Community demonstration forces return of Guru Granth Sahib Ji

A mass community demonstration by Sikhs from across the New York (USA) area forced a couple to return Guru Granth Sahib Ji after they kept the Sikh scriptural Guru from a local Gurdwara.

The mass demonstration involving hundreds of Sikhs took place through the evening and into the night of 3rd October, which came after four previous days of efforts and demonstrations to press a non-Sikh couple of the Hyde Park (Nassau County) area into returning Guru Granth Sahib Ji, after obtaining Guru Ji from a local Gurdwara under false pretenses.

Sikhs treat Guru Granth Sahib Ji with regal, formalized protocol and Guru Ji is not to be handled by anyone accept those trained in this protocol. Failure to do so is viewed as beadbi (religious sacrilege).

With a criminal investigation into the situation still ongoing, The Sikh Press Association cannot repeat much of the information surrounding the situation online. However, we can confirm the following:

• The incident started approximately in mid-August when a woman of Sikh background requested a saroop (form) of Guru Granth Sahib Ji for a paht (scripture recitation) at home for funeral prayers
• The woman is married to a Muslim man and is known by locals to be a Muslim convert
• For reasons still unclear, the woman refused to return the saroop when due
• When the Gurdwara came to collect the saroop of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the couple refused
• Wider community intervention came in the last 4-5 days

Within days of the situation, the Gurdwara’s concerns were leaked to wider sangat, which is when more direct action took place, including the intervention of law enforcement (by both Nassau County Police and the New York Police Department), resulting in the saroop finally being returned, during which it also became evident the home was a place unfit for Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Reports of violence from the non-Sikh couple directed towards the sangat (Sikh congregation) demonstrating outside the residence where Guru Granth Sahib Ji was being kept was also reported.

For more insight, see this video interview by local community figure Japneet Singh: Japneet Singh (@japneetsinghforny) • Instagram photos and videos

Updates on legal consequences for the anti-Sikh incident will be published as they come in.

Media inquiries- media@sikhpa.com.