Fashion designer and lifestyle influencer Archana Makwana’s picture of her practising yoga on the banks of the Golden Temple’s Sarovar created a social media uproar, leading to the suspension of two Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials for “negligence”.
The SGPC also fined another official. ₹5,000, shifted him to Gurdwara Garhi Sahib, Gurdas Nangar and also filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Police seeking strict action against her. No FIR had been filed against her till the filing of this report.
A photo that went viral and was later deleted showed her performing yoga with the sanctum sanctorum in the background.Sikhs called it a violation of ‘mariada’ and slammed the SGPC for failing to stop it.
Commenting on action against the three SGPC employees, Bhagwant Singh Dhangera, general manager of Golden Temple, said, “CCTV footage shows that the act took just five seconds for the woman to perform. As it goes against Sikh precepts and has hurt the sentiments of devotees, a complaint has been sent to the Commissioner of Police.”
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said, “Such acts which go against the teachings of Sikhism will not be tolerated by anyone. Some people are deliberately indulging in such acts and disregarding the sanctity of this revered place.”
Later, another video went viral on social media in which Archana Makwana apologised, claiming that she had no intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments.
“I was not aware that performing yoga on the Gurdwara Sahib premises could cause offence to some people. I was just paying my respects and had no intention of hurting anyone. I sincerely apologise,” Makwana said in a story posted on her Instagram account. (Courtesy of PTI)
