Sri Amritsar-The officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, recently visited the Gachubai Tanda village of Vanjara Sikhs, located in Ranga Reddy district near Hyderabad, Telangana. As part of the “Khuaar Hoye Sabh Milenge” Sikh religious awareness campaign, the Jathedar promoted Sikh values and teachings among the local community.
Gachubai Tanda is home to around 500 devoted Sikhs, who strictly follow Sikh tenets and maintain unshorn hair. On Jathedar Gargajj’s arrival, a special Gurmat Samagam (religious congregation) was organized at the village’s Gurdwara Sahib Dashmesh Darbar with the support of the Sikh community from Hyderabad. The event featured melodious Gurbani Kirtan by Bhai Veer Singh’s jatha from Ameerpet Gurdwara Sahib and performances by local Sikh youth, spiritually uplifting the sangat. Jathedar Gargajj himself offered Ardas (Sikh prayer) at the conclusion of the congregation for the Chardi Kala (high spirit) of this village and the Sikhs here.
At the conclusion of the event, Jathedar Gargajj distributed Gurmukhi Punjabi primers to a large number of children, encouraging them to learn Gurmukhi and connect with Gurbani. The Gurdwara management committee organised langar (community meal), in which Jathedar Gargajj did Sewa (voluntary service) of serving the sangat.
After the event, the local Sikh residents had a detailed discussion with Jathedar Gargajj, sharing their challenges. They requested support for arranging teachers for Gurbani education, Gurmat music, Gurmukhi Punjabi, and Gatka training, as well as Sikh preachers for the region and financial aid for children's school fees. Jathedar Gargajj attentively listened and assured that efforts would be made in coordination with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and global Sikh communities to meet these needs.
Addressing the sangat, Jathedar Gargajj expressed great joy in witnessing the flourishing spirit of Sikhi in Gachubai Tanda, thousands of kilometers away from Punjab. He was deeply moved and impressed to see young children, women, and men—fully robed in Sikh identity—serving as Sangat in the community kitchen according to Sikh traditions and discipline. He highlighted with concern that such practices are declining in many villages in Punjab, where langar services during religious functions, bhogs and other Sikh ceremonies are now often outsourced by paying, neglecting Sikh values and sewa (voluntary service). He emphasized that the Guru’s principles place great importance on Sewa by one’s own hands, which cultivates love for the Guru and eliminates negative traits like ego, jealousy, and hatred. Jathedar Gargajj called for a return to Sikh traditions and a firm commitment to Guru’s teachings.
He reminded the sangat that Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled extensively to spread Sikhi, and Guru Gobind Singh Ji spent time near Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, establishing a deep historical connection between the southern regions and Sikh teachings.
He praised the children and youth of Gachubai Tanda for proudly wearing turbans and embodying Sikh principles, acknowledging that their dedication, despite living far from Punjab, is commendable. He offered congratulations and prayed for their continued prosperity and spiritual connection with the Guru.
Reaffirming the collective identity of the Khalsa Panth as one family, Jathedar Gargajj extended an open invitation to the Vanjara Sikhs of Telangana to visit holy Sikh religious places in Punjab such as Sri Harmandar Sahib, Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib. He assured them that arrangements for train fares would be made if needed.
He also praised Giani Ravinder Singh, the village’s resident granthi, for his dedicated service and efforts in connecting local children with Gurbani and Gurmukhi. He reassured that Sri Akal Takht Sahib would continue to stand with these Sikhs and do everything possible to support their spiritual journey. He added that he will continue to visit and support the southern region in the future.
Present at the event were Lakhwinder Singh (President, Gurdwara Sahib Dashmesh Darbar), Bhagat Singh (Secretary), Giani Ravinder Singh (Granthi), Gurjeet Singh, Dr. Bimal Singh, Dr. Avneet Bimal Singh from Hyderabad, Barjinder Singh Hussianpur, pracharak-cum-nigran Rajpal Singh, Harpreet Singh Kahlon, media advisor Jaskaran Singh, Karanvir Singh, and a large number of Sangat from the village.