Akal Takht Bars Two Kirtan Jathas for a Monthਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਨੇ ਦੋ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਜਥਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਦੀ ਰੋਕ ਲਾਈ

Sri Akal Takht Sahib has barred the kirtan jathas of Bhai Jagjeet Singh Babiha and Bhai Kulwinder Singh Kharar from performing kirtan before the sangat for one month. The ban runs from November 13 to December 12, 2026, and was ordered on Wednesday, November 11, on the directions of acting Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj. The decision follows an ongoing public dispute between the two jathas and repeated complaints from members of the Sikh community to the Akal Takht Secretariat.

The order is the latest disciplinary step from the Sikh temporal seat, which has acted firmly in recent weeks on matters touching the maryada of kirtan and the conduct of those who perform it. The two ragis have not only been kept away from the stage: they have been told to study, to serve in the langar, and to return before the Secretariat once the month is over.

What led to the ban?

According to reports from Amritsar, the two jathas had been locked in a public disagreement for several days, with statements made against each other on social media. Members of the community complained to the Akal Takht Secretariat about the conduct of both groups. The Secretariat treated the open spat between kirtanias as a breach of the discipline expected of those who lead the sangat in Gurbani kirtan, and the acting Jathedar ordered action against both jathas rather than one side alone.

The order was issued as a written direction from the Secretariat. It does not name one jatha as the aggressor and the other as the victim. Both groups face the same restriction for the same period, and both must complete the same course of study and seva before they can appear before the Takht again.

What must the two kirtanias do?

During the month of the ban, Bhai Jagjeet Singh Babiha will undergo a one-month course in Gurmat at the Shaheed Sikh Missionary College in Amritsar. Bhai Kulwinder Singh Kharar will receive Gurmat training at the Gurmat Sangeet Academy in Anandpur Sahib. Both have also been directed to study Sikh Rehat Maryada and Gurmat Sangeet, the traditions and discipline that govern kirtan in the Sikh faith.

Alongside their studies, both kirtanias must perform seva in the langar hall every morning and evening, a duty meant to cultivate humility. After completing the month, they must appear in person before the Akal Takht Secretariat, carrying certificates from their respective institutions to show that the course has been completed.

Why does the decision matter?

Kirtan sits at the heart of Sikh worship, and those who perform it before the sangat are held to a high standard of conduct. When disagreements between prominent kirtanias spill into public view, they reach far beyond the two men involved, because their recordings and performances travel across Punjab and the diaspora. The Akal Takht, as the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, has long used short suspensions and study orders to correct conduct without removing anyone from the Panth.

The shape of this order follows that pattern. It is firm but restorative: a defined period away from the stage, structured study of Gurmat and maryada, daily langar seva, and a personal appearance before the Secretariat at the end. Whether the two jathas return to performing together, or separately, will depend on what the Secretariat hears from them in December.

How long does the ban last?

One month, from November 13 to December 12, 2026. Both jathas are barred from performing kirtan before the sangat for that whole period.

Where will the two kirtanias study?

Bhai Jagjeet Singh Babiha will study at the Shaheed Sikh Missionary College in Amritsar, and Bhai Kulwinder Singh Kharar at the Gurmat Sangeet Academy in Anandpur Sahib.

What happens after the month ends?

Both must appear in person before the Akal Takht Secretariat with certificates from their institutions, and the Secretariat will then decide the next step.