AMRITSAR: A large number of Sikhs visited the Golden Temple or the Harminder Sahib, the Sikhs' holiest shrine on Friday, to mark beginning of the Nanakshahi samwat 540 new year.

Devotees took a dip in the “Sarover” the holy pond around the shrine and offered special prayers at the golden temple. It is believed that a dip in the pond purifies the soul.

The Nanakshahi calendar is a solar calendar that was adopted by the SGPC to determine the dates for important Sikh events. It was designed by Pal Singh Purewal to replace the Hindu calendar and has been in use since 1998.

The epoch of this calendar is the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Nanak Dev in 1469. New Year's Day falls annually on what is March 14 in the Gregorian Western calendar. Hola Mohalla, Bandi Chhor Divas and Guru Nanak's birthday continue to be celebrated on dates based on the Hindu calendar. All other Sikh religious days are observed in accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar.

Kuldeep Singh , Parikarma In charge of the Golden Temple said that devotees from far flung places visiting the Golden Temple from early morning to pay obeisance and took holy dip on the occasion of the starts of the Nanakshahi Calendar.

Nita Singh, a devotee said that he along with his family today paid special prayer for the well being of humanity. He said that today is the special day for his family as it is first day of the Nanakshahi Calendar.

Manohar Singh another devotee said that it is really a matter of pride for him as Sikh community has their own calendar.

The calendar has been facing objections from few Sikh organizations and is not universally supported by the community. However, majority in the Sikh community believe that the calendar is important as it re-affirms the Sikh faith's independence from the Hindu and Muslim faiths.

Meanwhile talking to Punjab Newsline.com from US Dr. Pritpal Singh, convener of the American Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee Informed that the various Sikh shrines in US are also celebrating the begins of the 540th Sikh New Year as per the Nanakshahi Era for the Sikhs, the first year of the Nanakshahi Era is 1469, the year of birth of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak.

He said that ”Ardas Diwas”  special religious programs are being arranged at the Gurdwara at San Jose, Freemont, Stockton in San Francisco and various other Gurdwaras in US and Canada.

While congratulating Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) and the jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat for releasing the new calendar, AGPC convener appealed to the Jathedar Akal Takhat to convene a meeting with the concerned persons and cleared the objections, which were made earlier regarding the fixing of the dates of few of  festival as per the  Nanakshahi  calendar.

Dr. Singh said that after much efforts and hurdles the calendar was dedicated to Sikh community and we have accepted with an open mind.