MONTE CARLO, Monaco—Pictures have emerged on social media of Dr. Kamalroop Singh (PhD) and some of his associates from the Lion Jatha (UK) taking Guru Granth Sahib Ji to the Opèra Monte Carlo and conducting an Anand Karaj the week of November 1. Pictures show beadbi (sacrilege) being committed at the Opera House with the attendees sitting on chairs and many people not having their heads covered. A picture further shows a person named Simran Singh from UK putting his feet on the rumala sahib.
Guru Granth Sahib Ji was brought to the Opera House in direct violation of the 1998 Akal Takht Sahib Hukamnama issued in 1998 restricting all Sikhs from taking Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji to hotels, banqueting suites, bars or any such establishment which serves meat, alcohol and tobacco. However, in direct opposition to the edict, the saroop was brought from the UK and kept for many days in a hotel room at Le Merdian Hotel in Monte Carlo before the wedding.
Dr. Kamalroop Singh from UK has faced much criticism by the worldwide Sikh Sangat for committing beadbi. In his posts over social media, Kamalroop Singh has attempted to cite the excuse that the family had to no choice but to book a Casino for an ‘Anand Karaj’ as there is no Gurdwara in Monte Carlo. Rather the truth is transparent that a rich family (Ahluwalia family, former owners of Euro Car Parts) wanted a lavish wedding and the Blue Lion Jatha willingly obliged.
In a post on Facebook, Kamalroop Singh said –
“Vahiguru ji ka Khalsa Vahiguru ji Ki fateh! Recently someone in Monaco got married. There is no Gurdwara there. As the maryada is that a Hotel cannot be used to do parkash of Guru Sahib Ji the Royal Opera House was hired. Five Singhs took Guru Maharaj’s Svari as per maryada to and from London. On both occasions the airport staff allowed us to maintain the maximum level of satkar for Guru Granth Sahib maharaj. A Singh was with Guru ji’s sarup 24 hours a day.
If any mistake were made they were made unknowingly and we have asked Guru Sahib for his mercy and ask the Sangat to please forgive us for those mistakes.
In the Opera Hall every person had their head covered in Guru ji’s presence and had no shoes on at all. No matter if they were staff or not. The family sat on the stage area, however it could not hold everyone. Therefore, chairs were used but they were below Guru Sahib’s palki level, which was specially designed to be higher. We sometimes sit on chairs with Guru ji, on trains, planes and automobiles. As there is no Gurdwara there was no other alternative. But all other maryada was kept, the area was even cleaned with dudh (milk), and all took shoes off and covered their heads.
We are concerned about the elevation of people sitting, are there not balconies in Harmandhir Sahib for sangat to sit and listen to keertan? Do people at the top not walk over Maharajs svari below? Are they not in a higher elevation than Guru Sahib there? Are they really higher than Guru sahib?
Dr. Kamalroop Singh has exercised the excuse that there is no Gurdwara within Monaco, which is true, however, there are many gurdwaras in neighboring Italy, where the ceremony could have been conducted. Other possibilities include a residence or any other place where alcohol is not served.
The Sikh Rehit Maryada, in Chapter IV, Article V, Point n.,states that no one is allowed to sit on a chair in the divan of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In picture and within Dr. Kamalroop Singh’s letter, it is obvious that the sangat sat on chairs, and that is in direct violation of Maryada.
