Physical copies (saroops) of the Guru Granth Sahib were flown from New Delhi to Hong Kong on an Air India flight, with the entire business class booked exclusively for the sacred scriptures. The moment drew widespread appreciation after a video surfaced on social media showing priests fanning the revered scripture.
In the video, Air India pilot Sarab Jaspreet Minhas and other staff were seen performing the ceremonial sewa of waving the Chaur Sahib (whisk or fan) over the Guru Granth Sahib with great reverence. Minhas later shared on social media how the Hong Kong gurdwara team, airport authorities, and Air India staff worked together to ensure the religious conduct was strictly followed.
Netizens lauded the act, with one user, Asif Khan, calling it a “noble act of devotion.” He expressed admiration for Captain Sarab Jaspreet Minhas and Air India, saying, “Kudos to everyone involved in ensuring the utmost respect in transporting the saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib. Such dedication is truly inspiring.” Another netizen, Vinayak Prabhu, added, “What a beauty. I am not a Punjabi, but I am feeling super proud and happy with the way this was conducted.”
Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar, president of the Chief Khalsa Diwan, a Sikh educational body, also appreciated the gesture. The move aligns with the 2019 decision by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which mandated that copies of the Guru Granth Sahib must be transported overseas via chartered plane. Akal Takht had also directed that the scripture be carried by air, never by road or sea, with each copy placed separately on a seat to ensure proper reverence.
Currently, there are two facilities in India for printing the Guru Granth Sahib—one in Amritsar managed by SGPC and another in Delhi managed by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. Plans for an international printing press in North Carolina, USA, were once proposed but never realized. Similarly, in 2023, the SGPC decided to set up another printing press in Tracy City, California.
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