By Nityaasini Sivagami
INDIA 11th May: The Golden Temple complex lights were turned off again after fifty-four years as part of the ‘blackout’ appeal made during the country-wide civil defence mock drill following increased tensions between India and Pakistan.
But with a remembrance of the ‘rehat maryada’ (Sikh code of conduct), the sanctum sanctorum and other places where the ‘parkash’ (illumination ceremony) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was being initiated, remained out of bounds to this exercise. Blackout between 10.30-11.00 pm was imposed in Amritsar yesterday.
Mostly, the round-the-clock lighting at the Golden Temple now with special hi-tech lighting system is a wonder all over the world and was never delayed, except in exceptional circumstances.
Kulwant Singh, a retired SGPC secretary, claimed that on two occasions, the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars the lights in the Golden Temple complex had been switched off as a precautionary measure.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) secretary Partap Singh claimed this drill had a place in the perspective of civil defence drills in the context of trial of preparedness against enemy aggressiveness.
In keeping with the ‘maryada’, the whole complex was turned off during the stated time period. In keeping with the ‘maryada’, lights were lit where ‘parkash’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was being performed but kept in low mode. Moreover, the spots, where ‘akhand path’ was being done, were already curtained on all sides providing little space to watch the lightness from outside,” he added.
The Home Ministry had directed several states to implement blackout procedures as mock drills to reduce visibility for hostile planes. The intention was to avoid enemy attention and being a target. (Source Tatvaindia)
