Amritsar, November 7

Batting for gender equality, the issue of right to perform ‘kirtan’ by ‘jathas’ of baptised women inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple has been raised by SGPC member Bibi Kiranjot Kaur.

As per the Sikh code of conduct, there is no restriction on women on performing ‘kirtan’ at the Golden Temple, but as of now, only men perform it at the Golden Temple.

Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, granddaughter of Sikh revolutionary Master Tara Singh, has requested SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur to take a lead in this regard by allowing women to perform ‘kirtan’ in the holiest shrine on the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on November 19.

Interestingly, Bibi Jagir Kaur was the first to formally raise the demand for the women hymn singers’ right to perform ‘kirtan’ at the Golden Temple in 2004-05, but it was contested by orthodox Sikhs. Consequently, the issue remained inconclusive.

“Even today, I am in favour of it. But the constraint is that to date, I have never been approached by any women ‘jatha’ which could claim proficiency by its members, which can qualify them to perform ‘kirtan’,” she said. — TNS