:dateline:The 413th establishment anniversary of supreme Sikh throne Sri Akal Takht Sahib was today celebrated with full enthusiasm by the Sikh sangat at Sri Akal Takht Sahib premises. A special religious function was held on this occasion in which Hazoori Raagi Jatha of Bhai Jagdeep Singh delighted the Sikh sangat with melodious Kirtan.
Giani Malkit Singh, head granthi of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, performed Ardas on this occasion while Giani Gurmukh Singh read the sacred Hukamnama.
Congratulating the Sikh sangat on this occasion, Giani Gurmukh Singh said that the sixth Sikh master Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji had presented the Sikh dignity by establishing the supreme Sikh throne Sri Akal Takht Sahib where the Almighty Lord rules.
He further said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib signifies the distinct Sikh principle of Miri-Piri. He appealed the Sikh masses to live their lives as per Sikh tenets.
Akal Takht means the throne of the immortal and is the highest political institution of the Sikhs. “Akal” means “The Timeless One” – another term for God. “Takht” means “throne” in Persian. The Akal Takht is an impressive building that sits directly in front of the causeway leading to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Akal Takht was founded by Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji in 1606 and was established as the place from which the spiritual and temporal concerns of the Sikh community could be acted upon.
It stood as a symbol of political bulwark against the Mughal Emperors in the 17th and 18th century. Various attacks on the Akal Takht and Sri Harmandir Sahib have been led in the past by Ahmed Shah Abdali and Massa Rangarh in the 18th century.
On June 4, 1984, the Indian Army did more than just damage the outer facade of the Akal Takht, they destroyed the sanctity of the Akal Takht with tanks and reduced it to rubble, while attempting to take out Sikh militants in a controversial military operation known as Operation Bluestar.
