.
He asserted that Harmandar Sahib holds a unique and irreplaceable place in Sikhism and cannot be recreated.
The SGPC is dispatching a team to Pune to investigate the matter further. Dhami also called on the Sikh community to promptly report such incidents to the SGPC, which serves as the apex religious body for Sikhs.
