Women Permitted to Take Part in Two Sikh Rituals in Golden Temple

August 8, 2005

Source: Outlook India

Wire Service: PTI

http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=315774

On August 8, 2005 the Press Trust of India reported, "In a path breaking move in the Sikh religion, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee today allowed women to perform religious service in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and threw open to them participation in another ritual hitherto reserved for men. 'Dharam Salahkaar Board' at a meeting of the SGPC here presided by SGPC chief Bibi Jagir decided that women can now sing 'kirtans' (hymns) inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Harmandir Sahib and take part in 'Sukhasan' (carrying of Guru Granth sahib in the golden palanquin in the evening hours in the Harmandir sahib). The issue of women being not allowed to take part in Sukhasan hit headlines over two years ago when two London-based women Manjinder Kaur and Lakhbir Kaur were allegedly roughed up by devotees on the premises of Harmandir Sahib when they tried to take part in the ceremony."