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SLOUGH (BERKSHIRE) – Recently the Sikh Sangat discovered that Slough Ramgarhia Gurdwara gave permission for the ‘West London Durga Puja’ group to install idols of Hindu devi devte (deities) in the Gurdwara and perform ‘Puja’. The week long event which took place between 13th to 17th October 2010, was advertised in a local newspaper which came to the attention of concerned Sikhs. According to the ‘West London Durga Puja’ website http://www.westlondondurgapujo.co.uk/  this is not the first time the Durga Puja has been performed in the Slough Ramgarhia Gurdwara premises.

Similarly, Ramgarhia Gurwara, Gillingham in Kent has violated Gur Maryada by allowing murti puja (idolatry) and havans (fire worship) in the Gurdwara. It has been reported that in October 2010, Gillingham Ramgarhia Gurdwara hired out the upstairs Darbaar Hall to the Hindu community to celebrate the birth day of the Hindu god Krishan. Currently the same Gurdwara Sahib is advertising Mata’s Navrata (a nine night festival honouring the Hindu goddess Durga). It should be noted that no where in Sikh history will you find an example of the Sikh Gurus building a Hindu temple, promoting idolatry or even allowing Hindus to perform idol-worship in any Sikh institution.

It should be mentioned that the Sikh Community does not oppose the right of others to practice their faith and religious ceremonies but a Sikhs we are only to promote and practice those beliefs and activities which are in accordance to the Guru’s teachings (Gurmat). Any Gurdwara which allows the Gurdwara premises to be used for anti-Gurmat activities is committing sacrilege and causing a great insult to the Sikh Panth. The Khalsa Panth will not tolerate attempts by corrupt Gurdwara management committees to distort the Sikh religion and attempt to relate the Sikh religion with Hinduism.

Addresses of the Gurdwaras that have violated Gur Maryada:

Courtesy : www.panthic.org