The Sikh community’s supreme temporal authority – Akal Takht – has mandated that gurdwaras throughout the State adhere to a specific colour scheme for the Nishan Sahib flag. A recent circular stated the flag must be either basanti (xanthic yellow) or surmai (blue).
This directive follows complaints from Sikh organisations about the use of kesari (saffron) for covering the Nishan Sahib in some gurdwaras. Critics argue that saffron is traditionally associated with Hinduism, rather than Sikhism.
The Nishan Sahib, a triangular flag adorned with a tassel and hoisted on a tall pole in gurdwara complexes worldwide, is a significant Sikh symbol. The flag features the Khanda emblem — comprising a double-edged sword, two single-edged swords, and a chakkar — set against a xanthic or blue background. The pole itself is capped with a Khanda.
The circular, dated 26 July and issued by the Dharam Parchaar Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), notes that the decision to standardise the flag’s colour was made during a meeting of the jathedars of the five Sikh takhts on 15 July. The directive aims to align with the Rehat Maryada, the SGPC-approved Sikh code of conduct.
Section 3 of Chapter 4 of the Rehat Maryada stipulates, “The Nishan Sahib should be installed at a prominent location in every gurdwara. The flag should be either xanthic or greyish-blue, and the flagpole should be topped with either a spearhead or a Khanda.”
Golden Temple’s Darbar Sahib manager Bhagwant Singh Dhangera stressed on the need to resolve confusion within the Sikh community regarding the flag’s colour. “To address these concerns, it is clarified that the Nishan Sahib must comply with the Rehat Maryada,” Dhangera stated.
Talvinder Singh, the media communications in-charge for the jathedar of the Akal Takht, explained that some complaints had highlighted saffron as a colour linked to Hinduism, not Sikhism. “The new instructions are intended to ensure consistency across all gurdwaras,” Singh added.
Historical records indicate that the Nishan Sahib was first raised by Guru Hargobind Singh, the 6th Sikh Guru, in 1606, originally in yellow to symbolise spirituality and martial prowess. After Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa in 1699, a blue flag was introduced, which remains in use among Nihang Sikhs today. Over time, the flag’s design evolved from featuring a dagger, shield, and sword to the current Khanda emblem.
