SGPC Removes Kiosk Minars Installed by Damdami Taksal at Golden Temple

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has removed the recently constructed 'kiosk minars' — small domed pillars — that were erected by the Damdami Taksal at the martyrdom site of Baba Deep Singh within the Golden Temple complex.

These minars were part of a restoration project handed over to the Taksal by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami in November 2024, with the promise that the site would retain its original form. However, the additions were deemed inconsistent with Sikh aesthetics and were swiftly taken down once noticed by SGPC officials.

Temple manager Bhagwant Singh Dhangera clarified that the design did not align with “the Sikh psyche,” and lacked compatibility with traditional Sikh architecture. The kiosk minars resembled those commonly found in Hindu temples, prompting concerns about architectural appropriateness in a site as sacred as the Golden Temple.

Criticism came from Sikh writer Jagtarjeet Singh, who noted that such design choices show a larger problem: SGPC, despite managing educational and health institutions, has not established any body focused on preserving Sikh architectural heritage. He warned that such missteps could also be happening in other gurdwara constructions under SGPC supervision.

In response, the kiosk minars were quickly dismantled, highlighting ongoing tensions over religious aesthetics and architectural authenticity within the Sikh community.