SGPC to set up Sikh Mission in Nepal

According to Jago Punjab "The SGPC has decided to set up a Sikh Mission in Nepal to propagate Sikhism in the Himalayan nation. Prior to this, the SGPC had announced to establish a Sikh Mission at Yuba City in the US.

Talking to The Tribune, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the Sikh Mission in Nepal would sensitise the Sikh community there about the Sikh “rehat maryada” (code of conduct) and history. He said they had taken the decision after an SGPC team led by secretary Roop Singh visited Nepal to take stock of the condition of gurdwaras there.

Makkar said the Sikh Mission would come up at Gurdwara Nanak Math in Kathmandu for which the SGPC would provide land. He said the SGPC would also make arrangement for preachers, “granthis” and “raagis” there. Besides, steps would be taken to facilitate the teaching of Gurmukhi to the children of Sikh families in Nepal.

He said a formal decision in this regard would be taken at the SGPC executive meeting. Subsequently, he said he would visit Nepal in July to pave the way for establishing the Sikh Mission.

There are a number of historic gurdwaras associated with Guru Nanak Dev in Nepal which are in a dilapidated condition due to lack of maintenance. The responsibility for upkeep of these gurdwaras was entrusted to a US-based organisation during the tenure of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti as Akal Takht Jathedar. The Sikhs in Nepal primarily live in Kathmandu, Nepal Ganj and Sikhanpura areas. Most of them are into transport business."