A sacred siropa (robe of honour) placed on his shoulders by one of Punjab's most revered Sikh religious figures — that is how Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann marked a significant moment of religious endorsement at Chandigarh on 29 September 2026, as the head of the Nanaksar Sampradaye arrived to commend his government's newly passed legislation.

Baba Lakha Singh's Visit and the Siropa Ceremony

Baba Lakha Singh Ji, head of the Nanaksar Sampradaye — a respected Sikh religious order that runs gurdwaras across Punjab and the diaspora — called on CM Mann in Chandigarh and presented him with a siropa, a gesture of blessing and honour traditionally bestowed by Sikh religious authorities. The occasion: appreciation for the 'Jagat Jyot Satikar Act 2026', a law the state government says it has passed to uphold the dignity and sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal Sikh scripture.

Mann, posting in Punjabi on X, expressed heartfelt gratitude — 'ਮੈਂ ਬਾਬਾ ਜੀ ਦਾ ਤਹਿ ਦਿਲੋਂ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ' ('I thank Baba Ji from the depths of my heart') — and used the moment to restate his administration's governing philosophy: 'Upholding the complete honour, respect, and dignity of Shabad Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, is the primary duty of our government.'

What the Jagat Jyot Satikar Act 2026 Signals

The legislation's name — Jagat Jyot means 'Light of the World,' a title associated with the Guru Granth Sahib — signals its intent: codifying protections for the scripture's reverence in law. Punjab governments across party lines have periodically legislated on sacrilege and religious respect, reflecting how deeply the issue resonates with the state's majority Sikh population. The Aam Aadmi Party administration, in power since March 2022, has consistently positioned such measures as central to its moral mandate in the state.

Mann closed his post by affirming that his government remains 'fully committed to the progress, peace, and communal harmony of the state, walking the path shown by the Gurus and saints' — framing the Act not merely as legislation but as governance rooted in Sikh values.

Why Nanaksar's Endorsement Carries Weight

The Nanaksar Sampradaye is not a fringe voice. Founded in the early twentieth century, it commands deep reverence among devout Sikhs in rural and urban Punjab alike, and its network of taksals (seminaries) and gurdwaras extends well beyond state borders. When its head travels to the Chief Minister's office and offers a siropa, the symbolism is unmistakable: a major religious institution publicly validating a government's legislative action. In the fractious landscape of Punjab politics, where Sikh religious bodies have frequently clashed with governments over sacrilege handling, such an endorsement is a meaningful political signal — even as it is framed in purely spiritual terms.