Delhi Gurdwaras to Go Solar and Ban Plastic disposables

15 March, New Delhi: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President, Paramjit Singh Sarna yesterday committed the second largest Sikh institution in the world to green action, while celebrating Sikh Environment Day, March 14.

In all the 16 Gurdwaras under DSGMC, the sangat was informed and encouraged to plant trees and save water at homes, offices and Gurdwaras. In addition, 19,000 Sikh pupils in Delhi were taught about the importance of the environment to Sikhism, and were urged to take action themselves.

“Sikh history and teachings give us a responsibility to protect our vulnerable Earth,” Paramjit Singh Sarna said.

“We are planning to make our Gurdwaras Solar powered and our Nagar Kirtans plastic-free and clean. And it will be soon our policy to ban disposables in all our Gurdwaras in New Delhi.”

“Sikh Environment Day is just a beginning, we have a long way to travel to counter the problems of global warming,” he continued.

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee also announced that it had enrolled all its 12 schools to celebrate Sikh Environment Day, also known as ‘Sikh Vatavaran Diwas’ by holding a wide variety of programs. These included the pupils reciting Sikh hymns, singing environmental songs, holding and attending seminars of environment conservation and reflecting Sikh teachings in an active way by planting trees, talking about waste reduction, implementing recycling policies etc, all under the leadership of DSGMC President, Paramjit Singh Sarna.

Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib is just one of the Delhi gurdwaras celebrating eco action this month

The schools also reported they would guide all their 19,000 students to limit their use of plastic bags & disposables and to make sure they all use water carefully in their schools and at home.

Daljit Singh Chairman Dharam Parchar Committee stated that, “It’s our duty to make our Mata Dharat livable and lovable for future generations. This initiative was taken by DSGMC to have all students, staff of Sri Har Krishan Public Schools to care for the environment paying tribute to Guru Har Rai Ji by following his footsteps. We want to encourage all Sikhs & other communities to lend a caring hand to our Mother earth and to be an inspiration for others.”

“I hope by the Grace of Akal Purakh next year we will put up a great and better show,” he added.

Sikh Environment Day marks the GurGaddi diwas of the Seventh Sikh Guru, Guru Har Rai Sahib, who had a history of passion for nature and protection of the environment. As a child he cried when he saw that a flower was hurt. The programme was initiated by EcoSikh (USA) in partnership with the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, and started with the support and encouragement of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

EcoSikh India Program Director, Ravneet Singh, said: “The effort by DSGMC for SIkh Environment Day was just phenomenal this year in New Delhi.”