Punjab Govt Greets Baba Buddha Ji's Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On the birth anniversary of Baba Buddha Ji — the first Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib and one of the most venerated figures in early Sikh history — the Punjab Government extended its greetings to the faithful on Friday, 23 October 2026.
The Chief Minister's Office posted in Punjabi: 'ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਗ੍ਰੰਥੀ ਬਾਬਾ ਬੁੱਢਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਜਨਮ ਦਿਹਾੜੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਆਪ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਲੱਖ-ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ' — 'The Punjab Government extends a hundred thousand congratulations to you all on the birth anniversary of Baba Buddha Sahib Ji, the first Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji.'
Who Was Baba Buddha Ji?
Baba Buddha Ji holds a singular place in Sikh tradition. He had the rare distinction of serving under six of the ten Sikh Gurus — from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji — and was entrusted with performing the tilak, the sacred mark of spiritual succession, for five consecutive Gurus. When Sri Harmandir Sahib — the Golden Temple in Amritsar — was established as the central shrine of Sikhism, it was Baba Buddha Ji who was appointed its first Head Granthi, the principal reader of the holy scripture. That appointment was not ceremonial. It was a recognition of a lifetime's devotion.
CMO Punjab's Tradition of Marking Sikh Anniversaries
The message from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's office follows a long-established practice of Punjab's state governments acknowledging key dates in the Sikh religious calendar. For a state where Sikhism is woven into the fabric of daily life, these official recognitions carry both cultural and political resonance. They affirm the government's engagement with Amritsar's heritage and the broader Sikh community.