Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains performs shoe service at Anandpur Sahib as religious penance
After paying obeisance and offering prayers, Bains, while undergoing penance, performed the 'sewa' for around one-and-a-half hours until 9.30am on Saturday. He announced that he would carry out services on Sunday too at the same gurdwara.
Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, issued the directives after Bains appeared before the five Sikh priests (Singh Sahiban) on Aug 6 to clarify his role in the official Punjab govt event held in Srinagar.
The programme, held last month, drew criticism after videos surfaced showing bhangra performances and songs during the solemn occasion, an act widely condemned by Sikh organisations as a breach of Sikh maryada (code of conduct).
Acknowledging his lapse in judgment, Bains admitted he had neither stopped nor objected to the inappropriate proceedings. He expressed apology to the Sikh community for the distress caused.
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Following deliberations, the Akal Takht directed Bains to undertake a barefoot pilgrimage from the Golden Temple to Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, visit Gurdwara Kotha Sahib and Gurdwara Baba Bakala, and offer prayers at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi. His penance also includes two days of voluntary service — cleaning footwear, sweeping gurdwara premises in Anandpur Sahib — preparing a deg (community kitchen offering) worth Rs 1,100, and participating in ardas seeking forgiveness.
In a rare addition to such religious directives, Bains has also been tasked with supervising and ensuring repairs to approach roads leading to sacred sites, integrating infrastructure work into the act of atonement.
The Akal Takht emphasised that while the govt may hold educational and awareness events on Sikh gurus, the sanctity of such occasions must be preserved, with future programmes organised in consultation with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Accepting the Tankah with humility, Bains said he would fulfil each directive in letter and spirit. "As a devout Sikh, I see this as both a personal responsibility and a spiritual duty," he said in Anandpur Sahib.
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