Being Green at Darbar Sahib
Letter from Charan Singh, Wash D. C.
10/11/2015: Sikh religion is known for concern of environment and trying to live in harmony with nature. We are well aware of the environmental issues that concern the world today. We as Sikhs can set an example by making our Gurudwaras commercially viable green centres which will not only create a positive impact on the society but also make a difference in sustaining our environment. In our everyday activities at the Gurudwara, we are dependent on non-renewable sources of energy which call for our attention. We have a few suggestions and have put them in a sequence stating their advantage as the need of the hour.
- The Golden Temple Complex requires large quantity of electricity. Keeping in mind the power cuts, surely use of generators on diesels is seen in large numbers. But this releases gases in the atmosphere which cause global warming. Today the whole world is worried about the climatic changes. A reliable and dependable source of energy, the solar energy, can come to our use. We can have SOLAR PANELS on the roof of parikarma and saraiyes at The Golden Temple which will provide abundant supply of electricity. This is a cost efficient and an eco-friendly solution that can be incorporated at other historical gurudwaras too, like Hazoor Sahib, Bangla Sahib and Rakab Ganj, where the complex is large with great space on the roof-top for installation of solar panels.
- With twenty four hours of the langar service at the Golden Temple, supply of gas for cooking is a must. Since large amounts of vegetable waste is generated in the gurudwara kitchen we can install biogas plant near the kitchen. This will provide continuous and economical supply of gas. This solution can be incorporated at most of the historical gurudwaras where Langars are constantly operational for most part of the day.
Biogas plant will work towards economical, eco-friendly and green earth and respectfully depict the environmentally conscious mind of the Sikhs.
- Further considering the environmentally conscious Sikh philosophy, we must discourage the highly polluting crackers in and around the Golden Temple which harm the flora and fauna by polluting the environment. Such polluting behaviour must be banned by Sikhs across the world, even while celebrating gurupurabs or marriages or for that matter any occasion. As disciples of guru we must always work towards environmental friendly decisions. Simple lighting of lamps could be the mode of spreading the message of our gurus .We must earnestly take this step as the pollution caused by the burning of crackers only lead to respiratory problems to the vulnerable population, like the elderly and the very young ones. It also adds to the global warming and presently the whole world is working towards solutions to the climatic changes. This would be a key contribution by THE SIKHS towards GREEN MOTHER EARTH.
- People from round the world visit The Golden Temple during the weekends and so the number of devotees to seek darshan is large. There is a lot of crowd from the villages nearby too .As a result there are huge queues at the darshan dyodhi. Should we look for some ways to avoid the inconvenience faced by visitors. Some illustrative solutions could be considered in the immediate period. Maybe first of all if a bus service could be started for trips to various nearby historical gurudwaras especially at the weekends to distribute the crowd. Secondly, if the sangat is made to sit in the Darbar sahib hall to some number or only in a single line maybe it would bring in the speed to the movement of the sangat in the sanctum sanctorum. The central passage could be used for the sangat to move in and the outer two lanes are only used for the sangat to move out.
This initiative may enhance the movement causing less wait. Some attention and management is required for this issue. Can we hope for installation of couple of cameras inside the Sanctum Sanctorum in the Darbar sahib mainly focusing on the Guru Sahibji and the kirtaniyaa singhs so that parallel LCDs can run in the Parikarma and Sangat sitting outside can benefit with sight of what is happening inside. Even though the sangat sits in the parikarma it can enjoy the feel of the darshan throughout the day and night without being sitting right inside, further avoiding the crowd inside and keeping the flow of sangat for the darshan.
- Also since the sangat is in large numbers with lots of senior citizen and children, men and women, it is natural to answer natures call, can we have some rest rooms nearby facing outwardly very near to the darshan dyodhi ,as a solution for the days when the sangat happens to wait for over an hour or so for Darshan of the sanctum sanctorum.
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