Jathedar, Sri Akal Takhat Sahib sends a message to all Sikhs

Jathedar, Sri Akal Takhat Sahib sends a message to all Sikhs: plant a tree on Sikh Environment day.

Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh is the current religious head of Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib, the supreme religious authority of the Sikhs, based in Amritsar, Punjab, India. He was appointed as Jathedar in 2008, after serving 37 years as a Sikh religious preacher. His last appointment was as Head Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple.
This is an important step forward for Sikhs who are passionate about protecting the environment, and an exciting moment for EcoSikh. The message will be released on TV and in newspapers in India.
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Click here for the full press release.
The full message in Punjabi is below. In English it is translated as:
Today, the whole world celebrates the World Environment Day. The ‘EcoSikh organisation’ has taken up March 14th, 2011 Guru Gaddhi Diwas (day of enthronement) of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, to be celebrated as “Sikh Environment Day”. Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib is remembered in Sikh history for his deep sensitivity to nature and its preservation. The efforts of EcoSikh organization, to celebrate this day as ‘Sikh Environment Day’ are very appreciable. The Creator God has created a vast variety of flora and fauna to maintain ecological balance on this earth. Whenever we try to modify the creation, it loses its balance and we face disastrous earthquakes, floods, draughts etc. It is only due to this disturbance in the ecology that the environment sensitive people in the world are specially celebrating Environment days throughout the world.
Confirming the presence of the Creator in His creation, the True Guru has said;
“Baleharee Kudrat Vasiya”, which means,
I am a sacrifice to Your almighty creative power which is pervading everywhere.
And has said,
“Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat !!”, which means
Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of all.
The Gurmat (Sikh Guru’s teachings) describes air as the Guru, water as the Father and the earth as the mother and has told us to respect and take care of these three elements. I, hereby, from Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, founded by the bearer of Miri Piri, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, while congratulating all the Nanak naam leva Sikhs (the followers of Guru Nanak) around the world on occasion of GurGaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Har Rai ji, appeal that every Sikh should plant at least one sapling on this auspicious occasion and attain blessings of Sri Guru Har Rai Ji by celebrating this day as ‘Sikh Environment Day’ and wish Khalsa Panth remain at spiritual heights.
Servant of Guru’s Kingdom,
(Gurbachan Singh)
Jathedar, Sri Akal Takhat Sahib
Sri Amritsar